Appeals court rejects D.C.’s bid for checkpoints

A U.S. appeals court on Thursday rejected the District’s request to rehear its case in which the court found the city’s police barricades violated citizens’ rights.

Last year, during a spate of violence in the Trinidad neighborhood, Mayor Adrian Fenty and Police Chief Cathy Lanier threw up military-style checkpoints to stop motorists, check IDs and turn back anyone who police deemed did not have legitimate business in the neighborhood.

In July, a three-member panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the checkpoints unconstitutional.

The District asked for a review of the entire nine-member appeals court, but eight of the nine judges voted against a rehearing.

Fenty could ask the U.S. Supreme Court for a hearing.

– Scott McCabe

Related Content