Press Releases

ACLU-D.C. lawyers and advocates are among the nation's leading experts on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms. They are regularly sought out by leading broadcast, print and online media to lend an essential voice to the conversation about some of the most important issues facing the nation and the District. For all press inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Sep 10, 2024

Lawsuit Challenging Armed Police Response to Mental Health Emergencies in Washington, D.C. to Proceed

“This ruling moves us one step closer to bringing essential, life-saving emergency mental health care to D.C. communities."
Issue Areas: Disability Rights
Jul 06, 2023

Lawsuit Challenges Unequal Response to Mental Health Emergencies in Washington, DC

We’re representing Bread for the City in a federal lawsuit challenging the District’s practice of sending police to mental health emergencies instead of mental health professionals.
Issue Areas: Racial Justice, Police Practices and Police Misconduct, Disability Rights, Equal Protection and Discrimination
May 26, 2020

Court Issues Preliminary Injunction to Protect St. Elizabeths Patients from Dangers of Covid-19

A federal court has found that there is “an imminent risk to [patients’] health and well-being, and the consequences of contracting the virus are irreparable.”
Issue Areas: Disability Rights
Court Cases: Costa v. Bazron - Challenging Conditions at St. Elizabeths Hospital During Month-Long Water Outage and COVID-19 Crisis
Apr 25, 2020

Federal Court Orders Immediate Changes for St. Elizabeths Patients Exposed to COVID-19

A federal court ordered the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health to isolate patients at St. Elizabeths Hospital who have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Issue Areas: Disability Rights, Criminal Justice Reform
Court Cases: Costa v. Bazron - Challenging Conditions at St. Elizabeths Hospital During Month-Long Water Outage and COVID-19 Crisis