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Judge Awards ACLU Fees For Lawsuit Over Jesus Picture In The Courthouse (07/23/2008)
NEW ORLEANS- Yesterday, a federal District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana awarded the American Civil Liberties Union $42,000 in attorneys' fees in a case they brought challenging the legality of a picture of Jesus Christ that was displayed at the Slidell City Courthouse.

ACLU Calls For End To Mandatory Prayer At U.S. Naval Academy (06/25/2008)
BALTIMORE – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Maryland are urging the U.S. Naval Academy to stop forcing midshipmen to participate in the Academy's compulsory "noon meal prayers."

Judge Orders Children Returned To Their Families (06/02/2008)
AUSTIN, TX - Judge Barbara Walther ordered the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services today to return more than 400 children removed from the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas to their families. The order follows a Texas Supreme Court decision last week holding that Judge Walther erred when she initially granted the state temporary custody of the children without requiring the state first to submit, in accordance with Texas law, evidence of a continuing threat of physical harm to the children.

ACLU Urges Court to Correct Constitutional Errors (05/30/2008)
AUSTIN -- The ACLU is encouraged by 51st District Judge Barbara Walther’s scheduling of a hearing for 2 p.m. today to address yesterday's Texas Supreme Court decision that the state's removal of over 400 children from the Yearning for Zion Ranch (YFZ) in Eldorado was unwarranted. The Supreme Court decision let stand an appellate ruling that Judge Walther must vacate her order granting custody of all of the YFZ children to the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Texas Supreme Court Calls Removal Of Children From Yearning For Zion Ranch "Unwarranted" (05/29/2008)
AUSTIN, TEX. – The Texas Supreme Court today agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union that the state failed to provide evidence sufficient to justify its removal of children from 38 mothers at the Yearning For Zion Ranch (YFZ) in Eldorado. In its ruling, the Supreme Court denied the state’s challenge to an appeals court finding that the removal was unwarranted, effectively requiring the state to return the children to the custody of their mothers.

ACLU Submits Brief In Texas FLDS Case Saying State Can't Separate Families Based Solely On Beliefs (05/29/2008)
AUSTIN, TX -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas today submitted a friend of the court brief with the Texas Supreme Court opposing a petition from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) to retain custody of the children of 38 mothers from the Yearning For Zion Ranch (YFZ) in Eldorado, Texas.

ACLU Sues To Protect Marriages Threatened By Recent Court Decision (02/14/2008)
PHILADELPHIA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed the first three lawsuits today in a planned statewide challenge of a recent judicial declaration stating that marriages are invalid if presided over by a minister who does not regularly serve a church or preach in a physical house of worship. The ruling potentially endangers thousands of marriages in Pennsylvania.

ACLU to Florida Board of Education: Don’t Allow Religious Groups to Force Their Beliefs Into Science Classes (12/18/2007)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sent a letter to the Florida Board of Education (FBOE) outlining the potential legal risks of adopting a science curriculum that includes particular religious groups’ beliefs about the origins of the universe.

American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota inquiry into Normandale Community College meditation room (12/18/2007)
St. Paul, Minn - The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota announced today that it is inquiring into Normandale Community College’s meditation room after hearing allegations of improper use. The ACLU-MN is concerned that way the prayer room is currently structured may violate the establishment clause.

ACLU Says Religious Tests for Public Office Unconstitutional (12/06/2007)
NEW YORK – Today’s speech by presidential candidate Mitt Romney provides an excellent opportunity for all Americans to consider the appropriate role of faith in public life. While religious expression is a valued and protected part of the First Amendment rights guaranteed to all citizens, as is the right to speak about it, the Constitution also mandates that government stay out of the business of promoting religion.

ACLU Applauds Removal of Unconstitutional "Creation Science" Earmark from Appropriations Bill (10/18/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union, alongside 33 other religious, civil rights, education, science and advocacy organizations celebrated today as Senator David Vitter (R-LA) withdrew an unconstitutional earmark that would have funded the teaching of creationism in public school science classes. The earmark was added on to the Fiscal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill’s Committee Report.

ACLU Applauds Congress’ Vote For Religious Freedom (05/02/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today praised the House for standing for religious freedom during its vote of HR 1429, the “Improving Head Start Act of 2007.” The body rejected a motion that would have removed longstanding civil rights protections prohibiting the hiring of teachers, staff and volunteers based on religion in Head Start programs. The provision failed by a vote of 195 to 222.

ACLU of Virginia Asks Governor to Amend Religion Bill (02/27/2007)
RICHMOND, VA- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today asked Governor Tim Kaine to amend proposed legislation intended to strengthen religious rights in Virginia. The ACLU said that it supports the law, but only if a clause is added to the bill to prevent it from being used as an excuse to discriminate against minorities, and it is changed to apply to incarcerated persons.

ACLU Criticizes House Passage of “Public Expression of Religion Act,” Says Bill Weakens Individual Religious Freedom (09/26/2006)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned the House of Representatives for adopting H.R. 2679, the “Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005” (PERA). The bill would bar the recovery of attorneys’ fees to citizens who win lawsuits asserting their fundamental constitutional and civil rights in cases brought under the First Amendment.

ACLU Opposes State-Ordered Practice of Religion, Challenges West Virginia's Anti-Cohabitation Law (09/18/2006)
CHARLESTON, WV - In a lawsuit filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union asked a court to overturn West Virginia's prohibition on cohabitation by unmarried couples and challenged a parolee's forced participation in a religious program.

ACLU Condemns House Panel's Passage of "Public Expression of Religion Act," Calls Bill A Direct Attack on Freedom of Religion (09/07/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its dismay as the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 2679, the "Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005" (PERA). The bill would bar the recovery of attorneys' fees to those who win lawsuits asserting their fundamental constitutional and civil rights in cases brought under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

ACLU Asks Senate to Reject "Public Expression of Religion Act," Says Bill Will Stifle Religious Freedom (08/02/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged a key Senate panel to reject a bill whose sponsors say it will enhance freedom of religion, but will actually have the opposite effect. S. 3696, the "Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005" (PERA), would bar the recovery of attorneys' fees to those who win lawsuits asserting their fundamental constitutional and civil rights in cases brought under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

ACLU Urges House Panel To Reject "Public Expression of Religion Act," Calls Bill A Direct Attack on Individual Religious Freedom (07/26/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House Judiciary Committee to reject H.R. 2679, the "Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005" (PERA). The panel is expected to vote on the legislation today. The bill would bar the recovery of attorneys’ fees to citizens who win lawsuits asserting their fundamental constitutional and civil rights in cases brought under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

House Votes to Bar Federal Courts from Hearing Pledge of Allegiance Cases; ACLU Says Bill Compromises Independent Judiciary (07/19/2006)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union expressed its strong disapproval as the House passed a controversial measure to deny judicial review on certain First Amendment issues. H.R. 2389, or the “Pledge Protection Act of 2005,” would strip jurisdiction from all federal courts, including the Supreme Court, in any First Amendment case involving the Pledge of Allegiance. It is the latest of several similar politically motivated measures that would interfere with America’s independent judiciary and would jeopardize access to fair and impartial courts. It passed the House on a vote of 260 to 167.