20 Law Profs Protest Defendant RI Judges' Attempt to Oust ACLU Attorneys in Truancy Court Case
Apparently irked by a lawsuit challenging practices in Rhode Island’s truancy court on constitutional grounds, judges named as defendants sought to revoke the pro hac vice status of out-of-state lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union pursuing the case.
The lawyers were unethical in making their case in public comments rather than the courtroom, the judges contended. But now 20 law professors have piled into the fray, arguing in a friend-of-the-court brief that the ACLU lawyers acted appropriately, reports the Providence Journal.
“Providing information to the citizenry about the operation of the judicial system is essential,” the law profs’ Monday filing states, and by making public comments the lawyers were seeking to “educate the public about an important but often overlooked role of government: the exercise of legal authority over juveniles.”
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Catchy ‘School-to-Prison Pipeline’ Phrase Cited in Motion to Oust ACLU Lawyers”
