Littler associate is 1 of at least 2 lawyers arrested at Portland demonstrations
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At least two lawyers are facing federal charges following demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, that began July 20 and continued into the early-morning hours of July 21.
One lawyer, 45-year-old Zachary Duffly, was listed online as an associate at Littler Mendelson as recently as June, Law360 reports. His profile is no longer on Littler Mendelson’s website.
Duffly is charged with creating a disturbance on federal property, according to a July 24 Department of Justice press release and the misdemeanor information.
The other lawyer, 37-year-old Jennifer Kristiansen, was charged with assaulting a federal officer and failing to obey a lawful order, according to the misdemeanor information. She told Heavy.com that she worked for an Oregon family law firm before leaving to look for a new job.
Duffly and Kristiansen were in dads and moms groups at the protest, they told the Oregonian in stories here and here. They were on the grounds of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, according to the charges.
Duffly said he was arrested early July 21 after agents used tear gas and flashbang grenades on demonstrators. An agent dressed in camouflage tried to grab his leaf blower, which he was unable to quickly unstrap for the agent. Duffly was taken to the ground, breaking his glasses. Leaf blowers have been used by demonstrators to disperse tear gas.
Kristiansen, a Beaverton lawyer, was also arrested after agents used tear gas, she told the Oregonian and Heavy.com. Kristiansen put her arm between an officer and a woman who said she had been hit by the officer’s baton. Another officer in a black uniform pointed at Kristiansen and said, “That’s the one who hit me.”
Kristiansen said officers pushed her against the wall of the federal courthouse, then took her inside to a holding cell. She said she was groped during her arrest, but she doesn’t know whether it was intentional. She said she never assaulted any officers.
Duffly and Kristiansen were barred from returning to the federal courthouse, outside of work, as a condition of their release.
When Law360 sought comment from Littler Mendelson, a spokesperson refused to confirm whether Duffly still worked at the law firm, saying the firm doesn’t comment on personnel matters.
Duffly’s cached Littler Mendelson profile described him as a labor and employment associate who formerly worked for the Portland Civil Rights Law Office, according to Law360.
