American Civil Liberties Union

A Montana district court ordered the state to pay $1.3 million in attorneys’ fees after a lawsuit challenged Senate Bill 99, an unconstitutional ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The court ruled the law violated the Montana Constitution and held the state responsible for the financial burden of defending it.

Cecillia Wang, national legal director of the ACLU, discussed her Supreme Court argument in Trump v. Barbara, challenging an executive order to end birthright citizenship, at SCOTUSblog’s term-in-review event. The discussion also covered the ACLU’s recent cases, including a controversial gun rights case and a voting rights loss.

Three Flock Safety surveillance cameras in Pageland, S.C., were vandalized and damaged, prompting police to seek public assistance in identifying the perpetrators. The cameras, used for crime-solving efforts including license plate tracking, were part of a $3,000 each purchase of 10 units by the town. Flock Safety condemned the vandalism, emphasizing the system's role in public safety and ongoing national privacy debates.

A federal appeals court ruled that religious schools in Maine cannot be exempt from the state’s nondiscrimination laws, which prohibit discrimination based on faith, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The decision rejected appeals by Bangor Christian Schools and St. Dominic Academy, which argued the law violated their First Amendment rights. The court remanded part of the case regarding religious expression back to a lower court.

Nikki Hiltz, an American Olympic runner who identifies as transgender nonbinary, expressed disappointment after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of West Virginia and Idaho, upholding state laws requiring student-athletes to compete based on biological sex at birth. The decision, backed by Alliance Defending Freedom, supports laws protecting women's sports but opposes access for transgender athletes, with 23 states still lacking such restrictions.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over a law designating it a 'domestic terrorist organization,' arguing the designation is 'baseless' and could shut down its operations. The law, HB 1471, also targets the Muslim Brotherhood and 'antifa,' with DeSantis recommending 90 other groups for similar classification under the new legislation.

Tennessee's updated lethal injection protocol, implemented in January 2025, reduces IV placement training during monthly rehearsals. The protocol's changes coincided with the aborted execution of Tony Carruthers in May, where prison staff failed to establish an IV line, raising concerns about executioners' qualifications and ethical compliance.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his intent to recommend the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) be designated a terrorist organization under a new state law, HB 1471. CAIR, which describes itself as a Muslim civil liberties group, opposed the law, citing constitutional concerns, while DeSantis argued it would prevent 'foreign and extremist influence.'

The Metro Council implements a ticketed system for public comments on data center bills at a July 7 meeting. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship in the Trump v. Barbara case, invalidating an executive order. Private schools with vouchers have extended time to submit test scores for academic performance reporting.

The US Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, upholding the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. The 6-3 ruling maintained automatic citizenship for nearly all children born in the US, including those of undocumented parents. Trump criticized the decision and called on Congress to address birthright citizenship.

A former appellate judge and the ACLU petition the Florida Supreme Court to compel Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill a judicial vacancy beyond the 60-day constitutional deadline. The Judicial Nominating Commission submitted six nominees on March 17, but no appointment was made by May 18, violating the state constitution. The case references a 2009 precedent where a governor was ordered to fill a similar vacancy.

Tennessee's updated lethal injection protocol, effective January 2025, reduces IV placement training during rehearsals. The protocol's changes followed an independent review and were highlighted during the May 2025 aborted execution of Tony Carruthers, where prison staff struggled to establish IV lines. Concerns about execution team qualifications and ethical issues involving physician Mark Fowler, who assists in executions despite AMA ethics guidelines, persist in ongoing litigation.

The Trump Justice Department claimed police reform efforts in cities like Louisville and Minneapolis were 'factually unjustified,' but a new ACLU report reveals continued excessive force and misconduct by officers, including Taser misuse during mental health calls. The report, covering late 2024 to early 2025, highlights incidents such as a Minneapolis officer repeatedly shocking a compliant individual and a Louisville officer escalating a mental health encounter with a Taser and baton.

An extreme heat warning is in effect for Middle Tennessee until June 30, with heat indices reaching 110 degrees. Metro is conducting heat patrols, and residents are advised to stay in air-conditioned spaces. The Choose How You Move program is advancing an overhaul of Nolensville Pike, including transit lanes and safety improvements. A class-action lawsuit challenging a Tennessee law targeting noncitizens was dismissed by a federal judge.

Vermont lawmakers passed a law restricting automatic license plate tracking, but police circumvented it by using out-of-state surveillance systems. The loophole allows tracking of vehicles when they travel outside Vermont, raising privacy concerns and highlighting the use of a national network of cameras not addressed in the state law.

The article challenges the common belief that Darwin's theory of evolution was directly derived from his study of Galápagos finches, noting he spent only a few weeks there and lacked precise specimen labeling. It also clarifies the Scopes trial originated as a deliberate test case by the ACLU, not a random classroom incident.

The Washington Supreme Court is set to consider a case involving a transgender woman's prison transfer. This marks the first case the court has heard from an incarcerated transgender person, as noted by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Trump-era Department of Justice claims presidential communications privilege to block disclosure of an Office of Legal Counsel memo about drone strikes on suspected drug cartel boats. The ACLU and Center for Constitutional Rights filed a FOIA request seeking the memo, arguing it concerns military authority for lethal strikes, while the DOJ asserts the document contains sensitive, classified information. The case hinges on whether the memo's legal guidance remains protected by privilege or has become public policy.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from accessing medical records of transgender minors who received gender-affirming care in New York City healthcare facilities. The ruling, issued as a temporary restraining order, cited constitutional privacy violations and supported claims under New York confidentiality laws, with Lambda Legal and ACLU backing the plaintiffs.

Tennessee abandoned the execution of Tony Carruthers after a failed lethal injection attempt, but three more executions are scheduled this year for Darrell Hines, Christa Pike, and Gary Sutton. Legal challenges and calls for a pause on the death penalty remain unresolved, with ongoing litigation over execution protocols and medical practices.

Family planning groups sued the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, alleging the Trump administration is politicizing Title X funding by imposing priorities like ending diversity and gender-affirming care efforts. The lawsuit challenges a 2027 funding policy requiring applicants to align with these priorities, which critics say conflict with Title X's original intent to support low-income reproductive health access.

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and a Pennsylvania family planning organization sued the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, alleging politicization of the Title X grant program through the 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity. The complaint claims the new funding priorities conflict with the law's intent by requiring applicants to align with policies ending diversity efforts and gender-affirming care.

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania sued the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, alleging the Trump administration is politicizing Title X funding by imposing priorities conflicting with the program's original intent. The lawsuit challenges the 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity, which requires applicants to align with policies such as ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and gender-affirming care.

Florence Balogun gave birth to Folarin Balogun in New York in 2001 after being denied a flight to London due to her pregnancy. Folarin, a U.S. citizen by birth, became a key player for the American soccer team at the World Cup, scoring two goals in a 4-1 victory over Paraguay. His success has highlighted the U.S. birthright citizenship debate, with President Donald Trump's executive order to end the policy currently under Supreme Court review.

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and a Pennsylvania family planning organization sued the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, alleging politicization of Title X funding and violation of the law's intent. The lawsuit challenges the 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity, which requires applicants to align with priorities including ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and gender-affirming care, and prohibits appeals for eligibility decisions.

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania sued the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, alleging the Title X grant program is being politicized through new funding priorities that conflict with its intended purpose. The lawsuit challenges the 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity, which mandates an 'alignment review' prioritizing policies like ending diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and gender-affirming care.

A three-judge panel heard arguments on Tennessee's redistricting map. The ACLU of Tennessee, Memphis voters, and the American Civil Liberties Union allege intentional discrimination, seeking to block the map before elections. The new map divides Memphis and Shelby County into three sections, reducing the state's last majority-Black district, following a Supreme Court ruling that weakened protections under the Voting Rights Act.

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and a Pennsylvania-based family planning organization sued the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, alleging politicization of Title X funding and violation of the program's intent. The lawsuit challenges new funding priorities that require applicants to align with policies ending diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and gender-affirming care, which the complaint claims conflict with Title X's focus on low-income reproductive health services.

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania sued the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, alleging politicization of the Title X grant program. The lawsuit challenges the 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Title X, which requires applicants to align with priorities such as ending diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and gender-affirming care, conflicting with the program's original intent.

Kansas City, Missouri, plans to equip public buses with facial recognition software to identify banned riders or missing persons, sparking debate over privacy and security. Missouri declined to fund the project due to privacy concerns, but the city is proceeding with local and federal funds. SafeSpace Global, the company providing the technology, claims it will only retain facial data if a safety issue is detected.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas man who argued that a federal law banning gun ownership for marijuana users violates the Second Amendment. The decision limits the government's ability to prohibit drug users from owning firearms unless they are deemed dangerous, impacting millions of Americans in states where marijuana is legal. The case involved political alliances between the ACLU, NRA, and cannabis groups, challenging a 1968 law also used against Hunter Biden.

Kansas City, Missouri, plans to equip public buses with facial recognition software to identify banned riders or missing persons, sparking debate over privacy and security. The project, funded by local and federal sources, involves SafeSpace Global and faces opposition from privacy advocates who warn of surveillance expansion.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Texas man who argued that federal law banning gun ownership for illegal drug users violates the Second Amendment. The decision allows marijuana users to own guns but does not eliminate all restrictions, as prosecutors can still charge individuals with evidence of danger.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Texas man, Ali Danial Hemani, who argued that the Second Amendment protects gun ownership for marijuana users. The decision limits but does not eliminate the government's ability to restrict firearms from drug users, and it affects a 1968 law used in cases involving drug use and gun possession.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas man who argued that a 1968 law prohibiting gun ownership for individuals who use illegal drugs violates the Second Amendment. The decision limits but does not eliminate the government's ability to restrict firearms from drug users, and it marks a loss for the Trump administration, which had supported the law. The ruling also impacts a prior case involving Hunter Biden, who was convicted of buying a gun while addicted to cocaine in 2018.

The Supreme Court is set to rule on a birthright citizenship case linked to President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the 14th Amendment’s longstanding practice. The court will also decide whether to allow termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants. Justices expressed skepticism about the government’s argument, and immigrant advocates warn ending birthright citizenship would harm children and undermine a foundational constitutional principle.

Kansas City, Missouri, plans to install facial recognition cameras on public buses to identify banned riders or missing persons, sparking debate over privacy and security. The project, funded by local and federal money, faces opposition from privacy advocates like the ACLU, while supporters argue it aligns with existing security measures. Missouri declined state funding due to privacy concerns, and the system will only retain facial data if a safety issue is detected.

Kansas City, Missouri, is planning to install facial recognition cameras on public buses to identify banned riders or missing persons, sparking debate over privacy and security. The project, funded by local and federal sources after Missouri declined state funding, involves SafeSpace Global, a company previously using similar technology in nursing homes and schools. Critics warn of potential surveillance expansion, while officials argue it is a natural evolution of existing bus cameras.

Kansas City, Missouri, is equipping public buses with facial recognition cameras to identify banned riders and missing persons, sparking a debate over privacy and security. The project, funded by local and federal sources after Missouri declined to support it, involves SafeSpace Global and has drawn both support and opposition regarding AI's role in public safety.

The Department of Homeland Security has transferred all detainees from the Florida Everglades migrant detention center 'Alligator Alcatraz' to other facilities due to hurricane season concerns. The facility, criticized for harsh conditions and mistreatment, has processed over 20,000 detainees since its 2025 opening, with advocates suggesting the transfer is an excuse for other reasons.