Debevoise associate gets charges against him dropped for rioting
| ;;;..;....;......,,, | 09/28/20 | | ;;;..;....;......,,, | 09/28/20 | | biden | 09/28/20 | | ,.,;,;,.;,.;,.;,,,,;,.,; | 09/28/20 | | ,,,'"''''' | 09/28/20 | | ,.,;,;,.;,.;,.;,,,,;,.,; | 09/28/20 |
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Date: September 28th, 2020 2:39 PM
Author: ;;;..;....;......,,,
On
June 5, Debevoise & Plimpton associate Justin Maffett was
peacefully protesting racial injustice in the wake of the murder of
George Floyd when he was arrested and charged with breaking New York
City’s curfew. That curfew violation was a class B misdemeanor and
carried with it not just a potential six-month prison sentence, but if
found guilty, Maffett would have a criminal record.
More than a thousand others received summonses for curfew
violations, and over 60 percent were issued to Black or Latinx people,
including Maffett. But unlike many of those who were arrested, Maffett
had some very powerful representation. Helen Cantwell, a white-collar
partner at Debevoise and a former assistant U.S. attorney at the
Southern District of New York, stepped up to serve as his defense
lawyer, also offering her counsel to any other Debevoise employees
arrested during the protests.
Although Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said his office
would forgo the prosecution of low-level offenses related to the
protests (e.g., unlawful assembly or disorderly conduct) the charges
still remain for many, and those who were arrested for breaking the
emergency curfew are still fighting their charges — but not Maffett.
After a series of exchanges with the New York Office of Court
Administration (OCA), his charges were dismissed.
“I can’t say whether I was treated differently. But I do
acknowledge that not everyone has a former prosecutor like Helen in
their corner or a billion-dollar law firm at their back. It isn’t lost
on me that this played a role here,” he said in an interview with the
American Lawyer, where he details his experience of being arrested while
protesting. “But we didn’t advocate this just for myself, but for all
of those charged, because we can do something there. And because we can,
I believe strongly that we should.”
In an op-ed published in the New York Law Journal, Maffett
argues that all curfew-related summonses levied against peaceful
protesters should be dismissed. “It does not take a law degree” to see
why it would be in the interest of justice, he writes.
Protesters should not face different legal consequences just
because they were out protesting during the one week the curfew was in
place. This is arbitrary and does not inspire confidence in our legal
system.
For far too many New Yorkers, justice has been delayed and due
process has almost come to a halt. If cases are not immediately
dismissed, these arrests made by the NYPD in response to the protests
will only serve to exacerbate this mounting crisis. Our court system
should not be clogged with cases involving these nonviolent, low-level
issues, nor should everyday New Yorkers be forced to continue to pay
attorney fees, take days off work, or make arrangements for child care
in order to defend themselves against such claims. The city should
instead focus its limited resources toward more urgent needs.
Maffett’s court documents are currently under seal, but he has
disclosed them to Above the Law, with his firm’s permission. He thinks
their publication is in the public’s interest because it will provide a
roadmap to other lawyers working on these curfew cases to make similar
arguments. They are available on the next page.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4635573&forum_id=2#41002754) |
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Date: September 28th, 2020 2:51 PM
Author: biden
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4635573&forum_id=2#41002829) |
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Date: September 28th, 2020 4:33 PM
Author: ,.,;,;,.;,.;,.;,,,,;,.,;
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4635573&forum_id=2#41003444) |
Date: September 28th, 2020 2:44 PM
Author: ,,,'"'''''
these charges got in the way of billing and therefore were not allowed
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4635573&forum_id=2#41002797) |
Date: September 28th, 2020 4:35 PM
Author: ,.,;,;,.;,.;,.;,,,,;,.,;
https://abovethelaw.com/2020/09/biglaw-associate-gets-his-protest-related-charges-dropped-hopes-his-case-will-help-other-peaceful-protesters/
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4635573&forum_id=2#41003460)
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