At The Legal Aid Society our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of the courtroom to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City. We seek to be a beacon of hope for those who feel neglected —regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. Our experienced teams provide comprehensive services, support, and advocacy that protect rights, keep families and communities together, and in many cases, saves lives. We have an intrinsic connection to the daily lives of New Yorkers. Here are a few of the places we made a difference, provided context or added valuable perspective this week:

LAS fights to protect due process for New Yorkers arrested during George Floyd protests

International Business Times: Judge Denies Release Of Protesters Held More Than 24 Hours
ABA: Citing ‘crisis within a crisis,’ NY judge refuses to release people held more than 24 hours
VICE: NYPD Is Taking Protesters’ Masks and Putting Them at Risk of Coronavirus in Custody
Newsmax: NY Judge: Protesters Can Be Detained Longer Than 24 Hours
Law and Crime: AOC Slams NYC Judge for ‘Suspension of Habeas Corpus’ in Response to Protests
NYDN: Defense lawyers appeal judge’s decision to let protesters be jailed longer than 24 hours
NYLJ: Defense Lawyers Appeal Ruling to Allow Arraignment Delays for Persons at NYC Protests
NY Post: Legal Aid appeals for release of 92 arrested protesters awaiting arraignment
Yahoo News: NYPD’s delay in releasing protesters caused by ‘a crisis within a crisis’: Judge
WSJ: Dozens Arrested in New York Protests to Remain in Jail
NY1: Public Defenders Fear Mass Arrests Prime for Coronavirus Spreading
Jewish Voice: Protest Arrests Logjam Tests NYC Legal System, Bail Reform
Reasons: New York Police Are Jailing Protesters For Days Without Charging Them
The Gaurdian: No masks, no water: New York protesters held in ‘abysmal’ conditions, experts say
Gothamist: NYPD’s Mass Arrest Campaign During Protests Was Mostly For Low-Level Offenses
Newsweek: If This is How Police Are on the Street, What Do They Do When No One is Watching?
Inside Edition: Habeas Corpus Is Being Violated in New York

LAS lauds repeal of police secrecy law 50-A

Rolling Stone: New York Senate Votes to Overturn Law Shielding Police Disciplinary Records
MuchRock: New York legislature votes to repeal provision hiding police records
Politico: Both Houses Plan To Pass “Full Repeal” Of 50-a
NYLJ: NY Lawmakers Eye Police Reforms Amid Anti-Police Brutality Protests
Buffalo News: New York Lawmakers Vote To Make Police Disciplinary Records Public
Washington Post: Beleaguered and besieged, police try to come to grips with a nation’s anger

LAS threatens lawsuit over Mayor’s disastrous curfew 

Politico: Civil rights groups threaten to sue de Blasio over ‘unconstitutional’ curfew
Gotham Gazette: Electeds Negotiate Uneasy Peace with Police During Tense Brooklyn Standoffs
SI Advance: Mayor lifts New York City curfew after peaceful night of protests
Associated Press: New York City lifts curfew early following peaceful protests
Daily News: Mayor de Blasio announces he is lifting NYC curfew ‘effective immediately’
THE APPEAL: The Toll That Curfews Have Taken on Homeless Americans
THE INTERCEPT: Bill de Blasio Promised to Change the NYPD. His Courage Failed Him, and Us
City Land: NYC Mayor Lifts Curfew Before Legal Challenges
Gothamist: Caught In de Blasio’s Curfew, Essential Worker Spends Week In Jail

LAS seeks delay in reopening courts during COVID-19 pandemic 

Gothamist: As Civil Courts Reopen, Tenant Advocates Fear Coronavirus Could Spread
WNYC: As Housing Court Begins to Reopen, Tenant Advocates Fear Renewed Transmission
Law360: NYC Lawyers Urge Housing, Civil Court To Delay Reopening

More LAS in the news

CNBC: As people protest across the U.S., some wonder: Could you be fired for protesting?
BX News 12: Protests continue near Bronx Supreme Court Friday
The Guardian: George Floyd: Barr denies police are systemically racist as protests sweep US
City & State: Challengers blast Vance’s push to jail looters
Queens Daily Eagle: Public defenders pack Black Lives Matter rally outside Queens Criminal Court
NYDN: NYPD cop caught on video shoving Brooklyn George Floyd protester surrenders
Politico: NYPD cop charged with harassment and menacing after shoving protester
SI Advance: NYPD: Race relations will be topic of forum on social media on Wednesday
SI Advance: Pols, youth, NYPD agree: More needs to be done to end racism
INVERSE: Minneapolis Police Says Data Can Prevent Brutality. Here’s How and When It Would Work. 
El Diario: Organizaciones pro inmigrantes piden a Albany aprobar ley contra arrestos de ICE
The Guardian: Top Republican supports a national ban on police chokeholds
Vice News: Police Tactics Are Putting Protesters at Higher COVID Transmission Risk