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
Feb 15, 2022

ACLU V. U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE – SEEKING TO UNCOVER AN IMPROPER SCHEME TO OPERATE A PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITY

Criminal Justice Reform
Status: Victory!

On February 14, 2022, we filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit on behalf of the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties and the ACLU Foundation of Southern California against the U.S....

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Feb 7, 2022

AAMIR SHAIKH V. U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) – SEEKING COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE ICE DETAINEES

Immigrants' Rights
Status: Victory!
The ACLU-DC filed this lawsuit, together with the ACLU’s National Prison Project and Immigrants’ Rights Project, on behalf of five medically vulnerable people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs...
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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Feb 4, 2022

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA V. TERRIS, PRAVLIK & MILLIAN – MAKING THE D.C. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WORK

Due Process/Procedural Rights
Status: Amicus Filed
This brief argues that the Freedom of Information Act does authorize private lawsuits to enforce the publication provision, and that the courts do have authority to order agencies to comply with it.
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seal of federal bureau of prisons
Nov 29, 2021

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION V. FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS (CARES Act FOIA)

Criminal Justice Reform
Status: Victory!
Under the Freedom of Information Act, the National ACLU and ACLU-DC requested records providing information about people BOP moved to home confinement under the CARES Act, and for any DOJ and BOP policies...
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deon jones
Nov 17, 2021

Jones v. District of Columbia

Disability Rights
Status: Open
Deon Jones, a gay man, has been employed by the D.C. Dept. of Corrections for more than two decades, where he has endured pervasive acts of harassment based on his sexual orientation. The lawsuit describes how...
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cameron v. dc
Nov 4, 2021

Cameron v. District of Columbia – Challenging Practice of Needlessly Retaining Arrested Individuals' Cell Phones for Months or Years Without Process

Police Practices and Police Misconduct
Status: Open

When people are arrested, the police take their belongings, then generally give them back upon release unless the property is evidence. But the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has a different practice...

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