Judge dismisses Louisville police reform settlement

A federal judge dismissed Louisville's proposed settlement with the U.S. Justice Department after the department withdrew its support earlier this year.

A federal judge in Kentucky dismissed a proposed settlement between the city of Louisville and the U.S. Department of Justice. The judge issued the ruling on Dec. 31 after the Justice Department withdrew its support for the plan earlier this year. The settlement followed a multiyear DOJ investigation into Louisville policing that began after events in 2020. The consent decree had been approved by the Justice Department in the final weeks of the previous administration but required judicial approval. Key points: - U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton wrote that responsibility to lead the Louisville Metro Police Department in compliance with federal law must remain with the city’s elected representatives and the people they serve. - The Justice Department announced in May it was canceling proposed consent decrees with Louisville and Minneapolis after withdrawing support for those settlements. - A draft of the DOJ investigation released in early 2023 alleged the Louisville Police Department discriminated against Black people, used excessive force and conducted searches based on invalid warrants. Summary: The ruling returns formal oversight responsibility to local officials while noting the parties can still undertake reforms themselves. Undetermined at this time.