Prosecutors move to drop charges against former Littler associate charged in Portland demonstration
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Prosecutors are asking a federal court in Oregon to drop charges against a former Littler Mendelson associate accused of disorderly conduct on federal property during demonstrations in Portland last summer.
Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss charges against former Littler associate Zachary Duffly on Wednesday, citing the interest of justice, Law.com reports. Duffly currently operates his own law firm focusing on disability and tenant rights, according to the article.
Federal prosecutors in Oregon previously dropped charges against another lawyer, Jennifer Kristiansen, in filings that also cited the interest of justice. She had been charged with assaulting a federal officer and failing to obey a lawful order. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut dismissed the last of the charges against Kristiansen in January. Kristiansen practices family law.
Law.com cites a March report by KGW News that federal prosecutors are quietly dismissing dozens of protest cases. Willamette University law professor Laura Appleman said prosecutors were likely making decisions based on heavy caseloads and available resources, rather than politics.
Duffly and Kristiansen previously told the Oregonian they were in dads and moms groups protesting on the grounds of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse when they were arrested.
Duffly said he was arrested after an agent dressed in camouflage tried to grab his leaf blower and took him to the ground. Leaf blowers have been used by demonstrators to disperse tear gas.
Kristiansen said she was arrested after she put her arm between an officer and a woman who said she had been hit by the officer’s baton. She said she never assaulted any officers. She also said she was groped during her arrest, but she doesn’t know if it was intentional.
