The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kentucky is pushing back against the state’s statute of limitations for civil rights cases, arguing that the current one-year time limit is too short to allow victims of constitutional violations to seek justice.
This legal battle began after a lawsuit filed by a Louisville family against Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) was dismissed due to the expiration of the one-year statute of limitations. On January 17, 2025, the ACLU filed a brief in federal court challenging the current statute of limitations, claiming that it is inconsistent with federal civil rights laws and violates citizens’ right to seek justice when their constitutional rights are violated.
The ACLU’s brief was filed in collaboration with the law firm Covington & Burling, after the Wright family’s case was thrown out of court for failing to meet the one-year time limit. The case stems from an incident in May 2020, when officers from the LMPD raided the Wright family’s home on a faulty search warrant. The officers allegedly stormed the house, demanded the family leave, and held them at gunpoint. The family was then taken into custody, along with two minors, the Wrights’ great-nephews.
According to the ACLU, the Wright family filed the lawsuit promptly after the incident, but the legal process was complicated when they were unable to identify the officers involved in the raid within the one-year time limit. This delay led to the case being dismissed, as the court ruled that the statute of limitations had passed.
Corey Shapiro, the ACLU-KY Legal Director, expressed frustration with the ruling, noting that the statute of limitations in Kentucky is exceptionally short when compared to other states. “A central principle of our civil rights laws is that people should be able to have their day in court if the state violates their rights,” Shapiro said. “The too-brief limitations period ignores how complex civil rights litigation can become, and robs victims of their ability to seek relief.”
The brief filed by the ACLU argues that Kentucky’s one-year statute of limitations does not give people enough time to gather evidence and identify the responsible parties in cases involving government misconduct. This, they argue, puts victims at a disadvantage, especially when trying to hold public officials accountable for their actions.
Kentucky’s statute of limitations for civil rights cases is one of the shortest in the United States, with only one other state, plus Puerto Rico, having a similar limit. In most states, the statute of limitations for civil rights cases is longer, typically ranging from two to six years. The ACLU argues that a one-year limit is not only unreasonable, but also unjust for victims of police misconduct, where the process of identifying the involved officers can often take time.
In the Wright family’s case, the inability to identify the officers before the one-year deadline led to the lawsuit being dismissed. Shapiro noted that this short timeline creates an additional hurdle for individuals seeking justice, especially when trying to piece together complex cases of police misconduct. “It’s incredibly difficult to identify defendants within that time period, which is why so few other states have such a short period to be able to do that,” he explained.
After the dismissal of the case, the Wright family, with the help of the ACLU, filed an appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The case is now in the process of being reviewed by the court, with a reply brief expected next month. The family has also requested that the court allow for oral arguments to be made.
The ACLU’s challenge to Kentucky’s statute of limitations could have far-reaching consequences, as it could set a precedent for how civil rights cases are handled in the future. The outcome of this legal battle will be closely watched by other advocacy groups and legal professionals, as it may impact how victims of government misconduct in Kentucky and beyond are able to pursue justice.
In the meantime, the Wright family continues to seek justice for the traumatic events they experienced during the police raid. Despite the legal setbacks, they remain committed to holding the responsible officers accountable for their actions.
For now, the ACLU and the Wright family are hoping that the legal system will recognize the flaws in Kentucky’s civil rights laws and give victims more time to pursue justice.
The case is still ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether Kentucky’s one-year statute of limitations will be changed. However, this legal challenge is an important step toward reforming the state’s civil rights laws and ensuring that victims of police misconduct are given a fair chance to seek justice.
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