Latest American Civil Liberties Union News

TikTok has sued the US over a law that could ban its app. What's the legal outlook?

May. 07, 2024 13:40 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — A newly minted law forcing TikTok's parent company to sell the video-sharing platform or face a ban in the U.S. could be in for an uphill battle in court. The app’s China-based owner, ByteDance, filed a lawsuit Tuesday, calling the measure unconstitutional....

An abortion rights initiative in South Dakota receives enough signatures to make the ballot

May. 01, 2024 19:53 PM EDT

Supporters of a South Dakota abortion rights initiative submitted far more signatures than required Wednesday to make the ballot this fall. But its outcome is unclear in the conservative state, where Republican lawmakers strongly oppose the measure and a major abortion rights advocate doesn't...

Editorial Roundup: New England

Apr. 26, 2024 07:23 AM EDT

Portland Press Herald. April 21, 2024. Editorial: Maine lawmakers’ inaction on red flag law is a monumental failure The Legislature busied itself with scores of comparatively meaningless proposals throughout the session just ended. Worse than voting the proposal...

County in rural New Mexico extends agreement with ICE for immigrant detention amid criticism

Apr. 24, 2024 19:20 PM EDT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — County commissioners in rural New Mexico extended authorization for a migrant detention facility Wednesday in cooperation with federal authorities over objections by advocates for immigrant rights who allege inhumane conditions and due process violations at the privately...

West Virginia transgender sports ban discriminates against teen athlete, appeals court says

Apr. 16, 2024 17:53 PM EDT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's transgender sports ban violates the rights of a teen athlete under Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools, an appeals court ruled Tuesday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1...

Federal appeals court hears arguments on nation's first ban on gender-affirming care for minors

Apr. 11, 2024 13:47 PM EDT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Arguments before a federal appeals court that is considering whether to reinstate Arkansas' first-in-the-nation ban on gender-affirming care for minors focused Thursday on whether it and similar restrictions adopted by two dozen states discriminate on the basis of sex. ...

Deadly Chicago traffic stop where police fired 96 shots raises serious questions about use of force

Apr. 10, 2024 19:04 PM EDT

CHICAGO (AP) — A deadly traffic stop where plainclothes Chicago police officers fired nearly 100 shots in under a minute has raised serious questions about the use of force and role of tactical officers in departments. As family and community members mourn 26-year-old Dexter Reed,...

Lawsuit challenging Indiana abortion ban survives a state challenge

Apr. 04, 2024 19:07 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Court of Appeals gave an incremental win Thursday to a group of residents suing the state over its near-total abortion ban, arguing that it violates a state law protecting religious freedom. The three-judge panel's ruling agreed with a lower court...

Idaho lawmakers pass bills targeting LGBTQ+ citizens. Protesters toss paper hearts in protest

Apr. 03, 2024 19:47 PM EDT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers have passed a series of bills targeting LGBTQ+ residents this year, including two this week that prevent public employees from being required to use someone's preferred pronouns and redefine gender as being synonymous with sex. On Wednesday, the...

ACLU, Planned Parenthood challenge Ohio abortion restrictions after voter referendum

Mar. 29, 2024 16:04 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood filed a legal challenge on Friday to some of Ohio’s abortion laws, now that Ohio voters have enshrined voting rights in the state’s constitution. The lawsuit filed on behalf of abortion clinics says...