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Las Vegas Lawyer To Take 'Black Lives Matter' Protest Back To Courtroom

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas defense attorney is expected to again challenge a state court judge's rule against courtroom displays of what he terms political speech by refusing to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin.

Erika Ballou, a deputy Clark County public defender, is due to appear Thursday for a client's sentencing hearing before Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon.

Ballou, who is black, refused Tuesday when the judge asked her to remove the pin.

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Herndon says he asks everyone to leave political and opinion protests at the courtroom door.

Ballou is the latest voice of protest in a national debate over police brutality and race relations.

She says she's taking a stand for free speech, due process and civil rights.

She says it's not a question of black lives versus police lives.