Attorney Jason Flores-Williams and a slew of plaintiffs walked into the federal courthouse in downtown Denver this morning to begin the process of suing the city to cease so-called "sweeps" of homeless people and their belongings from Denver streets.
The hearing was short, just under two hours, and set the boundaries and the stage for a legal process that may unwind for months ahead.
Flores-Williams said the initial filing went for "wide ranging discovery," going after Hancock both in his personal and professional capacities because, he said, "I want to depose the mayor."
Afterward, Flores-Williams told Denverite that the judge recommended his team simplify their case, specifically to drop the case against Mayor Michael Hancock's person.
Flores-Williams said he agreed with the judge's request. "Let's get these issues off the table so that we can streamline this in the best way." He thinks the case involving Hancock's professional duties is a "slam dunk."
The streamlining reflected the judge's "understanding," he said, that "this has to move fast, which is pretty rare for federal court."
The judge, U.S. District Judge Craig Shaffer, also made concessions last week to allow the homeless plaintiffs to enter the federal courthouse without identification.
"I think it’s a good day," said Flores-Williams.
Next Thursday, the attorneys and the judge will continue to plot the course of the suit. They'll decide, among other things, how much testimony will be allowed on the stand.
