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We don’t usually share the behind-the-scenes work we do—but this time is different.
For years, the Tulane University First Amendment Law Clinic, led by Katie Schwartzmann, has used its platform (and your tax dollars) to sue Louisiana’s local governments on behalf of radical political activists. These lawsuits defended obscenity in public libraries, targeted elected officials, and even involved defending individuals accused of threatening public officials.
But now… silence.
Tulane’s most aggressive legal activist is suddenly gone—and no one is saying why. What happened to Katie Schwartzmann? What becomes of the Tulane Law Clinic without her? And what does this mean for library boards, local councils, and citizens who’ve been on the receiving end of activist lawfare?
We’ve been tracking it all. And now, we’re connecting the dots publicly.
Related Articles:
https://www.newlouisiana.org/how-radical-activists-weaponize-the-courts/
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Behind Every Blade of Grass
There’s a running joke around our office that Citizens for a New Louisiana is hiding behind every blade of grass. We’ve heard stories about government officials reconsidering questionable decisions because they were worried we’d find out. That’s a remarkable return on an investment we never made: "reaping where we did not sow, and gathering where we scattered no seed." But there’s something important in here, too.
Our little flashlight has earned us a reputation for bringing things to light. Now many officials act as if someone is watching, even when there isn't. That’s the real value of our government transparency work. It's more than just exposing wrongdoing after the fact. We've created an environment where public officials think twice.
Of course, we can’t actually be behind every blade of grass. There are thousands of public meetings, countless government transactions, and more questionable decisions than our small team could ever hope to investigate. But with your help, we can keep them wondering.
If you believe government works better when someone is paying attention, please consider supporting our work.
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Has there been any follow up to this? I’m curious about the connecting dots.
Nothing to update, really. However, there have been recent filings in Texas by the Tulane Law Clinic. Apparently, the new face is Bruce Hamilton, an attorney involved in the failed lawsuit by the former St. Tammany Library Board members seeking reinstatement. We might pull the filing and put something together on it.