Legal Docket

A federal grand jury issued a subpoena seeking the unpublished portions of a journalist's videotape of a political demonstration. The journalist refused to hand over the material, asserting his First Amendment rights. The ACLU Foundation of Northern California filed amicus briefs arguing that a journalist does have a qualified First Amendment privilege in such circumstances and that a court must b... Read More

ACLU Foundation of Northern California efforts to support clemency for Mr. Clarence Ray Allen, a Native American elder with disabilities who was scheduled to be executed at San Quentin State Prison on January 17, 2006.Even though Mr. Allen suffers from coronary heart disease, is severely diabetic, and is legally blind, the Glenn County Superior Court set his execution date. If the execution is car... Read More

Is the US Government lawfully implementing its deportation program targeting non-citizen sex offenders? Read More

Without any trial or due process, hundreds of West Sacramento residents of a predominantly Latino neighborhood were served a permanent "gang" injunction. In addition to challenging this injunction in a separate case, California v. Broderick Boys, the ACLU Foundation of Northern California is representing one such resident, a 28-year-old father, who was served by the injunction that imposes a life... Read More

This is an action under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), for injunctive and declaratory relief, seeking expedited processing and release of agency records requested by plaintiffs ACLU Foundation of Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, University of California Santa Cruz Students Against War, and Berkeley Stop the War Coalition from defendants United Stat... Read More

Is due process violated by a city forfeiture ordinance that authorizes the immediate seizure of vehicles allegedly involved in the solicitation of prostitution or drugs without any provision for a prompt hearing to determining probably cause and the necessity for retaining the vehicle during the pendency of the forfeiture action? Read More

After the City terminated the Sea Scouts' free berth space, the Sea Scouts sued the City, claiming that it had violated their First Amendment and equal protection rights. The trial court dismissed the action, and plaintiffs appealed. The First Appellate district affirmed. Evans v. City of Berkeley, 104 Cal. App. 4th 1 (2002). The appellate court (after affirming the dismissal of contract and o... Read More

Michael Angelo Morales was scheduled to be executed at San Quentin State Prison on February 21, 2006.

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Michael Morales's letter

Multiple-party letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger (English) 

Multiple-Party letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger (Spanish)

Letter from retired Superior Court Judge McGrath to Gov. Schwarzenegger (Jan. 25, 2006)

Profile of Michael Morales (Spanish)

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A federal civil rights lawsuit against Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF), the state's juvenile detention facility. The three plaintiffs were abused and harassed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity while at HYCF. Read More

The Los Angeles Times sought release of records from the California Commission on Police Officers Standards and Training regarding the appointment, promotion, and termination histories of various police officers. Trial court granted access to some of the requested information. Court of Appeal reversed it. The Los Angeles Times appealed. The ACLU Foundations of California filed an amicus brief in t... Read More

Must victims of discrimination affirmatively request and be denied equal treatment before they may sue under the Unruh Act or the Gender Tax Repeal Act? Does advertising a sex-based price discount violate the Unruh Act or the Gender Tax Repeal Act? Read More

Does compulsory testing and maintenance of DNA from persons who are arrested for felony offenses and persons with past convictions who are no longer supervised by the criminal justice system violate the Fourth Amendment and federal privacy rights? Read More