L.A. City Attorney Disputes Judge’s Order Defining ‘Journalist’ in Protest Cases
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto is challenging a federal judge’s order regarding the identification of journalists during protests, arguing the current definition is too broad and could allow individuals to falsely claim press credentials.
The dispute stems from a lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles Press Club following incidents during summer 2023 protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, where dozens of journalists reported being targeted by LAPD officers with crowd control weapons. U.S. District Judge Hernán Vera proposed criteria for identifying journalists – including distinctive clothing or professional photographic equipment – but the City Attorney’s Office contends this is insufficient. In a confidential memo, Supervising Assistant City Atty. Shaun Dabby Jacobs wrote, “All a person needs to do is print out a badge that says ‘Press,’ or carry a camera…and they can go behind police line or into other restricted areas.” The broader concern is that a vague definition could compromise police safety and operational control during future demonstrations.
The memo further argues the injunction imposes stricter conditions on the use of “less lethal” weapons than state law, permitting such force only when “danger has reached the point where deadly force is justified.” It also raises concerns about potential liability if the LAPD relies on mutual aid from other agencies not bound by the injunction. The city could potentially be liable for our law enforcement partners’ actions if they act in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the injunction,” the memo stated. This legal battle comes amid ongoing scrutiny of police response to protests and the rights of the press to cover them, as detailed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
During a closed-door meeting with the City Council yesterday, Feldstein Soto and Chief Deputy City Atty. Denise Mills reportedly suggested the Press Club’s lawyer, Carol Sobel, was motivated by financial gain, a claim disputed by council members and Sobel herself. “I’m really outraged. It is a baseless suggestion, and it doesn’t alter the fact that they’re shooting people in the head,” Sobel stated. The City Attorney’s office maintains Feldstein Soto did not make the claim. The case is also connected to broader issues within city government, including a recent shakeup in the Bureau of Sanitation, as reported in L.A. on the Record.
Feldstein Soto intends to continue pursuing an appeal of the injunction, despite opposition from the City Council, and will discuss the matter further in upcoming legal proceedings.
