Litigation

Dedman School of Law Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center

Litigation

Deason Center lawyers are on the front lines, protecting essential constitutional rights and preventing government overreach. Representing a broad range of clients in jurisdictions across the country, Deason Center attorneys argue for greater access to courts and counsel and against due process violations.

Litigation

Farella v. Anglin

Abigail Farella was arrested in Bentonville, Arkansas in May 2022 on a drug possession charge. Two days later, Ms. Farella was brought before a judge, but was not provided counsel to advocate for her release. Judge A.J. Anglin set her bail at $10,000. Unable to pay, she remained jailed for roughly five weeks. Ms. Farella filed suit challenging her lack of counsel at her first appearance. In August 2024, a district court judge ruled that every arrested person appearing before Judge Anglin in Benton County must have counsel at first appearances. The state has appealed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Deason Center is coordinating amicus efforts on behalf of the plaintiffs.

More Featured Cases

The Texas Tribune v. Caldwell County

When officials in Caldwell County, Texas blocked the press and public from attending magistrations, The Texas Tribune, the Caldwell/Hays Examiner, and Mano Amiga filed a lawsuit alleging the county was violating the First Amendment. Deason Center attorneys represent the Caldwell/Hays Examiner and Mano Amiga in their challenge to these closed-door initial appearance hearings.

The lawsuit seeks to reinforce that open courtrooms are a hallmark of the American judicial system and guarantee public access to crucial judicial proceedings. Specifically, the lawsuit asks the court to require magistrations in Caldwell County be open to the public, with closed proceedings permitted only if the court meets specific constitutional requirements.

In November 2024, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a federal district court decision requiring that magistrations in Caldwell County be open to the press and public.
Anderson v. Grayson County, Texas

Grayson County continues an unconstitutional practice of denying court-appointed lawyers to people who have been arrested but not indicted unless they remain in jail for extended periods of time. The Deason Center's client was denied representation for over six months for a serious felony charge, including at both his initial bail hearing and a subsequent hearing on a motion the government filed to raise his bail and put him back in jail. He eventually got a lawyer and was acquitted at trial, but not until after suffering significant personal and legal hardships.