Rights

Remembering Sheila Jackson Lee: A Legacy of Passion and Advocacy in U.S. Congress and Civil Rights

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Washington, D.C. – The nation mourns the passing of Sheila Jackson Lee, a prominent lawyer, civil rights advocate, and long-serving U.S. Representative for Texas’ 18th Congressional District. Known for her tireless dedication and impactful legislation, Jackson Lee’s death on July 19, 2024, marks a significant loss for her constituents and advocates for justice nationwide. Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), commemorated Jackson Lee’s profound influence on civil rights and her enduring legacy. “Representative Jackson Lee’s dedication to the 18th District of Texas and the protection of civil rights was exemplary,” … Read more

Federal Appeals Court Upholds Landowners’ Rights Against Mountain Valley Pipeline Condemnation

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Richmond, Va. — A significant legal decision has landed in favor of a Roanoke County family after a federal appeals court reinstated a considerable jury award related to land condemnation for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. This ruling underscores ongoing clashes between property rights and energy infrastructure development. The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond recently overturned a lower court’s decision that had significantly reduced the compensation awarded to the Terry family, whose land was partially seized for the pipeline project. Initially, the family had received over $500,000 for an eight-acre easary taken to … Read more

Ranchers Challenge New BLM Rule Over Public Land Grazing Rights, Citing Threat to Livelihood and Conservation Efforts

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Cheyenne, WY — A coalition of agricultural and livestock groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, has initiated a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concerning its recent Public Lands Rule. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, the lawsuit argues that the rule introduces unpredictability and could significantly harm the long-standing tradition of grazing on federal lands, which is central to the ranching industry’s sustainability. Gary Heibertshausen, a Montana sheep rancher and vice president of the Montana Farm Bureau, voiced concerns about … Read more

$700,000 Awarded to Seattle Protesters in Chalk Graffiti Civil Rights Case

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Seattle, WA — Four activists, detained after writing messages criticizing law enforcement on a barricade near a Seattle police station, have been awarded close to $700,000 as a jury found that their civil rights were breached. The award follows their arrest on New Year’s Day, 2021, in the aftermath of the widespread protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd. The jury determined that the arrest of Derek Tucson, Robin Snyder, Monsieree De Castro, and Erik Moya-Delgado was driven by retaliatory motives against their Black Lives Matter advocacy, violating their First Amendment rights. Each protester … Read more