Cooper Elliott Blog topic: Civil Rights

Imagine spending eleven years in prison for a heinous crime you didn’t commit—eleven years away from family, not completing your college degree or advancing your career, and putting your life on hold. Then imagine the state exonerates you but refuses to compensate you for wrongful conviction.  This was the reality Mary Jenny Wilcox (now Reach) …

Continue reading “Expanded Legislation in Wrongful Conviction Leads to Exonerees’ Justice”

We’ve talked before about the doctrine of qualified immunity: what it is, the scope and boundaries of its application, and how, at times, it can serve as an impediment to genuine justice. It’s important for us as civil rights attorneys to keep up on cases where qualified immunity plays a major role in legal decisions. …

Continue reading “Judge Willett’s Opinion and the “Catch” to Qualified Immunity”

The law is intended to protect the rights of all citizens equally. But what happens to equal protection when the laws are inconsistent from one jurisdiction to the next? In that case, the promise of protection waivers, and the rights of certain individuals and groups become unclear. That’s what is going on right now in …

Continue reading “Achieving Equal Protection against Discrimination through the Ohio Fairness Act”

As civil rights attorneys, we pay close attention to important cases and rulings that highlight flaws in the legal system. We also pay attention when courts set precedent that shows promise of improvement. We’ve addressed the potential dangers posed by the Qualified Immunity Doctrine. It’s just one facet of the legal system that government actors …

Continue reading “Excessive Force Victim Denied Constitutional Right to Access Courts”

Civil litigation isn’t only about seeking compensation for damages. It can also serve the purpose of preventing damage by using the power of more immediate protections such as temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. These legal tools can help keep a precarious situation from getting worse. The case that follows illustrates just how important those …

Continue reading “Ohio Civil Litigation Attorneys Act Quickly to Fight Disability Discrimination”