This week, you will have to write a professional letter. Your supervising attorney has asked you to prepare a letter that will be sent to an Alabama prosecutor.
Your client is Lester Cool. Cool lives in Alabama. He owns a home. His neighbor across the street from Cool was away on vacation. Whenever these neighbors are away on summer vacation, Cool has watered the neighbor’s outdoor plants in the front yard. These neighbors were always grateful that Cool was such a thoughtful neighbor.
One day, at about 6:00 pm, when Cool was watering this neighbor’s plants, a police car pull up in front of the neighbor’s house. A different neighbor had called the police and reported suspicious activity. The police officer approached Cool and asked “What you doing here, man?”
Holding the water hose, Cool answered, “Watering flowers.”
Cool stated his name and noted that he is a religious leader at the local congregation and lives across the street. The police officer asked him to provide identification. Cool declined to do so and stated that he had done nothing wrong.
The police officer arrested Cool in front of his neighbor’s house and charged him with “obstructing government operations.” Cool was placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a police car.
The neighbor who called the police came out of her home and told the officer that she made a
mistake, that she knows Cool, and that he was just watering his neighbor’s plants. The officer ignored the neighbor.
Your attorney could not reach the prosecuting attorney on the phone. Your attorney wants to Fed Ex a letter demanding Cool’s release.
Review Alabama’s Stop and Identify Law: Alabama Code Section 15-5-30: Authority of peace officer to stop and question.
Review the APUS Legal Studies Writing Guide.
In this formal letter, explain what happened (Do not copy the assignment. Instead rephrase the facts in your own words) and argue for your client’s release in light of the law. Your attorney also noted to your that Cool is a person of color and is concerned that this fact may have played a role in the arrest of Cool.
Research and discuss the statute, and case law to support your points. You have discussed with your client filing a lawsuit because the police wrongfully detained and arrested your client.
This letter should not exceed 2 pages. Create any content necessary to compose a professional letter, but you cannot change the facts (who did what to whom).
