Posted in Civil Rights on June 28, 2013
Victims of excessive force within Oklahoma jails can now seek relief in the state courts throughout Oklahoma. On Thursday June 27, 2013, the Oklahoma Supreme Court affirmed its decision in Bosh v. Cherokee County Governmental Building Authority, 2013 OK 9. The Court initially issued the opinion in February, but the Defendant and numerous other governmental… read more…
New APC Decision by Appellate Court – What Does it Mean?Posted in Criminal Law on June 21, 2013
APC, which is short for “Actual Physical Control,” is a crime that permits law enforcement officers to arrest intoxicated people with the ability to drive, but who are not in fact driving when discovered by the officer. For example, if a police officer happens upon an intoxicated motorist passed out in the driver’s seat with… read more…
Mug Shots Subject to Open Records ActPosted in Civil Rights on June 1, 2013
A new opinion from Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has declared that mug shots, or booking photos, fall within the scope of the Oklahoma Open Records Act. According to the Attorney General’s opinion, the image constitutes an “arrestee description.” This broad interpretation of the Open Records Act could compel law enforcement agencies to change their… read more…
Court Rules Dash Cam Videos Subject to Oklahoma Open Records ActPosted in Civil Rights on June 1, 2013
In a 2-1 decision issued on May 31, 2013, a panel of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals has ruled that videos from dash cameras mounted in the patrol cars of police officers are subject to the Oklahoma Open Records Act (the “Act”). See Ward v. Claremore. More importantly, however, the Court ruled that police and… read more…