Litigation

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Ongoing

Jones v. City of St. Louis

Advocating for the Rights of the Incarcerated
In a blatant disregard for detainees' safety and humanity, the St. Louis City Justice Center (CJC) jail correctional officers curate fear and control with often indiscriminate, excessive macing and water deprivation. The MacArthur Justice Center is working to hold jails and prisons alike, and the cities that run them, accountable for their torturous use of chemical agents and other human rights violations against those in their custody.

Ongoing

Roe v. Precythe

Advocating for the Rights of the Incarcerated
As punishment for being HIV positive while in a Missouri prison, Jane Roe was placed in solitary confinement for over six years with no way to challenge her confinement, engendering multiple attempts to take her own life. The MacArthur Justice Center is fighting back against the torturous usage of solitary confinement for prolonged periods, particularly when it's justified by discriminatory, unconstitutional policies that unfairly penalize people like Ms. Roe.

Ongoing

Leonard v. St. Charles County et al.

Advocating for the Rights of the Incarcerated
Jamie Leonard was subjected to what an expert witness with decades of jail and prison experience called “the most egregious failure” he had ever seen in a carceral setting. The MacArthur Justice Center is fighting to ensure the being incarcerated does not constitute forfeiture of an individual’s right to basic dignity.

David v. State of Missouri

Public Defense
In February 2023, the Missouri Circuit Court issued a judgement that served as a clear denouncement of the use of waiting lists for indigent public defense.

Ongoing

Politte v. Falkenrath

Wrongful Convictions
Michael Politte was only 14 years old when police investigators targeted him hours after his mother’s murder as the primary suspect, leading to him being falsely charged, convicted, and imprisoned for over 20 years. The MacArthur Justice Center is dedicated to litigating innocence claims for defendants like Michael, who lose huge swaths of their lives to wrongful convictions.

Ongoing

Robinson v. Vandergriff

Parole
Like thousands of other Missourians, Terrell Robinson’s parole was revoked without basic due process. The MacArthur Justice Center is challenging the opaque, discriminatory state parole revocation process that has ensnared Mr. Robinson and others like him.

Weeks v. City of St. Louis, Missouri

Police Abuse
  In denying Weeks’ request, SLMPD has claimed that the records requested have been digitized and are now under the control of the Regional Justice Information Services Commission (REJIS), which provides IT support for the City and a number of law enforcement agencies across the state. REJIS was a defendant in the case, but Weeks...

Brown v. Precythe

Parole
The MacArthur Justice Center is pursuing a federal class action challenging the Missouri Parole Board’s demonstrated abuse of power, disregard for due process and failure to comply with state and federal law when it comes to youthful offenders previously given mandatory life without parole sentences.

Taylor v. Wagner et al.

Right to Protest
On June 1, 2020, Theresa Taylor was participating in a peaceful protest on issues of police brutality and racial injustice when she was unlawfully arrested, charged, and, upon being released from jail, given a verbal banishment order. The banishment order prohibits her from returning to the area, the Country Club Plaza (known as the Plaza),...

Thomas v. Stitt

Parole
UPDATE: In February 2022, the Tenth Circuit agreed with Mr. Thomas and sent the case back down to proceed in district court. The MacArthur Justice Center is proud to represent Mr. Thomas in partnership with Kirkland & Ellis as we seek to ensure that juvenile offenders like Mr. Thomas have the real possibility of release...