Case Summary
SCSJ represented the NAACP of Austin and the Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches as amici curiae in a case involving an Austin, Texas, police officer who killed a Black man during a criminal investigation. The officer, Charles Kleinert, was indicted for manslaughter, although a federal judge subsequently dismissed the case before trial. The amicus brief SCSJ filed urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reverse the lower court's decision.
Why it's Important
This case involved important legal questions about how and when a police officer may be held legally accountable for their reckless conduct.
Case Documents
Related Media
SCSJ Files Brief in Police Shooting Case
Other Related Cases
County of Los Angeles v. Mendez
In 2017, SCSJ represented the NAACP and Policy Council on Law Enforcement and the Mentally Ill as amici in County of Los Angeles v. Mendez.
Read More County of Los Angeles v. Mendez
Parker & Williams v. Coleman, et al.
SCSJ represented two residents of public housing in Washington, North Carolina, whose apartment was illegally raided by armed deputies who were at the wrong address.
Read More Parker & Williams v. Coleman, et al.
Lawsuit Against Central Piedmont Community College
North Carolina residents sued Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and its Board of Trustees due to CPCC’s efforts to hide information about its development of a controversial public safety training facility.
Read More Lawsuit Against Central Piedmont Community College
