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Court: No Immunity for Officers Who Arrested Pro-Life Advocates [In Maryland]
Life Site News ^ | RICHMOND, Virginia, October 19, 2010

Posted on 10/20/2010 1:51:32 AM PDT by GonzoII

Tuesday October 19, 2010


Court: No Immunity for Officers Who Arrested Pro-Life Advocates

RICHMOND, Virginia, October 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit Monday upheld a district court decision that denied the request of several Maryland state police officers to be immune from a lawsuit filed by attorneys representing pro-life advocates.

The officers had handcuffed and arrested the 18 pro-life advocates for sharing a peaceful pro-life message along a public street in August 2008.

Among those arrested were three young women who were later shackled, strip-searched, and detained overnight.

“Pro-life advocates shouldn’t be handcuffed and arrested for expressing their beliefs,” said Alliance Defense Fund Litigation Counsel Daniel Blomberg, who is representing the pro-lifers. “The 4th Circuit’s decision is a positive development for our clients, who deserve justice after what they endured.”

In its order, the court found that arguments that the troopers culpably enforced a violation of free speech rights protected by the First Amendment, and that the arrests constituted retaliation based on the content of speech, were sufficient to deny the troopers’ request for immunity for the time being. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland refused to dismiss the lawsuit in June 2009.

The court wrote that the pro-lifers’ allegations “plausibly alleged an absence of probable cause [for their arrests] and that the absence of probable cause would have been clear to a reasonable law enforcement officer.”

In August 2008, at least 12 state, county, and city police officers handcuffed the 18 pro-life advocates in Defend Life’s “Face the Truth” Pro-Life Tour. They had started their peaceful pro-life event along a public road in Harford County but relocated to the town of Bel Air after being told by officers to leave the county for not having a county permit. The officers then arrested them in Bel Air without explanation.

Once in custody, three young women among the group arrested - two of whom were teenagers - were subjected to two rounds of strip searches. Only after the strip searches and a night spent in jail were they told why they were arrested.  A week after their release, the state dropped the charges ultimately filed against them:  loitering, disorderly conduct, and failure to obey a lawful order. 

None of the participants were ever charged with any sort of permit violation.

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10101908.html


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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: abortion; courts; law; maryland; murder; prolife
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To: gman992

Oh, I goggled the story you referenced. Nasty nasty story. A collusion of county sheriff, State Troopers, FBI etc. I really can’t understand how my parents pined for the “good old days”.


41 posted on 10/20/2010 1:22:08 PM PDT by DariusBane (People are like sheep and have two speeds: grazing and stampede)
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To: Rebelbase

Or crossing the line, either at the shoulder or at the center.

Let’s face it, If they ant you they will find a reason.


42 posted on 10/20/2010 2:53:24 PM PDT by Venturer
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To: Rebelbase

Or crossing the line, either at the shoulder or at the center.

Let’s face it, If they want you they will find a reason.


43 posted on 10/20/2010 2:53:31 PM PDT by Venturer
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To: seemoAR

“Money usually buys the Sheriffs around here. “

Well, I’d guess it’s up to you and fellow patriots to change that.

“We had one that actually tried to do his job.”

Did you back him up, with words, the law and guns if necessary?

You’re giving me a bunch of ephemeral stuff that I can’t anchor on.


44 posted on 10/20/2010 6:44:40 PM PDT by sergeantdave
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To: sergeantdave

Small town run by local big money, was mostly farmland until oil boom, roughnecks moved in. Most downtown commercial property owned by family of bankers and friends. Chamber of Commerce runs the town.

It is a dry County. The dope peddlers, bootleggers and the “elected” Sheriff are rumored to be controlled by them.

Surely you jest about the guns and law. They are the law. :0)


45 posted on 10/21/2010 5:05:54 AM PDT by seemoAR
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To: sergeantdave

Small town run by local big money, was mostly farmland until oil boom, roughnecks moved in. Most downtown commercial property owned by family of bankers and friends. Chamber of Commerce runs the town.

It is a dry County. The dope peddlers, bootleggers and the “elected” Sheriff are rumored to be controlled by them.

Surely you jest about the guns and law. They are the law. :0)


46 posted on 10/21/2010 5:21:38 AM PDT by seemoAR
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]


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