Concerned that the "enemies list" revealed in the State's March 2 criminal indictment of Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold violates the political freedoms of the list's targets, the ACLU of Maryland in December, 2012, filed a lawsuit under a provision of the Maryland Public Information Act that prohibits the creation, use, and dissemination of government records containing personal information about private citizens without an adequate governmental need, as well as under provisions of the law prohibiting wrongful withholding of public information. The lawsuit charges that information was improperly collected and retained on Leopold's perceived political rivals or enemies, and that information was improperly withheld when requested by individuals who had reason to believe they were targeted.
The original lawsuit, filed against Leopold as well as the County Executive's Office and the County Police Department, asks the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County to order that all responsive records be produced. In April, the ACLU opposes efforts by the Leopold and the County to dismiss portions of the lawsuit. The ACLU also filed an amended complaint that sought to name former County Police Chief Teare as a defendant, following the County's release of audio interviews with Executive Protection Officers that implicate his knowledge of and involvement in collecting information for dossiers.
LEGAL DOCUMENTS
- ACLU v. Leopold complaint
- ACLU opposition to motions to dismiss
- Amended complaint naming former Police Chief James Teare as a defendant
OTHER DOCUMENTS
- 030612 ACLU Maryland Public Information Act request to County Executive and Police Department
- 030712 ACLU letter asking for a full County Council investigation
- 031312 Anne Arundel County cover letter response to initial MPIA request
- 031612 ACLU supplemental MPIA request
- 032012 ACLU letter urging Maryland Public Safety Secretary Gary Maynard to launch an audit
- 032312 ACLU supplemental MPIA request for Cohen, Dwyer, and more
- 032712 ACLU Maryland Public Information Request to MCJIS and MSP
- Anne Arundel County Police Department/DPSCS CJIS contract
Documents Released Pursuant to ACLU MPIA Request
- Lewis Bracy CJIS log
- Thomas Redmond CJIS log
- Carl Snowden NCIC log
- Witness statement of Corporal Howard Brown 3/15/11
- Audio clips from witness statement of Corporal Howard Brown:
Press Releases:
- 030712 ACLU Files Information Request Demanding Leopold "Enemies List"; Group Asserts Police Actions May Violate New "No Spying" Law
- 031512 Leopold "Dossiers" Reveal Illegal Political Opposition Research, Potentially Illegal Use of State Crime Database; ACLU to File Additional Information Requests on Behalf of Other Potential Victims
- 031612 ACLU Files Information Requests on More Possible Leopold Victims, Including Sex Discrimination Plaintiffs; Group Says Leopold and Police Chief Must Account Publicly for their Actions
- 032012 ACLU Calls for State Audit of Crime Database Use in Anne Arundel County; Group wants to know if information in the database was inappropriately accessed and disseminated
- 032212 ACLU Statement Regarding Anne Arundel County Police Chief Teare Refusing to Testify
- 032812 ACLU Condemns Chief's Silence, Demands Criminal History Logs Related to Leopold's "Enemies List"; Group Also Files New Info Requests with County for Annapolis Mayor, Delegate Dwyer, and More
- 060512 Leopold Employees Improperly Accessed Data; Criminal History Databases Were Accessed to Gather "Enemies" Information
- 121212 ACLU LAWSUIT CHALLENGES, DEMANDS FULL ACCOUNTING OF LEOPOLD'S "ENEMIES LIST" Group Represents 11 Individuals Targeted in Dossiers and Illegal Criminal Database Searches
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