![A collage of images that represent criminal justice, voting rights, and more issues. Our initiative works to fight for these issues on the state level.](https://assets-dev.aclu.org/dev/uploads/2023/05/state-supreme-court-initiative-full.jpg)
State Supreme Court Initiative
State Supreme Court Initiative
The U.S. Supreme Court is increasingly not an option to protect, let alone expand, civil liberties and civil rights. Last year’s Supreme Court term was the most conservative in a century, as President Trump’s three nominees exercised their newfound power to rule against liberty and shrink our constitutional rights.
But state supreme courts offer promise in the face of a hostile federal judiciary. That’s why we’re taking the fight to the states – we want to show up with as many resources and tools as we have available. The ACLU is launching a dedicated effort, called the State Supreme Court Initiative, to fight for the expansion of rights through state supreme courts, both through litigation and advocacy work.
The State Supreme Court Initiative will build on the organization’s existing work in state supreme courts and will expand the organization’s litigating capacity. With lawyers in every state in the country, the ACLU is uniquely situated to do this important work and to develop cross-state expertise on state constitutional litigation.
Read the Report
![A photo of the stars on the American flag, used as a cover of the ACLU's New Federalism Report.](https://assets-dev.aclu.org/dev/uploads/2023/01/8ed23e11d88b2cfb98f0a1c0dbc82462.jpg)
In our report, “Our New Federalism,” we featured more than 125 cases in which the ACLU and our state affiliate offices have advanced arguments across 24 states over the last 5 years.
About the Attorneys
Matthew Segal
Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU State Supreme Court Initiative
Julie Murray
Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU State Supreme Court Initiative
Xinge Hong
Legal Fellow
she/her/hers
Bridget Lavender
Legal Fellow
she/her/hers
Where We Are Litigating
Since the SSCI was created in March 2023, we have provided formal assistance in the states highlighted below.
Last updated on May 6, 2024
Alabama
No cases yet
Alaska
No cases yet
Arizona
No cases yet
Arkansas
No cases yet
California
No cases yet
Colorado
Active or previously active cases
Connecticut
No cases yet
Delaware
No cases yet
District of Columbia
No cases yet
Florida
No cases yet
Georgia
Active or previously active cases
Guam
No cases yet
Hawaii
No cases yet
Idaho
No cases yet
Illinois
No cases yet
Indiana
No cases yet
Iowa
Kansas
Active or previously active cases
Kentucky
Louisiana
No cases yet
Maine
Active or previously active cases
Maryland
No cases yet
Massachusetts
Active or previously active cases
Michigan
No cases yet
Minnesota
Active or previously active cases
Mississippi
Active or previously active cases
Missouri
No cases yet
Montana
Active or previously active cases
Nebraska
Active or previously active cases
Nevada
Active or previously active cases
New Hampshire
No cases yet
New Jersey
Active or previously active cases
New Mexico
No cases yet
New York
No cases yet
North Carolina
No cases yet
North Dakota
No cases yet
Ohio
No cases yet
Oklahoma
No cases yet
Oregon
No cases yet
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
No cases yet
Rhode Island
No cases yet
South Carolina
No cases yet
South Dakota
No cases yet
Tennessee
Active or previously active cases
Texas
Active or previously active cases
Utah
Active or previously active cases
Barrani v. Salt Lake City | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Natalie R. v. State of Utah | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Utah State Legislature v. League of Women Voters | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Planned Parenthood Association of Utah v. State of Utah | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Vermont
No cases yet
Virgin Islands
No cases yet
Virginia
Active or previously active cases
Washington
No cases yet
West Virginia
No cases yet
Wisconsin
No cases yet
Wyoming
No cases yet
Latest Cases
![Usachenok v. State of New Jersey](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Usachenok v. State of New Jersey
![Kansas v. Harper](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Kansas v. Harper
![State v. Ochoa](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
State v. Ochoa
![Love v. State](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Love v. State
![Held v. Montana](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Held v. Montana
![Penncrest School District v. Cagle](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Penncrest School District v. Cagle
![Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers
![Smith v. BlueCross BlueShield](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Smith v. BlueCross BlueShield
![Singer v. Orange City](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Singer v. Orange City
![Cannabis Equity & Inclusion Community v. Nevada Board of Pharmacy](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Cannabis Equity & Inclusion Community v. Nevada Board of Pharmacy
![State v. Labbe](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
State v. Labbe
![Barrani v. Salt Lake City](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Barrani v. Salt Lake City
Latest Cases
![Usachenok v. State of New Jersey](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Usachenok v. State of New Jersey
![Kansas v. Harper](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Kansas v. Harper
![State v. Ochoa](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
State v. Ochoa
![Love v. State](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Love v. State
![Held v. Montana](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Held v. Montana
![Penncrest School District v. Cagle](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Penncrest School District v. Cagle
![Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers
![Smith v. BlueCross BlueShield](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Smith v. BlueCross BlueShield
![Singer v. Orange City](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Singer v. Orange City
![Cannabis Equity & Inclusion Community v. Nevada Board of Pharmacy](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Cannabis Equity & Inclusion Community v. Nevada Board of Pharmacy
![State v. Labbe](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
State v. Labbe
![Barrani v. Salt Lake City](https://www.aclu.dev/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)