The Legal Aid Society praised a decision rendered by United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Uniformed Fire Officers Association, et al. v. Bill de Blasio denying the police unions’ effort to restrict the New York Civil Liberties Union from publishing Civilian Complaint Review Board records obtained by FOIL request, reports Gothamist.

Legal Aid filed two amicus briefs in opposition to Uniformed Fire Officers Association, et al. v. Bill de Blasio against union efforts to deny New Yorkers access to critical law enforcement officer disciplinary records. The first amicus brief was filed in opposition to a preliminary injunction before Judge Failla, and the second amicus brief was filed in opposition to the police union’s efforts to restrain NYCLU from publishing. On June 12, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo enacted legislation that fully repealed Police Secrecy Law 50- a. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP partnered with Legal Aid in drafting and filing the two amicus briefs.

“With this data now public, New Yorkers will be better able to hold NYPD officers who commit acts of misconduct and betray the public’s trust accountable. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and the culture of impunity enjoyed for decades at precincts around New York City—at the expense of our clients, largely Black and Latinx New Yorkers—is slowly beginning to change,” said Corey Stoughton, Attorney-in-Charge of the Special Litigation Unit with the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society.