ACLU
The Supreme Court’s immense power may pose a danger to its legitimacy
By Richard L. Pacelle, Jr., University of Tennessee The first Monday in October is the traditional day that the U.S. Supreme Court convenes for its new term. Analysts and soothsayers carefully read the signals and forecast the direction the court will take. This year the scrutiny seems a little more intense, as the court takes […]
Supreme Court: Presence of drugs in body doesn’t equal possession
The state’s highest court found that a woman can’t be charged with possession of drugs in Seneca County just because she and her newborn had drugs in their systems. The Ohio Supreme Court took up the case after Kelly Foreman appealed her conviction on felony drug possession charges, which he was charged with after giving […]
Lawsuit accuses Ohio Redistricting Commission of violating constitution
The ACLU has filed an expected lawsuit disputing the partisan legislative redistricting maps passed earlier this month by the Ohio Redistricting Commission. The Ohio and national chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, along with law firm Covington & Burling, LLP, announced the lawsuit Thursday afternoon, accusing the Republican majority of “disrespecting the letter and […]
Redistricting fights in Ohio begin, this time with an open records request
The redistricting process still has a long way to go, but a battle to keep track of public records during the process has already begun in a court case between the ACLU and the Ohio House of Representatives. The ACLU asked the Ohio Supreme Court to compel employees within the Ohio House and the offices […]
Bill barring ‘divisive concepts’ targets race discussions in Ohio schools
A bill in the works in the Ohio legislature would prohibit “teaching or advocating divisive concepts” on race, color, nationality, or sex, according to the sponsor of the bill. In an email request for cosponsors, state Rep. Diane Grendell, R-Chesterland, mentioned critical race theory as one of the “divisive concepts” she’d like to see kept […]
Supreme Court to hear case of woman charged with possession after newborn tests positive
The Ohio Supreme Court is taking up a case in which a woman was convicted of drug possession, but the only drugs she possessed were in her blood system and the blood system of her newborn. Kelly Foreman was charged in Seneca County on felony drug possession charges “despite the fact that she was never […]
Women’s health clinics: Abortion disposal law creates ‘impossible situation’
A bill signed into law mere months ago regarding the disposal of surgical abortion tissue is being challenged in court, with women’s health clinics saying the bill creates “an impossible situation” for them. The complaint, filed in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas by the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, women’s health clinics across the state […]
After ‘pesky’ issues on voting day, election protection advocates push for more improvements
While election protection groups reported no major issues on election day, misinformation about curbside voting and some intimidation at the polls joined technical issues in affecting voter experience at the polls, they said Wednesday. Record turnout encouraged groups like the Ohio chapters of the ACLU and the League of Women Voters, who held a media […]
New fiscal impact analysis shows Ohio can save big with bail reform
On any given day in Ohio, as many as 12,000 people are held in jail pretrial. Most are jailed not because of what they’ve allegedly done, but because of what they don’t have. This is due to Ohio’s reliance on cash bail, which creates a two-tiered system of justice in which those with resources go […]
As COVID-19 cases surge, ACLU urges release of misdemeanor offenders from jail
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio is urging state criminal justice officials to eliminate money bonds and release eligible people from Ohio’s jails amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases. In a letter sent to over 450 legal personnel on Tuesday, the ACLU outlined recommendations to mitigate the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic […]
3 Republicans join House Democrats in passing sweeping police reform
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed a sweeping police reform package Thursday night in response to massive civil unrest over police brutality. The package cleared the chamber largely along partisan lines, with 236 lawmakers (mostly Democrats) voting for it and 181 lawmakers (180 Republicans and one Independent) voting against it. Three Republicans sided with Democrats […]
Reimagining a broken system of policing
America’s criminal legal system is broken. Policing is part of that system and is no exception. In fact it’s where it all begins. It’s hard to imagine that any system with roots in slave patrols, groups of armed white men who enforced slave laws, can be just. So it’s no surprise that we have seen […]