Cases and Legal Advocacy

One of the main ways ACLU-DC works to protect civil liberties and civil rights is through litigation. This section of our website documents the cases we’re working on now and those we’ve handled in recent years. Click here for general information about what types of cases we litigate.

Important disclaimer: Communicating with us through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship; only a signed agreement can create such a relationship. Additionally, past success is no guarantee of future results, even if we agree to represent you.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Oct 7, 2021

ACLU V. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY – FOIA REGARDING DEATHS IN ICE CUSTODY

Immigrants' Rights
Status: Open

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holds thousands of immigrants in detention facilities across the United States. It is required to report all deaths of detainees in its custody, to investigate...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Oct 4, 2021

Mashaud v. Boone – What Does “Constitutionally Protected Activity" Mean in the D.C. Stalking Law?

Freedom of Speech and Association
Status: Victory!
Apparently recognizing that a law making “communicat[ion]” a crime risks the prosecution of speech protected by the First Amendment, the law provides that “[t]his section does not apply to constitutionally...
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Asinor v. D.C. pic
Aug 12, 2021

Asinor v. District of Columbia – Challenging Use of Chemical Irritants and Less-Lethal Projectiles Against Demonstrators and Journalists

Police Practices and Police Misconduct
Status: Open
The ACLU-DC filed a lawsuit on behalf of two photojournalists against the District of Columbia and 8 D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers for unleashing chemical irritants and stun grenades one month...
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folder titled "felon in possession project" boxed in red
May 18, 2021

"Felon in Possession Project" Freedom of Information Act Request

Status: Open
A ransomware attack of MPD server files raised questions around the existence of a folder entitled "Felon in Possession Project." The ACLU-DC filed a FOIA request for documents affiliated with MPD’s “Felon in...
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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
May 12, 2021

Kirton v. Mayorkas – Challenging Overly an Narrow Interpretation of Federal Employment Discrimination Law

Equal Protection/Discrimination
Status: Victory!
Alicia Kirton, a FEMA budget analyst, was denied full-time telework status even though her work could be done remotely and a white man with the same job had been granted telework status for years.
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Sunday Hinton
May 11, 2021

Hinton v. District of Columbia – Challenging Department of Corrections’ Policy of Discriminatorily Housing Transgender Individuals Based on “Anatomy” Rather Than Gender Identity

Equal Protection/Discrimination
Status: Victory!

When Sunday Hinton, a transgender woman, came into the custody of the D.C. Department of Corrections in late April 2021, DOC housed her in a men’s unit at the D.C. Jail, because DOC’s housing policy for...

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