Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) congratulates Founding Partner Art Hartinger and Partner and Head of Appellate Practice Ryan McGinley-Stempel, for receiving a distinguished Amicus Service Award from the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) for their service to the IMLA Legal Advocacy program in Simon v. City and County of San Francisco, currently pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Through the Amicus Service Award, IMLA recognizes lawyers who have been actively involved in legal advocacy for and on behalf of local governments and IMLA, and who have performed exemplary work to protect and advance local government interests.
In Simon v. City and County of San Francisco, the ACLU challenged the constitutionality of San Francisco’s pretrial release monitoring program, which relies on electronic monitoring as an alternative to pretrial detention. The trial court prevented the San Francisco Sheriff from sharing the location data of pretrial releasees with other law enforcement agencies (including the San Francisco Police Department). On appeal, RPLG filed an amicus brief on behalf of IMLA and the California State Association of Counties supporting San Francisco.
“Simon v. City and County of San Francisco involves critical issues surrounding local government authority to employ forward-thinking pretrial release programs without compromising public safety,” said Ryan. “The use of electronic monitoring allows pretrial detainees who would otherwise need to be detained pending trial to remain in their communities without jeopardizing public safety and helps to ensure arrestees’ appearance in court proceedings. In this case, we filed an amicus brief to ensure local governments that elect to use pretrial release programs retain an important tool for protecting the public, while keeping people out of jail.”
RPLG is awaiting a decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Art and Ryan will receive the Amicus Service Award at the IMLA Mid-Year Seminar in Washington, D.C., on April 25.
Art previously was honored in 2018 for authoring the League of California Cities’ amicus brief in Boling v. Public Employment Relations Board.
“Please accept our sincere and heartfelt appreciation for your exceptional services for our legal advocacy program,” said Amanda Karras, executive director and general counsel of the International Municipal Lawyers Association.
IMLA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to service local government lawyers and advance the interests of local government law locally, nationally and internationally. The Association champions the development of fair and realistic legal solutions and assists members on the vast and cutting-edge legal issues facing local government leaders today.
RPLG practices throughout California, advising and advocating for public agencies and nonprofits providing forward-thinking, responsive and creative legal solutions.