Legal
Colorado ACLU Cases

Legal Department Docket, 2002-Present

Case Name: Weise v. Casper
Case Number: No. 05-cv-2355, United States District Court, District of Colorado, No. 1504, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
ACLU Case Number: 2005-12

Description: This lawsuit was filed on behalf of Leslie Weise and Alex Young, two members of the “Denver 3” who gained national attention after White House event staffers ejected them from a March 21, 2005 event that featured an appearance by President Bush. The presidential visit was open to the public, paid for by taxpayer funds, and advertised as a town hall “conversation” on Social Security reform. The lawsuit asserts that the ACLU’s clients were kicked out because they were perceived as disagreeing with the President. The lawsuit further asserts that the expulsion of the ACLU’s clients was carried out pursuant to directions and policies formulated by federal officials. Additional information is available on the clients’ website at www.denverthree.org.

On March 15, 2007, after court-ordered discovery revealed the names of the higher-ups responsible for ejecting Weise and Young, the ACLU filed an additional lawsuit, Weise v. Jenkins, naming three White House employees as defendants.

Issues: Freedom of belief, freedom of expression

ACLU of Colorado Attorneys: Martha Tierney, Jerremy Ramp, Mark Silverstein

Additional co-counsel: Chris Hansen, Catherine Crump, ACLU national office

Published Decision: Weise v. Casper, 507 F.3d 1260 (10th Cir. 2007)

Links to Selected Documents:

Presidential Advance Manual, October 2002

“ACLU files suit over ouster from Bush town hall meeting,” ACLU News Release, November 21, 2005

Complaint, filed November 21, 2005

Plaintiffs’ Response to Defendant Caspar’s Motion to Dismiss

“ACLU sues White House staffers for ejecting Denver residents from Bush event,” ACLU News Release, March 15, 2007

Complaint, Weise v. Jenkins, filed March 15, 2007

ACLU brief, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, March 28, 2007

Weise v. Casper, 507 F.3d 1260 (10th Cir. 2007)

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