Critics assail Baltimore police "gag orders"

Seeking transparency, reform and healing, grassroots groups and the ACLU of Maryland joined forces to push Baltimore to end the use of non-disclosure agreements to settle police misconduct lawsuits.

Victims tell their stories, while city offers unchanged “gag order” stance

Baltimore will comply with the new law, Deputy City Solicitor Dana Moore says, but will not put it in writing.

Solicitor says Baltimore is ending “gag orders,” but won’t put it in writing

Andre Davis promises to adopt, essentially, the provisions of the new City Council law, but says he still considers it an illegal infringement of his authority.

Young won’t enforce the “gag order” law that the City Council passed

The mayor, who let the measure go into law by not vetoing it, calls it an illegal infringement on City Solicitor Andre Davis’ powers.

“Gag order” bill moves to Young’s desk

Supporters call on the mayor to sign a bill barring the use of non-disparagement agreements that silence claimants in police misconduct settlements.

City Council tentatively passes bill to end police “gag orders”

Tonight’s unanimous vote suggests that the bill can sustain a veto by Mayor Jack Young. ACLU hails the Council’s action.

Why the “gag order” vote was delayed last night in the City Council

The measure is now under threat amid the political calculations of several of the bill’s sponsors as Baltimore’s 2020 Democratic Primary heats up.

City solicitor, under fire for defending gag orders, decries people “who want to put us down”

Andre Davis says non-disparagement agreements are “the way lawsuits have been settled for hundreds of years.”

Tales of beatings and terror as City Council advances bill to end police misconduct “gag” clauses

Pushing back on victims, lawmakers and his former 4th Circuit colleagues, Baltimore City Solicitor Andre Davis defends, and still requires, non-disclosure agreements.

ACLU calls Young’s executive order on police misconduct gag orders “a sham”

Order allows Baltimore to continue gag orders, prohibiting only “unreasonable” ones. ACLU calls Young’s “truth-to-power” language in issuing the order “disgusting.”

Hearing Monday on bill to end “gag orders” in police settlements

The ACLU of Maryland says the measure is needed because Baltimore is “still playing games with the policy.”

Baltimore won’t pursue “gag order” case to the Supreme Court

Accepting the Appeals Court ruling that police settlements include unconstitutional provisions, Andre Davis argues that he has changed the language to satisfy the courts.

ACLU disputes mayor’s statement that Baltimore has stopped using gag orders

Is the new language in police settlement cases better than the old language? The city says “yes,” but the ACLU says there should be no restrictions, as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled.

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Baltimore challenges Appeals Court decision on police gag orders

The Fourth Circuit decision “infantilized less wealthy litigants” and “overstates the media’s First Amendment right to ‘gather news,'” City Solicitor Davis argues.

Scott backs bill ending Baltimore’s use of “gag orders” to settle police misconduct, discrimination suits

Legislation follows last week’s ruling by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that non-disparagement clauses violate the First Amendment.

Baltimore’s gag orders in police misconduct cases unconstitutional, Appeals Court rules

Calling the non-disclosure agreements “hush money,” the Fourth Circuit reverses a federal judge’s ruling in a suit brought by Ashley Overbey Underwood and Baltimore Brew.

Fourth Circuit hears arguments in lawsuit challenging Baltimore police abuse “gag orders”

Purchasing silence to curb criticism is unconstitutional, argue lawyers for Ashley Overbey and Baltimore Brew before a federal appeals court in Richmond.

Activists press Pugh, City Council to end police misconduct “gag orders”

Today the ACLU and allies are holding a rally and public forum to promote a lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs Ashley Overbey and Baltimore Brew.

20 news organizations support Baltimore Brew lawsuit challenging police misconduct “gag orders”

Civil rights groups also file briefs saying city policy violates the Constitution and hampers police reform.

Baltimore Brew and Overbey appeal dismissal of police “gag order” lawsuit

Baltimore’s non-disparagement clause in police abuse cases violates the First Amendment, the American Civil Liberties Union argues.

Brew suit challenging police “gag orders” back in federal court

Lawyers for this website and Ashley Overbey argue that the non-disclosure policy violates the First Amendment.

Judge reopens Baltimore Brew’s case challenging city’s use of “gag orders”

Complaint alleges non-disclosure clauses in police settlements violate the First Amendment.

Judge rejects suit challenging “gag order” in Baltimore police violence cases

The ACLU, which sued on behalf of victim Ashley Overbey and Baltimore Brew, said it plans to appeal.

Baltimore’s “gag order” in police settlements challenged in court

On behalf of The Brew and a victim of police violence, the ACLU takes legal action.