Attorney Antonio M. Romanucci Witness Statement on Path to Accountability for Federal Officers and Victim Impact

Leader Jeffries and distinguished members of Congress; 

My name is Antonio Romanucci, and I am a civil rights and tort litigation attorney with the deep honor of representing the family of Renee Good for her tragic shooting death by a federal agent in Minneapolis. I have handled excessive and deadly force cases across the country for decades. 

When the world watched Renee and Alex Pretti killed without justification, there was a collective cry of anger for justice. My colleagues and I, like all of you, were aghast. 

Esteemed Members, thank you for holding this important forum to explore avenues to ensure accountability. It is crucial that the policies and practices of our agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, reflect the values and rights afforded to the American people in our Constitution.   

Our Bill of Rights, specifically under the Fourth Amendment, requires our people to be free from unreasonable search and seizure of their person and their property. When a person is detained, handcuffed, pepper-sprayed, pepper-balled or shot, that, by definition, is a seizure.  

Additionally, it is gravely concerning that this administration asserts federal law enforcement officers have absolute immunity. That false narrative leads to law enforcement officers’ potential to act with absolute impunity. This is a slippery slope we never want to sled on.

U.S. Section 1983 gives a person a means to sue for Fourth Amendment search and seizure violations. And the Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial. Currently, Section 1983 covers all law enforcement officers except federal. There should be a level playing field when a person has their constitutional rights violated by a federal, state, county or local police officer. The law must be suitable, sensible and equitable.

Clients, friends and people from all walks of life tell me they feel betrayed by their country and our Constitution when it becomes clear there is not the same avenue to justice available when a federal officer causes harm or violates them or their loved ones.

All people must have the Bill of Rights protecting them, specifically the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial, which is not available to all currently. 

My wherefore clause for this panel is this: I urge you to support the longer-term effort to amend a now archaic statute from the year 1871, to include the right to seek redress against federal law enforcement officers by adding the words “or the United States” to the list of government agencies that we may now seek remedies from.  

While this issue has been highlighted because of Renee Good’s death involving a federal agent, the need for an amendment solves a significant gap in access to justice for all Americans. 

A jury trial is the ultimate bastion for truth, accountability and justice, and that path is now blocked for some. The Seventh Amendment is a right – not an option.  

On behalf of our clients, my colleagues and the American people, this one simple change levels the playing field for all law enforcement officers.  

Thank you.