The Region - News from May 30, 1985

The American Civil Liberties Union announced that it will handle the Jewish Defense League’s appeal of a lawsuit accusing the City of Los Angeles of using an undercover police officer to provoke the league into violence. A Santa Monica Superior Court judge dismissed the league’s suit on May 16, saying that he agreed with the city’s argument that a trial would force the disclosure of sensitive national and international law enforcement secrets and jeopardize national security. Paul Hoffman, legal director for the ACLU in Southern California, said the organization is taking the case as part of an effort to combat use of claims of national security to prevent citizens from pressing constitutional grievances in court. The JDL’s lawsuit alleges that between 1979 and 1984 a Los Angeles police officer infiltrated its ranks and attempted to provoke the group to commit violent acts. The city has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation.