Author

Abigail Cerra
Five takeaways from the Minneapolis Police Department investigations and findings
By: Abigail Cerra and Paul Ostrow - July 19, 2023
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has completed its investigation, issued findings and negotiated a proposed settlement agreement with the city of Minneapolis. The U.S. Department of Justice also completed its investigation and issued findings; it is now engaged with the city to negotiate — or litigate — a federal consent decree. Both agencies, separately and independently, […]
Hennepin County prosecutor’s Brady memo falls short
By: Abigail Cerra and Paul Ostrow - November 18, 2022
In our August commentary, we outlined a few basic steps to improve Brady disclosure, which is the constitutional requirement that prosecutors fully disclose all evidence relevant to the defense. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office’s recently released Brady policy does not pass constitutional muster and fails to take the steps needed to ensure justice for defendants […]
Brady is a constitutional imperative — here’s how to fix it in Minnesota
By: Abigail Cerra and Paul Ostrow - August 12, 2022
Anyone who watches crime shows regularly or is an occasional student of constitutional history is aware of the Warren Court’s landmark decisions in Gideon v. Wainwright and Miranda v. Arizona, guaranteeing every accused the right to counsel and the right to be advised of constitutional rights at the time of arrest. Without Brady v. Maryland, […]