Tag: American Civil Liberties Union
ACLU of Virginia backs Parole Commission recommendations
The ACLU of Virginia released the following statement regarding publication of the full report of the Governor’s Commission on Parole Review.
ACLU urges Attorney General Mark Herring to oppose policing for profit
The ACLU has called on Attorney General Mark Herring to change his stance on law enforcement’s ability to seize property without a criminal conviction.
Petersburg settles in free speech case
The City of Petersburg and its mayor have agreed to a settlement in the case of a resident who was denied the right to speak at a city council meeting because he had not paid an unrelated fine to the city.
Judge denies Fairfax County request to dismiss ACLU case challenging unlawful police surveillance
Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Grace Carroll denied the Fairfax County Police Department’s request to dismiss a case brought by the ACLU of Virginia challenging the FCPD’s use of automatic license plate readers to unlawfully collect the personal information of law-abiding Virginians.
ACLU of Virginia recommends reforms to bring constitutional policing to Fairfax County
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia on Wednesday forwarded to the Chair of the Fairfax Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission its recommendations regarding reforms the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) should make to restore civilian authority over and ensure public trust in law enforcement.
ACLU of Virginia sues Petersburg for violating activist’s right to speak at city council meetings
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia filed a lawsuit today against the City of Petersburg for violating the First Amendment rights of a resident who was prohibited from speaking at a city council meeting solely because he owed an unpaid fine to the City.
ACLU of Virginia applauds ruling abolishing life without parole for most juvenile offenders
The ACLU of Virginia welcomed this week’s federal court ruling that Virginia may not sentence juveniles convicted of offenses other than homicide to life without parole, and called on Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring to accept the court’s ruling rather than appeal it.
DOJ filing supports transgender student’s right to appropriate restroom facilities in ACLU case
The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in federal court explaining that transgender students must be allowed to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity under Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972.
ACLU of Virginia comment on U.S. Supreme Court lethal injection case
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia released the following statement by Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Glossip v. Gross regarding the use of the drug midazolam as part of a lethal injection protocol.
ACLU of Virginia celebrates decision to bring the freedom to marry to every state
The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that lesbian and gay couples are entitled to equal marriage rights under the U.S. Constitution. The court’s action means that lesbian and gay couples across America will now enjoy the same freedom to marry that Virginia couples have enjoyed since October 2014.
ACLU warns Republican Party of Virginia not to impose poll tax for presidential nomination
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia sent a letter to Republican Party of Virginia Chair John Whitbeck urging the party to reject a proposal to charge delegates a fee to vote in a convention to nominate a presidential candidate in 2016.
ACLU of Virginia commends establishment of parole review commission
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia released the following statement by Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga regarding Governor McAuliffe’s Executive Order 44, which establishes a Commission on Parole Review.
Governor McAuliffe implements ACLU recommendation to remove modern day poll tax
Following requests from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia to Governor McAuliffe and former Governor McDonnell, today the McAuliffe administration announced the removal of the requirement that individuals with a felony conviction pay their fees, fines, and restitution costs before becoming eligible to have their voting rights restored.
ACLU sues Virginia school board for discriminatory transgender restroom policy
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Virginia filed a lawsuit against the Gloucester County School Board for adopting a discriminatory bathroom policy that segregates transgender students from their peers.
ACLU of Virginia urges Virginia Supreme Court to adopt new rules to end trial by ambush
In public comments filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia urged the Supreme Court of Virginia to adopt the recommendations of the Special Committee on Criminal Discovery Rules.
ACLU of Virginia praises Fairfax County School Board vote to make its schools discrimination-free zones
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia today praised the Fairfax County School Board’s vote to pass Policy 1450.6 that will add “gender identity” to the categories of prohibited discrimination.
ACLU of Virginia files lawsuit against Fairfax Police for collection, storage of personal information
Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia filed a lawsuit in Fairfax County Circuit Court against the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) for unlawfully storing massive amounts of license plate data collected using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs).
ACLU of Virginia welcomes attorney general opinion overturning women’s health center rules
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia today welcomed the formal opinion issued by Attorney General Mark Herring that overrules flawed legal advice given by the prior administration to the Board of Health during the 2012 regulatory process for women’s health centers that provide abortion.
Warrant requirement for drone usage now law: ACLU of Virginia celebrates key victory
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia commended Governor McAuliffe for signing into law bipartisan privacy legislation, HB 2125 (Cline R Rockbridge) and SB 1301 (McEachin D Richmond), that will require a search warrant for drone use by law or regulatory enforcement agencies.
ACLU: Filing suit over license plate readers after Governor McAuliffe veto
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia today questioned Governor McAuliffe’s decision to veto SB 965 (Petersen D Fairfax) and HB 1673 (Anderson R Prince William) and promised that the organization will file suit to ensure compliance with Virginia’s current law regulating the collection and storage by government agencies of personal information about Virginians.
ACLU of Virginia challenges governor to sign legislation providing real privacy protection
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia on Wednesday challenged the Governor to sign the stronger of two bills addressing government surveillance that have been returned to him by the legislature.
ACLU of Virginia commends action on voter ID bill
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia commended the General Assembly for sustaining Governor McAuliffe’s veto of HB 1318, a bill that would have added another barrier to the polls by requiring qualified, registered, and eligible absentee voters to provide proof of valid photo ID by mail.
ACLU commends General Assembly on drone vote
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia today commended the General Assembly’s vote to reject Governor McAuliffe’s amendments to bi-partisan privacy legislation that unanimously passed during the 2015 General Assembly session.
ACLU denounces vote on asset forfeiture
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia today condemned the Senate for failing to adopt Governor McAuliffe’s amendment to SB 721 that would have ensured that a person’s property could not be forfeited to the government without a criminal conviction.
ACLU of Virginia urges legislators to support governor’s amendment to asset forfeiture bill
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia today thanked the Governor for proposing and urged the legislature to accept an amendment to SB 721 that requires a criminal conviction before a person’s private property can be forfeited to the Commonwealth.
ACLU of Virginia denounces Fourth Circuit Court decision on solitary confinement case
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia today condemned the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision holding that automatic solitary confinement of death row inmates does not violate the Constitution.
ACLU applauds House passage of bill changing asset forfeiture law
In a press conference hosted Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia and the office of Delegate Mark Cole of Spotsylvania County, the organization congratulated the Virginia House of Delegates for passage of a bill that would require a criminal conviction in asset forfeiture cases.
ACLU celebrates new procedures on birth certificates for children of married, same-sex couples
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia welcomes action taken by Janet M. Rainey, Virginia’s Registrar for Vital Records, to ensure that the children of same sex married couples have the legal protection of two officially recognized parents just like children of opposite sex married couples.
ACLU of Virginia applauds attorney general opinion on ICE detainer requests
Attorney General Mark Herring issued an opinion today concluding that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests seek voluntary action by sheriffs, corrections staff, and jail authorities, and, as such, cannot be used to deny someone their liberty.
ACLU encourages Gloucester schools to reject transgender bathroom policy
The ACLU sent a letter this week to the Gloucester County School Board urging it to reject a proposed policy that would limit school restrooms and locker rooms to “the corresponding biological genders.”
ACLU urges Crime Commission to stop the criminalization of teenage sexting
The ACLU of Virginia released a letter it sent to members of the Virginia State Crime Commission recommending against any legislation to criminalize teenage sexting.
ACLU applauds Chesterfield County decision to stop honoring warrantles ICE requests
Today, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office became the first county in Virginia to make public that it has stopped honoring ICE detainer requests not accompanied by a warrant.
ACLU: Lack of photo ID should not prevent you from being able to vote
The ACLU of Virginia is encouraging all registered voters to visit the polls this Election Day (Tuesday, November 4) and cast a ballot, even if they lack photo ID.
ACLU of Virginia to monitor polls on Election Day
The ACLU of Virginia will be monitoring the polls this Election Day to ensure that all Virginians who are registered to vote are able to exercise their right, freely and without hindrance.
ACLU of Virginia statement on Prieto v. Clarke case
American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia Legal Director Rebecca Glenberg issued a statement commenting on Prieto v. Clarke, a case heard today in the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
ACLU warns Virginia law enforcement about ICE detainers
Today the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia made public a letter it sent earlier this month to Virginia’s sheriffs, local and regional jail authorities, and adult and juvenile corrections officials asking these officials to deny future requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to keep people in custody who otherwise are free to be released.
ACLU of Virginia announces new board, staff
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia is pleased to announce the election of new officers and members to its Board of Directors and the addition of its Tony Dunn Legal Fellow.
ACLU urges Virginia AG not to gut drone moratorium
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today released a letter mailed to Attorney General Mark Herring regarding a pending request from the Commonwealth’s Attorney of Wise County/City of Norton for an official opinion that would create an exception to Virginia’s drone moratorium law.
ACLU supports President Obama’s non-discrimination executive order
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today expressed strong support for President Obama’s decision to amend existing federal Executive Orders to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by federal contractors and the federal government.
ACLU statement on Riley v. California Supreme Court decision
American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga issued a statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Riley v. California.
