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]

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
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.
Feb 08, 2018

Fair Budget Coalition Report Addresses D.C.’s Most Pressing Needs

The ACLU-DC commends today’s release of the Fair Budget Coalition’s annual budget report, which urges District leaders to make strategic investments in policies that will remove barriers to justice and address systemic social, racial, and economic inequality in our communities.
Jan 30, 2018

ACLU-DC Sues U.S. Marshals for Abusive Conduct During Home Eviction

In what should have been a routine eviction, the marshals stormed into the apartment shouting and with guns drawn: an entrance more akin to a SWAT-team raid than an eviction.