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]

Aug 22, 2018

Judge Sides with Federal Court Administrative Employees in Free Speech Lawsuit

Today a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction barring the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) from enforcing new rules that prohibits AOUSC employees from engaging in a broad range of political speech and activities.
Aug 09, 2018

Federal Court Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Asylum Seekers Challenging Administration Policies

A federal court judge has blocked the government's deportation of immigrants fleeing domestic violence and gang brutality.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights, Due Process/Procedural Rights
Court Cases: Grace v. Barr - Challenge to Trump Administration’s Narrow Interpretation of Asylum Law
Aug 07, 2018

Groups Challenge Trump Administration’s Attacks on Asylum Protections

The ACLU and Center for Gender & Refugee Studies filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s gutting of asylum protections for immigrants fleeing domestic violence and gang brutality.
Jul 18, 2018

ACLU-DC Sues D.C. Police Officer for Anal Probing During Stop and Frisk

Lawsuit charges D.C. Police officer violated Mr. Cottingham's Fourth Amendment rights.
Jul 13, 2018

Federal Court Hearing Monday on ACLU Challenge to Rules Banning Court Administrative Employees from Broad Range of Political Speech

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will hear arguments from the ACLU of the District of Columbia on Monday, July 16 about temporarily halting new rules barring employees of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) from engaging in a broad range of political speech.
Jul 11, 2018

ACLU-DC Requests DC Police Respect Organizers' Wishes at July 11 Public Safety Afternoon Hearing

"We are pleased the D.C. Council is holding public hearings on concerns to public safety in Wards 7 and 8, and we are glad that glad Chief of Police Peter Newsham appears to be planning to attend the morning session," said Monica Hopkins, Executive Director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia."
May 31, 2018

ACLU Files Lawsuit, Seeks Injunction to Protect Free Speech Rights of Court Administrative Employees

The lawsuit challenges new rules prohibiting employees of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts from engaging in a broad range of political speech and activities.
May 08, 2018

Civil Rights Groups Seek Court Order Against D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for Long-Delayed Stop-and-Frisk Data

Today civil rights groups asked a Court to order Mayor Muriel Bowser and two other top D.C. officials to require police to collect comprehensive data on all stops and frisks in the District.
Issue Areas: Police Practices and Police Misconduct, Criminal Justice Reform, Racial Justice
Court Cases: Black Lives Matter-DC v. Bowser - Enforcing D.C. Law’s Stop-And-Frisk Data Collection Requirement that D.C. Police Had Refused to Implement
Mar 30, 2018

Federal Judge Issues Temporary Nationwide Order Granting Abortion Access for Immigrant Teens in Federal Custody

A federal judge has temporarily ruled the Office of Refugee Resettlement can no longer prevent women in its custody from receiving abortion care.