ACLU Legal Director Argues Against 25-Foot Law

Source: PHOTO: ACLU of Indiana

CHICAGO, Ill. — You may remember a law passed last year that requires you to stay at least 25 feet away from crime scenes, if asked to do so by police.

While officers say this law protects them and allows them to do their jobs without interference, some are concerned that it is actually preventing people from holding police accountable.

ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk spoke to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit about this issue Friday, specifically the Donald Nicodemus v. City of South Bend lawsuit.

The ACLU says Nicodemus is a “citizen journalist” in South Bend. He claims officers asked him to follow the 25-foot rule in July of 2023, when he was trying to live stream near the scene of a possible shooting.

According to court documents , Nicodemus was already more than 25 feet from the scene when an officer asked him to move another 25 feet. A short time later, a second officer told him to move an additional 25 feet, for seemingly “no reason.”

But, when Nicodemus expressed his frustrations to the second officer, he was apparently threatened with arrest if he did not comply.

Following the arguments before the Court of Appeals Friday, the Circuit Court notes that it is taking them under advisement.

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