The Best Chicago Civil Rights Attorney

The Declaration of Independence states that all people have the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In 1776, these words had a much more limited meaning than they did in future years. Over the years, civil rights gradually expanded, and today, the vision of universal civil rights is more real than at any other time in the country’s history. Yet, the area of civil rights remains unsettled. Moreover, government agencies are not always quick to acknowledge everyone’s civil rights.

Areas like these are where the Law Office of Mitchell Kline shines the brightest. In civil rights cases, just like in the other areas of law that we handle, we diligently prepare your case. So, we present passionate and well-reasoned arguments in court that support your position. Moreover, we are very assertive in this area. We do not shy away from the tough civil rights cases. Instead, we embrace them. Unless attorneys are willing to take on these cases, the civil rights we enjoy today will quickly fade away. That outcome is unacceptable to us, just like it is unacceptable to you.

Basic Civil Rights and Your Job

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment, which guarantees the rights of free speech, free assembly, free religious expression, and free press, may be the most prominent among them. All Chicago lawyers take oaths to uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. At the Law Office of Mitchell Kline, we also believe in the Workplace Bill of Rights:

• Respect: Many American schoolchildren once had to memorize the Golden Rule, which is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Employers would do well to abide by this rule. Additionally, employers should always keep their promises regarding wages, promotions, and so on.
• Discrimination-Free Workplaces: The Civil Rights Act states that employers cannot make decisions based on age, gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, or other prohibited statuses.
• Safe Workplaces: All employees should have the tools they need to do their jobs without risk of serious injury.
• Collective Action: The violent “strike-busters” of the early 20th century are thankfully a relic of the past. But many employers continue to deny their workers the right to band together and collectively bargain for things like better wages and working conditions.
• Retaliation-Free Workplaces: Employees should be able to stand up for their rights without fear of adverse action. In many workplaces, that is simply not the case. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission files more retaliation complaints than any other type of job discrimination claim.

These tenets are not earth-shattering ideals. Instead, they simply build upon the protections already embedded in Illinois and U.S. law.

Police Brutality in Chicago

Shootings and vicious beatings always make the headlines, but these incidents are only the tip of the iceberg. Police brutality also includes things like:

• Verbal abuse during traffic stops or other police encounters,
• Excessive force after the arrest (e.g. excessively tight handcuffs), and
• Racial profiling.

Technological advances, such as police body cameras, have made these cases much easier to win in recent years. However, they are still very much uphill climbs.

One reason these cases are so difficult is that the underlying law constantly changes. For example, as of 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which includes Illinois, is one of the few Circuits that acknowledged that filming police activities is a Constitutional right. Law enforcement agencies in Chicago that infringe upon this right violate your civil rights.

Contact a Tenacious Lawyer

At work and during police encounters, people have basic rights. For a free consultation with an experienced employment law attorney in Chicago, contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline. Our main office is conveniently located across the street from City Hall.