Washington, D.C.
Weir v. U.S.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit in June 2019 against the United States and the head of the U.S. Coast Guard on behalf of four Jamaican fishermen, who were forcibly removed from their fishing boat and detained for over a month at sea on four U.S. Coast Guard ships in patently inhumane conditions.
Status: Ongoing
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All Cases
12 Washington, D.C. Cases
U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2024
Criminal Law Reform
Free Speech
Trump v. United States
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U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2024
Criminal Law Reform
Free Speech
Trump v. United States
Washington, D.C.
Feb 2024
National Security
Human Rights
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA Case Seeking Biden Administration’s Presidential Policy Memorandum
In October 2022, the Biden administration confirmed the existence of the White House’s latest set of policy rules governing the United States’ use of lethal force outside of recognized battlefields abroad. These new rules are known as the “Presidential Policy Memorandum (PPM).” The administration made the partially-redacted PPM public in response to the latest in a series of ACLU lawsuits to force transparency about the U.S. government’s secretive, unlawful, and controversial use of lethal force abroad, including through the use of drones.
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Washington, D.C.
Feb 2024
National Security
Human Rights
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA Case Seeking Biden Administration’s Presidential Policy Memorandum
In October 2022, the Biden administration confirmed the existence of the White House’s latest set of policy rules governing the United States’ use of lethal force outside of recognized battlefields abroad. These new rules are known as the “Presidential Policy Memorandum (PPM).” The administration made the partially-redacted PPM public in response to the latest in a series of ACLU lawsuits to force transparency about the U.S. government’s secretive, unlawful, and controversial use of lethal force abroad, including through the use of drones.
Washington, D.C.
Jul 2023
Disability Rights
Criminal Law Reform
Bread for the City v. District of Columbia
A federal lawsuit challenges the District of Columbia’s practice of sending police officers rather than mental health providers to respond to mental health emergencies.
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Washington, D.C.
Jul 2023
Disability Rights
Criminal Law Reform
Bread for the City v. District of Columbia
A federal lawsuit challenges the District of Columbia’s practice of sending police officers rather than mental health providers to respond to mental health emergencies.
Washington, D.C.
Feb 2021
Immigrants' Rights
NORA v. MAYORKAS
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Public Citizen filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of asylum seekers — including numerous children — unlawfully trapped in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, one of the most violent and lawless regions in the world.
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Washington, D.C.
Feb 2021
Immigrants' Rights
NORA v. MAYORKAS
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Public Citizen filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of asylum seekers — including numerous children — unlawfully trapped in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, one of the most violent and lawless regions in the world.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2020
Criminal Law Reform
Baxter v. Bracey
In early 2014, Alexander Baxter was bitten by a police dog that was unleashed on him while he was sitting with his hands in the air, having surrendered to police. He sued for excessive force, but in late 2018, a federal appeals court ruled that his claim should be thrown out under the doctrine of “qualified immunity.”
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2020
Criminal Law Reform
Baxter v. Bracey
In early 2014, Alexander Baxter was bitten by a police dog that was unleashed on him while he was sitting with his hands in the air, having surrendered to police. He sued for excessive force, but in late 2018, a federal appeals court ruled that his claim should be thrown out under the doctrine of “qualified immunity.”