Reed Smith has been named a 2024 Pro Bono Innovator by Bloomberg Law, recognizing the firm’s impactful legal work on several high-profile cases. Among these achievements is the significant settlement secured in the case of Goyette v. Minneapolis. This litigation arose amidst the 2020 protests against the murder of George Floyd, where journalists encountered police aggression. The firm, alongside the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, reached a settlement of nearly $1 million from the city of Minneapolis, providing reparations for the infringed First, Fourth, and 14th Amendment rights of media members who reported being unlawedly targeted by law enforcement during the protests.
Reed Smith also made significant legal advances in Pennsylvania around name change rights for transgender individuals. In August 2023, the firm successfully challenged the state’s felony bar, which traditionally hindered individuals with certain convictions from changing their names. A compelling win was secured in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas for Jordan Xzavier Hilliard, as Reed Smith’s arguments were grounded in constitutional rights violations, including due process and free speech protections. This victory marks a continuation of the firm’s efforts, which began with similar rulings in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties in 2021, declaring the felony bar unconstitutional and strengthening the rights for transgender individuals to align their legal names with their gender identity.
The landmark outcomes in these cases underscore the crucial role of the judiciary in upholding constitutional freedoms and reflect Reed Smith’s dedication to utilizing the law for social justice. The firm’s pro bono activities have established precedents that echo nationally. The settlement in Minneapolis explicitly highlights the judiciary’s pivotal role in safeguarding press freedoms, while the success of the name change litigation in Pennsylvania pushes for broader statewide reform on the issue.
For more details on Reed Smith’s compelling pro bono contributions, please visit the full article.