Legal observer
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Legal observers are individuals, usually representatives of civilian
History
It is thought that the concept of using legal observers first emerged during protests in the 1930s in the
Legal observers were used by
In the United States, the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) holds registered trademarks for the words "legal observer"[2] alone, as well as the words "legal observer" on a green background. The National Lawyers Guild Legal Observer certification program was established in 1968 in New York City in response to protests at Columbia University and citywide antiwar and civil rights demonstrations. That same year, guild students organized for the defense of people swept up in mass arrests at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The NLG Legal Observer certification program requires legal observers to take a training course and is part of a comprehensive system of legal support designed to enable people to express their political views as fully as possible without unconstitutional disruption or interference by the police and with the fewest possible consequences from the criminal justice system. Legal observers are trained and directed by National Lawyer Guild attorneys. The presence of legal observers may serve as a deterrent to unconstitutional behavior by law enforcement during a demonstration.[3]
NLG worked with the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers to debut legal observers in Haiti during May Day protests of 2018.[4]
In other countries, legal observers are associated with such groups as
See also
- Copwatch
- Election monitoring
- Police accountability
- Pressure groups in the United Kingdom
- Witness (organization)
References
- ^ "Activist Rights | Organising legal support". Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ "LEGAL OBSERVER Trademark of NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD, INC. – Registration Number 3801369 – Serial Number 77813382 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-10. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- ^ "NLG Legal Observer Program – National Lawyers Guild". Archived from the original on 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ "Haitian Legal Organization & NLG Debut Country's First Legal Observers at May Day Protests". National Lawyers Guild. 2018-05-07. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The History of Melbourne Activist Legal Support". Melbourne Activist Legal Support. 2020-06-13. Archived from the original on 2021-10-02. Retrieved 2021-10-12.