Case Western Reserve University School of Law hosts historic signing of ‘Tanisha’s Law,’ advancing Cleveland’s mental health crisis response
Case Western Reserve University School of Law served as the backdrop for a major shift in Cleveland’s public safety and mental health strategy as Mayor Justin M. Bibb (LAW ’18) signed “Tanisha’s Law,” landmark legislation creating a new civilian-led response to mental health crisis calls.
The signing ceremony also honored the legacy of Tanisha Anderson, who died in 2014 when Cleveland police restrained her during a mental health crisis. The law establishes a new city bureau of unarmed clinicians and social workers who will respond to mental health-related emergency calls, providing an alternative to traditional police response.
Mayor Bibb’s decision to sign the legislation outside of Cleveland City Hall underscored the School of Law’s role in the effort. The original draft of Tanisha’s Law was developed five years ago by then-Case Western Reserve law students Michael O’Donnell and Alexandra Mendez-Diez, working in collaboration with Anderson family advocates and several community partners.
“This work reflects what legal education can and should be,” said Ayesha Bell Hardaway, professor at School of Law and the director of the Social Justice Institute, who helped spearhead the effort. “These students did this work without course credit, without payment and alongside the full demands of law school. Their commitment helped turn advocacy into action.”
For Tanisha Anderson’s family, the signing marked a milestone after more than a decade of advocacy and grief.
“I’ve always said until Tanisha’s law is passed, to me, she’s still out there on the sidewalk,” said Michael Anderson, Tanisha Anderson’s uncle. “Well, today she got up.”
Case Western Reserve University School of Law has long supported experiential learning that connects students with real-world legal challenges and community impact. The drafting of Tanisha’s Law reflects the school’s commitment to public service, legal innovation and preparing future lawyers to shape policy and advance justice.
