Nicodemus V. City Of South Bend
Summary: The legal dispute involves Donald Nicodemus, a citizen-journalist hailing from South Bend, Indiana, who has filed a lawsuit against the City of South Bend and its police department. The crux of the case is the application of Indiana Code § 35-44.1-2-14, a law that permits law enforcement officers to restrict individuals from coming within 25 feet of them following a stop order. Nicodemus contends that this law infringes upon his First Amendment rights, which include the freedom to observe, record, and disseminate police activities without hindrance. He asserts that the South Bend Police have unjustly applied this law against him, thereby obstructing his ability to adequately document their actions. Nicodemus further alleges that the law facilitates content and viewpoint-based discrimination, resulting in significant harm to him. He seeks a judicial declaration that the law is unconstitutional in its application to him, an injunction against its enforcement, and compensation for his costs and attorney's fees. The ACLU of Indiana is providing legal representation in this case.
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