Press Releases
Dec 22, 2025
Travis County Signs Settlement Agreement to Resolve ACLU and ACLU of Texas Lawsuit, Guaranteeing Counsel at First Appearance in Travis County
AUSTIN, Texas – Travis County signed a settlement agreement last Friday that ensures every person arrested and facing incarceration in the county is provided with an attorney at ...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Apr 11, 2024
Travis County Sued Over Denying Right to Legal Counsel
AUSTIN, Texas — A class action lawsuit on behalf of people jailed without lawyers in Travis County was filed in federal court Wednesday night to affirm the constitutional right t...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Feb 19, 2021
Court Rules Missouri’s Waiting List for Public Defender Violate Constitutional Right to Counsel
Judge Gives Legislature Four Months to Fix the Problem
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Aug 06, 2020
ACLU Settlement is A Huge Step Toward Remedying Nevada’s Longstanding Public Defense Crisis
Settlement delivers constitutionally-guaranteed legal representation to criminal defendants accused who cannot afford lawyers; will build upon last year’s legislative reform
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Court case: Davis v. Nevada
Feb 27, 2020
Groundbreaking Lawsuit Targets State of Missouri for Unconstitutional Public Defender Waiting Lists
Lawsuit challenges practice that has forced thousands throughout to navigate criminal legal process without counsel
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Court case: David v. Missouri
Jan 10, 2020
ACLU Settlement Agreement Secures Governor’s Commitment to $14 Million in Added Support for Public Defense Systems Throughout California and Agency Expansion
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Northern California along with its other California affiliates, and the law firms Morgan, Lewis & Bockius...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Court case: Phillips v. State of California
About the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on national issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits.
To schedule an interview with an ACLU expert, email media@aclu.org.
Contact an ACLU Affiliate
The ACLU has 54 local offices across the U.S. working with attorneys and activists in their communities to shape better policies and spread awareness about their states' priority civil rights issues.
Local inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACLU state affiliate.
The Latest
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News & CommentaryJul 2026
Public Defense Reform
We Documented 1,200+ Actions By Ice. Here's What We Found.. Explore News & Commentary.We Documented 1,200+ Actions by ICE. Here's What We Found.
A new ACLU report reveals the scale of civil rights violations committed by ICE and the police forces it has deputized — from racial profiling to school lockdowns. -
News & CommentaryJul 2026
Public Defense Reform
Criminal Law Reform
Government Security Agencies Want To Steal Your Drone. Explore News & Commentary.Government Security Agencies Want to Steal Your Drone
And are putting in place rules that allow them to do so -
News & CommentaryJul 2026
Public Defense Reform
+3 Issues
Todd Blanche's Record Raises Alarming Questions About The Future Of Doj. Explore News & Commentary.Todd Blanche's Record Raises Alarming Questions About the Future of DOJ
With Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche set to appear before the Senate for a hearing to potentially confirm him to the post, senators have no shortage of questions to ask about his record. -
Court CaseJul 2026
Public Defense Reform
Mirabelli V. Bonta. Explore Case.Mirabelli v. Bonta
In April 2023, a lawsuit was brought challenging a California Department of Education policy preventing public school faculty from outing transgender students without the student’s consent, alleging the law violates the rights of parents. The ACLU opposes the lawsuit in the interest of protecting the privacy and safety of transgender students.