National, Local Civil Rights Groups Join MALDEF in Court Filing Against Hazleton Ordinance

CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the nation’s leading Latino civil rights organization, filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in an appeal of last year’s federal court decision that struck down Hazleton, Pennsylvania’s anti-immigrant ordinances. MALDEF was joined in their effort by 25 national civil rights and Pennsylvania-based Latino and immigrant advocacy organizations.

Appellate Court Affirms Jury Verdict Against Vigilante Rancher Who Attacked U.S. Citizens On Arizona Border

TUCSON, AZ – This week, the Arizona Court of Appeals denied the appeal of border vigilante Roger Barnett who was found liable by a jury after assaulting a family of Latino U.S. citizens while they were hunting on state land in southern Arizona. MALDEF, which represents the plaintiffs in the appeal, urged the appellate court to reject Barnett’s request for a new trial and argued that the jury had rightfully found Barnett at fault for his vicious attack upon the family. The appellate court rejected Barnett’s claims that his acts were justified and affirmed the trial judge’s conclusion that Barnett had received a fair trial.