THe Legal Observer®
The Legal Observer® program is part of a comprehensive system of legal support by NLG's Mass Defense Committee.
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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.
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Legal Observers® are typically, but not exclusively, law students, legal workers and lawyers who may or may not be licensed locally. Legal Observers® are trained and directed by Guild attorneys, who often have established attorney-client relationships with activist organizations, or are in litigation challenging police tactics at mass assemblies.
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The presence of Legal Observers® may serve as a deterrent to unconstitutional behavior by law enforcement during a demonstration.
Community Partners
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In partnership with Colorado Rapid Response Network (CORRN), we have also developed a specialized curriculum to provide trained Legal Observers as part of rapid response teams that appear on scene during immigration raids across the state.
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If you see a suspected ICE raid occurring in your area, call the Rapid Response Hotline at 1-844-864-8341.
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If your organization is interested in receiving a Legal Observer® training, please email!
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Our introductory training is mandatory for new Legal Observers®.
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Our advanced legal observer training, open only to currently trained and active Legal Observers®, covers various practical issues in more depth. Please send us an email if you are a current LO and have questions about advanced training.