
State Supreme Court Initiative
State Supreme Court Initiative
The U.S. Supreme Court is increasingly not an option to protect, let alone expand, civil liberties and civil rights. Last year’s Supreme Court term was the most conservative in a century, as President Trump’s three nominees exercised their newfound power to rule against liberty and shrink our constitutional rights.
But state supreme courts offer promise in the face of a hostile federal judiciary. That’s why we’re taking the fight to the states – we want to show up with as many resources and tools as we have available. The ACLU is launching a dedicated effort, called the State Supreme Court Initiative, to fight for the expansion of rights through state supreme courts, both through litigation and advocacy work.
The State Supreme Court Initiative will build on the organization’s existing work in state supreme courts and will expand the organization’s litigating capacity. With lawyers in every state in the country, the ACLU is uniquely situated to do this important work and to develop cross-state expertise on state constitutional litigation.
Read Our Reports
About the Attorneys
Matthew Segal
Co-Director, ACLU State Supreme Court Initiative
Julie Murray
Co-Director, ACLU State Supreme Court Initiative
Terry Ding
ACLU Staff Attorney, State Supreme Court Initiative
he/him
Bridget Lavender
Legal Fellow
she/her/hers
Jackson Springer
Legal Fellow
he/him
Where We Are Litigating
Since the SSCI was created in March 2023, we have provided formal assistance in the states highlighted below.
Last updated on March 4, 2025
Alabama
No cases yet
Alaska
No cases yet
Arizona
No cases yet
Arkansas
No cases yet
California
No cases yet
Colorado
Connecticut
No cases yet
Delaware
No cases yet
District of Columbia
No cases yet
Florida
No cases yet
Georgia
Active or previously active cases
Guam
No cases yet
Hawaii
No cases yet
Idaho
No cases yet
Illinois
No cases yet
Indiana
Active or previously active cases
Iowa
Kansas
Active or previously active cases
Kentucky
Louisiana
No cases yet
Maine
Active or previously active cases
Maryland
Active or previously active cases
Massachusetts
Active or previously active cases
Michigan
Active or previously active cases
Minnesota
Mississippi
Active or previously active cases
Missouri
No cases yet
Montana
Active or previously active cases
Nebraska
Active or previously active cases
Nevada
Active or previously active cases
New Hampshire
No cases yet
New Jersey
Active or previously active cases
New Mexico
No cases yet
New York
Active or previously active cases
North Carolina
Active or previously active cases
North Dakota
No cases yet
Ohio
Active or previously active cases
Oklahoma
No cases yet
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
No cases yet
Rhode Island
No cases yet
South Carolina
Active or previously active cases
South Dakota
No cases yet
Tennessee
Active or previously active cases
Texas
Active or previously active cases
Utah
Active or previously active cases
Menzies v. Utah Department of Corrections | American Civil Liberties Union
Barrani v. Salt Lake City | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Natalie R. v. State of Utah | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Utah State Legislature v. League of Women Voters | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Planned Parenthood Association of Utah v. State of Utah | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)
Vermont
No cases yet
Virgin Islands
No cases yet
Virginia
Active or previously active cases
Washington
No cases yet
West Virginia
No cases yet
Wisconsin
No cases yet
Wyoming
No cases yet
Latest Cases

Voting Rights
Griffin v. North Carolina Board of Elections (Amicus)

Smart Justice
Free Speech
NYCLU v. New York State Office of Court Administration

Free Speech
+2 Issues
City of Kalispell v. Doman

Criminal Law Reform
State of Georgia v. Wierson

Smart Justice
State of Oregon v. Adrian Fernandez

Capital Punishment
Menzies v. Utah Department of Corrections

Criminal Law Reform
State v. Wright

LGBTQ Rights
Kansas v. Harper

Immigrants' Rights
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center v. Gretchen Whitmer

Free Speech
Energy Transfer LP v. Greenpeace International, Unicorn Riot

Prisoners' Rights
Huskey v. Oregon Department of Corrections

Reproductive Freedom
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. Wilson
Latest Cases

Voting Rights
Griffin v. North Carolina Board of Elections (Amicus)

Smart Justice
Free Speech
NYCLU v. New York State Office of Court Administration

Free Speech
+2 Issues
City of Kalispell v. Doman

Criminal Law Reform
State of Georgia v. Wierson

Smart Justice
State of Oregon v. Adrian Fernandez

Capital Punishment
Menzies v. Utah Department of Corrections

Criminal Law Reform
State v. Wright

LGBTQ Rights
Kansas v. Harper

Immigrants' Rights
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center v. Gretchen Whitmer

Free Speech
Energy Transfer LP v. Greenpeace International, Unicorn Riot

Prisoners' Rights
Huskey v. Oregon Department of Corrections

Reproductive Freedom