The National Law Journal announced that partner Kevin Martin has been selected as a 2020 Litigation and Political Activism/1st Amendment Rights Trailblazer. This year’s edition honors litigators who have won significant matters protecting freedom of speech and defending the rights of political activists nationwide.
The National Law Journal highlighted Kevin leading a Goodwin team that succeeded in striking down an anti-panhandling law in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The law made it illegal for pedestrians to stand on most medians in the city, and also made it illegal to engage in “physical exchanges” on roadways. The Albuquerque victory built upon a series of cases across the country in which Kevin has successfully defended the free speech rights of panhandlers. These efforts have resulted in the repealing or overturning of panhandling ordinances in cities such as Portland, Maine; Worcester and Lowell, Massachusetts; and Tampa, Florida.
“We are protecting people who have no political constituency,” said Mr. Martin. “While these laws are drafted to target the homeless, they also target politicians, anti-war protestors and many others.”
A partner in and Co-Chair of Goodwin’s Appellate Litigation practice, Kevin has argued and briefed numerous cases in federal and state appellate courts around the country, and also has extensive experience in both trial matters and internal and government investigations. He has previously been named Lawyer of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and one of Boston Business Journal’s Power 50, an annual listing of top executives and business leaders in Boston.