Afternoon Briefs: DOJ will probe Louisville, Kentucky, police; Coca-Cola reviews outside counsel diversity policy
The Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C. Photo from Shutterstock.com.
DOJ will investigate Louisville, Kentucky, police practices
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Monday that the Department of Justice is investigating whether the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department uses unreasonable force or engages in discriminatory policing as part of an unconstitutional pattern or practice. Department officers fatally shot Breonna Taylor in March 2020, when her boyfriend fired shots during a raid of her apartment, thinking the officers were intruders. The DOJ is also investigating the Minneapolis Police Department, the DOJ announced Wednesday. (Department of Justice press release, CNN, the Washington Post, the New York Times)
Coca-Cola reviews diversity policy after GC exits
Coca-Cola is reviewing a diversity policy announced in January by its now former general counsel, Bradley Gayton. The policy required that outside law firms use diverse lawyers for at least 30% of associate and partner time on new matters. A Coca-Cola spokesperson said the new general counsel, Monica Howard Douglas, “is fully committed to the notions of equity and diversity in the legal profession, and we fully expect she will take the time necessary to thoughtfully review any plans going forward.” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Appeals judge apparently recuses in voter ID case
Judge S. Kyle Duncan of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans has apparently recused himself in a voter ID case following a request by civil rights and voting rights groups. The appeals court assigned the case to a new three-judge panel Friday. Duncan, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, was counsel in two amicus briefs at an earlier stage of the case. Lawyers opposing recusal said the case now concerns legal fees, and the briefs concerned merits of the case that are already resolved. (Law.com)
Judiciary panel says amicus disclosure deserves study
A panel of the Judicial Conference of the United States has said a proposal to require disclosure of amicus brief funding deserves more study. The panel—a subcommittee of the advisory committee to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure—was appointed to monitor legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island; and U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Georgia. The Amicus Act would require entities that file multiple amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court or federal appeals courts to disclose significant funding sources. The funders would be barred from providing gifts or funding travel for federal appellate-level judges and justices. (Law360, Law.com, Whitehouse’s press release)
