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Mike
Brickner
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Ohioans Rise Up to Stop Voter Suppression Bill

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 11:00am

Pundits, politicians, and publicists all agree: Ohio is crucial to any national election. And this year, Ohio is just one of many states that has had to grapple with legislators’ attempts to restrict voting rights. In 2011, state legislatures across the country considered, and ultimately passed, a range of voter suppression legislation, including photo ID and proof of citizenship requirements, cuts to early and absentee voting, and more.

Criminal Sentencing Reform Wins Bipartisan Support in Ohio

By Inimai Chettiar, ACLU & Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 3:41pm

Ohio's legislature has not been the friendliest place for civil libertarians this year. Bills under consideration include the most restrictive photo identification requirements for voters, privatizing six of the state's prisons and some of the nation's most aggressive attacks on reproductive freedom.

However, there is one notable bright spot in Ohio's legislative session: the passage of criminal sentencing reform. The ACLU of Ohio has been on the front lines advocating for sensible sentencing reform that would alleviate the state's overcrowded prison system. After two decades of unfair sentencing laws sending more low-level, nonviolent offenders to prison, the state's prison system is at 133 percent capacity with a growing class of ex-felons who are unable to gain access to employment, education and housing.

State Legislators Double Down on Most Restrictive Abortion Law in Nation

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 5:56pm

Yesterday, retiring Ohio GOP Congressman Steve LaTourette made national headlines while discussing the recent presidential election. He said:

My wife’s a Democrat, and she was so close to voting for Mitt Romney. But then, you know, Mourdock and Akin opened their mouth, and we sent [voters] running back to the Democratic Party, because they think we’re nutty […] We have to get out of people’s lives, get out of people’s bedrooms, and we have to be a national party…or else we’re going to lose.

Why Ohio's "Heartbeat Bill" is Truly Heartless

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 10:19am

Ohio lawmakers are poised this week to pass the most restrictive law in the nation preventing families from making important health decisions on pregnancy. House Bill 125 would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected — as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. That means even before a woman may know she is pregnant, she and her family will not have a full range of medical options available to them.

Note to Police: Cell Phones Really Are Hands-Free

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 3:55pm

Today, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking decision in the case State of Ohio v. Antwuan Smith (PDF) requiring law enforcement have a warrant in order to search the contents of someone’s cell phone. This marks the first time a state supreme court has ruled on this issue.

Untested Procedures Cannot Solve Ohio's Death Penalty Problems

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 1:14pm

(Originally posted on Daily Kos.)

I've heard the expression, "It's like rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic" many times to describe someone's ambivalence towards a monumental problem, but it has never rung as true as it does today.

Less than three months after the unprecedented failed execution of Romell Broom, in which officials had to abandon the procedure because they could not locate a viable vein, the state has reopened its death chamber. At 11 a.m. on December 8, 2009, Kenneth Biros was executed using an untested, experimental one-drug protocol devised by the state in the weeks following Broom's botched execution. The state publicly unveiled the procedure in late November, giving them only a few weeks to implement it and train the execution team on the new protocols.

Sorry, We’re Closed: Some Ohio Counties Opt Against Extra Early Voting Hours

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 4:59pm

Ohio elections are once again making national news, but not exactly in the way we’d hoped. County Boards of Elections are deciding whether they will be open extended hours on evenings and weekends for early in-person voting. In 2008, many counties, including Cuyahoga and Franklin (home to Cleveland and Columbus) had large numbers of voters use these extended hours.

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