Topic: American Civil Liberties Union
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3 views on whether US still needs affirmative action
This November, voters in Oklahoma will consider a ballot measure banning affirmative action in public-sector hiring. And in October, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Fisher v. University of Texas case – centered on the use of affirmative action in public-university admissions. As the second installment in our One Minute Debate series for election 2012, three writers give their brief take on whether the United States still needs affirmative action.
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CIA's harsh interrogation techniques: three key memos now online
The most detailed documents describing the Central Intelligence Agency’s secret interrogation, rendition, and detention program are now online in the American Civil Liberties Union’s new Torture Database. Here are three of the most important memos of the 5,000-plus that the ACLU obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and legal challenges going back to 2003, according to Alexander Abdo, staff attorney for the ACLU’s National Security Project.
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US Supreme Court: Big 21st century rulings
The past 12 years have seen significant US high court decisions with wide-ranging effects on personal freedoms and national politics. Another key ruling is expected this summer on President Obama's health-care reform law. Here are some recent top rulings, all decided by 5-to-4 votes.
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Tyler Clementi and cyberbullying: how courts ruled in five other cases
The trial for the roommate of former Rutgers University Tyler Clementi will be watched by legal experts nationwide to see how the court addresses the growing issue of cyberbullying. Here is a list of court proceedings where cyberbullying or Internet privacy invasion was a key issue.
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Election 101: 11 questions about Rick Perry and his White House bid
The Texas governor made clear his intention to run for president with appearances in South Carolina and New Hampshire on Saturday and a planned trip to Iowa on Sunday.
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Opinion: Assassination nation: Are there any limits on President Obama's license to kill?
As part of its war against violent extremism, the Obama administration now claims a right to kill Americans without a trial, without notice, and without any chance for targets to legally object.
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Supreme Court refuses terror suspects' case alleging CIA torture
US Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the case of five foreigners seeking to pursue a lawsuit alleging CIA-directed torture abroad. With that, appeals court ruling stands, disallowing the suit to protect 'state secrets.'
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Election 101: Ron Paul sets sights on 2012. Ten things to know about him.
The ‘intellectual grandfather’ of the tea party movement, Ron Paul is a dark horse pushing for an upset victory.
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Indiana ruling signals tough legal fight for Planned Parenthood
A federal judge refused to order an injunction on Wednesday against a first-in-the-nation law signed by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels that cuts funding to Planned Parenthood.
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For Obama, WikiLeaks' Guantánamo files come at bad time
Now that the Obama administration has abandoned the idea of civilian-court trials for detainees, it wants to promote confidence in the military tribunal system at Guantánamo. But new WikiLeaks documents paint a picture of 'questionable' charges.
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So, if your iPhone is spying on you, who benefits?
Reports that iPhones and Android phones track the owners' movements have revived privacy concerns. The list of who wants the data – from police to marketers – is potentially a long one.
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Mexican opinion of US dwindles amid spread of Arizona-style immigration laws
Georgia's legislature passed a bill Thursday night giving law enforcement broader authority to verify immigrant status, a move inspired by an Arizona law that many Mexicans called 'racist.'
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Feds' request: Let us take on jail that bans all books except the Bible
The Justice Department, in its appeal to a federal judge in South Carolina asking to intervene in an ACLU lawsuit against a county sheriff, says the policy discriminates against non-Christians.
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Is 'Check it out, bro, I'm in prison!' an appropriate Facebook status update?
Prisoners aren't allowed smart phones, but that doesn't keep at least a few enterprising inmates from using Facebook and Twitter. South Carolina is considering a ban on prison Facebook updates.
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Rodney King riots won't happen again, say police
Rodney King retrospective: Twenty years later, a look back at the Rodney King beating, the riots that followed, and how far the LAPD think they have come.
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US Army may have used PSYOP against senators. How is that different from PR?
According to Rolling Stone, a general asked a psychological operations specialist to help him get inside the heads of visiting senators. The military asks, was he trying to manipulate the Congressional delegation or just be a good host?
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Muslim group sues FBI over surveillance at California mosques
Council on American-Islamic Relations and ACLU say a paid FBI informant violated the First Amendment rights of worshipers at several California mosques, targeting the most devout. They sued the FBI Wednesday.
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Supreme Court refuses appeal about Ten Commandments displays
The Supreme Court had struck down earlier Ten Commandments displays at the same Kentucky courthouses in 2005. The displays were altered, but a federal judge issued a permanent injunction against them.
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Terrorism & Security
Guantánamo detainee's sentence renews debate about civilian trialsThe first civilian trial of a Guantánamo detainee prompted questions about whether civilian court is the best place for alleged terrorists.
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Obama blasts Congress's limits on Guantánamo transfers
President Obama signs a bill to fund the Defense Department, though he's upset with one provision that prohibits bringing Guantánamo detainees to the US for trial. He vows to fight the restrictions.
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Illegal immigration: Can states win fight against 'birthright citizenship'?
Several state lawmakers want to make 'birthright citizenship' – the guarantee that all children born in the US are citizens – the next front against illegal immigration. It could be a tough battle.
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USS Enterprise video: An opportunity to reform the Pentagon?
Navy Capt. Owen Honors was removed from command of the USS Enterprise for participating in videos that included sexual innuendo and gay slurs. But some members of Congress see the scandal as a chance to change how the Pentagon responds to sexual crimes.
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For Los Angeles, fewest homicides since 1967. Why the drop?
In 2010, Los Angeles saw 297 homicides – down from more than 600 a year in the 1990s. The mayor and police groups praise the LAPD, but other are dubious.
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USS Enterprise: Do lewd videos point to deeper problem for military?
Capt. Owen Honors of the USS Enterprise was not sanctioned until this week for making lewd videos and broadcasting them over the ship's televisions several years ago. Critics say such permissive behavior contributes to rising rates of sexual crime in the military.
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Guantánamo: Is Obama's vow to close detention camp facing a reality check?
Obama insists that the US terror detention camp at Guantánamo can close. But new obstacles are emerging in a defense bill passed by Congress and his own plan to detain suspects indefinitely.
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Judge dismisses bid to remove Anwar al-Awlaki from US 'kill list'
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block the US from carrying out the targeted killing of American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki, who is reportedly on a 'kill list' of terrorism suspects.
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Air travelers tweet: TSA pat-downs and scans evoke humor, tears
Thanksgiving travelers are reporting their TSA encounters via Twitter and Facebook. The pat-downs and full-body scans range from entertaining to violating, they write.
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Travelers, lawmakers up in arms over airport security measures
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, 1.6 million travelers are expected to fly. How will passengers deal with new airport security measures critics say invade personal privacy?
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Terror case: Is one conviction and 284 acquittals a success?
Ahmed Ghailani's acquittal on 284 of 285 counts revives criticism of the Obama administration's policy to try terror cases in civilian courts. White House hails the single conviction as a victory.
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Are TSA pat-downs and full-body scans unconstitutional?
The TSA says the pat-downs and full body scans are necessary to keep airliners safe. But critics ask if such intimate searches violate the Fourth Amendment.
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