Legal
Colorado ACLU Cases

Legal Department Docket, 2002-Present

Case Name: American Civil Liberties Union v. City & County of Denver
Case Number: 08-CV-00910, United States District Court, District of Colorado
ACLU Case Number: 2008-06

Description: This lawsuit, filed against Denver and the United States Secret Service on behalf of twelve national and local advocacy organizations, seeks to protect the First Amendment rights of individual and organizations that wish to express their views about issues of public concern during the time of the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008. The suit asks the court to order Denver to process pending requests for permits for parades and demonstrations that will use the City streets. It also seeks disclosure and judicial review of the anticipated regulations affecting expression at or near the Convention site, including disclosure of the details of the anticipated “demonstration zone.”

Issues: Freedom of expression, Right to petition

ACLU of Colorado Attorneys: Steven D. Zansberg, Chris Beall, Mark Silverstein, Taylor Pendergrass

Links to Selected Documents:

Plaintiffs' Trial Brief, filed July 24, 2008

Supplemental & Amended Complaint, filed June 27, 2008

Judge Krieger's Order, issued June 9, 2008

Reply Brief on First Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed June 6, 2008

Selected Exhibits to Reply Brief (all filed June 6, 2008)

• Tony Bouza, retired police officer and police chief
• Christopher Dunn, Associate Legal Director New York Civil Liberties Union
• Teresa Nelson, Legal Director ACLU of Minnesota
• John Reinstein, Legal Director ACLU of Massachusetts

"In ACLU lawsuit regarding First Amendment activity during DNC, parties agree on some issues; additional issues remain for federal court resolution" ACLU News Release, May 23, 2008

Stipulation Regarding Partial Resolution of Plaintiffs’ First Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed May 22, 2008

Proposed Order on Stipulation, filed May 22, 2008

“ACLU sues Denver and Homeland Security to protect First Amendment rights during 2008 Democratic National Convention,” ACLU News Release, May 2, 2008

Plaintiff Groups: List & Descriptions

Complaint, filed May 2, 2008

Selected Exhibits to Complaint

• DNCC Diagram of Pepsi Center Grounds Layout for DNC (Nov. 13, 2007)
  
  
• Testimony from United States Secret Service Asst Director Timothy Koerner on DNC Preparations
  (Aug. 10, 2007)
  
  
• ACLU Letter to Deputy Chief Michael Battista
  (Feb. 5, 2007)
  
  
• Denver’s “Declaration of Extraordinary Event”
  (Feb. 28, 2007)
  
  
• Denver's Map of "Extraordinary Event Area"
  (Feb. 28, 2007)
  
  
• Denver Municipal Code: parade permitting
  
  
• Denver Municipal Code: parks permitting

Brief requesting preliminary injunction, May 2, 2008

Plaintiffs’ Declarations

• Betty Ball, on behalf of Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center

• Leslie Cagan, on behalf of United for Peace & Justice

• Donald Duncan, on behalf of Americans for Safe Access

• Gabriela Flora, on behalf of American Friends Service Committee

• Nita Gonzales, on behalf of Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estodios

• Larry Hales, on behalf of Troops Out Now Coalition
  
  
• Adam Jung, on behalf of Tent State University
  
  
• Glenn Morris, on behalf of American Indian Movement of Colorado
  
  
• Damian Sedney, on behalf of Citizens for Obama
  
  
• Glenn Spagnuolo, on behalf of Recreate 68
  
  
• Zoe Williams, on behalf of CODEPINK

 

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