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LA City Attorney’s Office wants to hire outside law firm in legal fight against journalists
LAPD Officers line up in preparation to form a skirmish line in front of protesters near the federal detention facility in downtown L.A. on June 7, 2025.
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Jordan Rynning / LAist
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The Los Angeles city attorney is asking city leaders for $250,000 to hire an outside law firm to aid the Los Angeles Police Department in its legal fight against local journalists.
The details
In a report filed in the city clerk docket by City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto’s office on Friday, Denise Mills, chief deputy city attorney, signed a request for a new contract with Best Best & Krieger for a term of three years for legal work to defend the police department on a case filed by the L.A. Press Club.
City departments file reports in the docket ahead of it appearing on a City Council or committee agenda.
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How we got here
- In June, the Los Angeles Press Club and investigative reporting outlet Status Coup sued the police department for its treatment of journalists during anti-ICE protests.
- Judge Hernán Vera of the Central District Court of California issued an injunction in September restricting police use of force against journalists, writing that the latest protests presented “the latest chapter in a long and unfortunate saga of the LAPD’s use of unlawful force against members of the media.”
- Last week, the L.A. city attorney filed an emergency motion on behalf of LAPD asking the judge to lift the injunction, stating it should only cover journalists affiliated with the L.A. Press Club and Status Coup.
- On Friday, the judge denied the motion after the Los Angeles City Council also unanimously voted to ask the city attorney to withdraw it.
What’s next
A City Council vote is required to green light the spending. LAist has asked the city attorney’s office when the request will come in front of the City Council for approval.
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