Home : Rights of the Poor

ACLU Hails Montana's Public Defense Bill as Leading National Trend (06/08/2005)
HELENA, MT - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Montana Legislature's passage of groundbreaking public defender legislation that creates a new statewide office and guarantees constitutional rights to all Montanans, not just those who can afford to pay lawyers.

Indiana Civil Liberties Union and Broad Coalition Challenge State's New Voting Rights Rules (04/28/2005)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Civil Liberties Union, acting on behalf of a broad coalition including state representatives and advocacy groups, today filed a challenge to a new state law with the most restrictive voting requirements in the nation, including a mandate that government-issued photo identification must be presented in order for most Hoosier citizens to cast their ballots.

ACLU of Michigan Argues in Supreme Court that the Poor Have a Right to Counsel (04/25/2005)
DETROIT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today urged the Supreme Court to strike down a Michigan law denying legal representation to thousands of poor people in their criminal appeals. The Court will consider the issue during oral argument today.

California Judge Finalizes Historic Education Settlement in ACLU Lawsuit (03/23/2005)
SAN FRANCISCO - A judge today finalized the historic settlement in a class action education lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations. Advocates say that the lawsuit is a critical first step toward ensuring all California public schools have the means to provide equitable learning conditions for all students.

NYCLU Disappointed With Outcome of Education Funding Lawsuit (02/15/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union is greatly disappointed in today's Court of Appeals decision on our lawsuit seeking more resources for failing schools throughout the state and outside New York City.

California Students Informed of Right to Fair Education (01/03/2005)
LOS ANGELES - As students return to school today, a new mandate takes effect requiring all California public schools to post notices informing students and their parents of certain basic education requirements, including access for all students to books and other learning materials, trained teachers, and clean and safe classrooms.

ACLU of Washington Lawsuit Challenging County's Inadequate Public Defense System Granted Class-Action Status (08/26/2004)
ELLENSBURG, WA-- Kittitas Superior Court Judge Michael Cooper today granted class-action status to a lawsuit seeking to reform Grant County's woefully inadequate public defense system, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington announced today.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Upholds Indigent Right to Counsel in Historic Case Filed by ACLU (07/28/2004)
BOSTON - The right of poor people to legal counsel was upheld in an historic decision issued today by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and the Committee for Public Service Counsel.

ACLU of Arkansas Successfully Blocks Biased Dress Code for Visitors to Public Housing Units (07/01/2004)
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Responding to a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, the city of North Little Rock decided Monday not to impose an unconstitutional dress code on visitors to public housing units that would prohibit entry to anyone wearing backward baseball caps, saggy pants or bandanas.

ACLU Applauds Pennsylvania Court Decision to Appoint Lawyers for Poor People Facing Prison (06/09/2004)
PITTSBURGH -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania today applauded a decision by the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas to provide court-appointed lawyers to poor people facing jail-time for failing to make payments in child-support cases.

ACLU of Washington Report on County Indigent Defense Systems Cites Lack of Standards and Accountability Throughout the State (03/01/2004)
SEATTLE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today issued a report detailing the problems with how counties provide criminal defense services to people in poverty. The report, "The Unfulfilled Promise of Gideon," shows that a majority of Washington counties lack comprehensive standards and adequate oversight systems to ensure that these publicly funded legal services meet basic constitutional standards.

ACLU of New Mexico Wins Temporary Halt to Albuquerque's Anti-Panhandling Ordinance (01/16/2004)
ALBUQUERQUE -- State District Court Judge William F. Lang today granted the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico's request for a temporary restraining order barring Albuquerque from implementing an anti-panhandling ordinance that was to go into effect on January 21.

ACLU Releases Expert's Report on Maryland's Inadequate School Facilities (01/13/2004)
BALTIMORE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today released a report documenting a 5 to 10 percent differential on achievement tests between students in adequate school buildings and those in older buildings. At a minimum, the cost of remedying the school facility issues that most immediately impact student achievement is estimated at $2.5 billion.

Settlement Reached in ACLU of Michigan Lawsuit Over Mandatory Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients (12/18/2003)
DETROIT - Michigan's attempt to impose mandatory drug tests on all welfare recipients has finally come to an end, the American Civil Liberties Union announced today after a settlement was reached with the Family Independence Agency (FIA). The FIA can now require drug testing of welfare recipients only where there is a reasonable suspicion that the recipient is using drugs.

ACLU and Georgia Health Clinics Ask State to Protect Poor Women's Health by Covering Medically Necessary Abortions (12/02/2003)
ATLANTA -- Moving to protect the health of low-income women across Georgia, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit today on behalf of several clinics in the state, arguing that the denial of Medicaid coverage for medically necessary abortions threatens women's health and violates their rights.

ACLU Says Current Welfare Reform Measure Ineffective, Calls for Civil Rights Protections, Better Poverty Elimination Efforts (09/10/2003)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Finance Committee considers a key welfare reauthorization bill, the American Civil Liberties Union today reiterated its insistence that an effective welfare system must have poverty reduction as its highest priority. The ACLU also said that the welfare reform legislation would, in many cases, open doors in the states to significant violations of the core civil liberties of welfare recipients.