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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Judge dismisses case involving targeted killing of Americans overseas
The ACLU and New York Times had sought access to government documents explaining the legal justification for a US drone strike that killed Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen and suspected Al Qaeda operative in Yemen.
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CIA rendition case: European court holds Macedonia partly responsible
The decision is important because it suggests that US allies that helped the CIA undertake its secret detention and interrogation program may face liability for their role supporting such operations.
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European court rules that terror suspect was abused while in CIA custody
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor today of Khaled El-Masri, who was mistaken as a terrorism suspect in Macedonia in 2003 and handed over to the CIA for interrogation.
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9/11 trial: Any mention of torture is classified, military judge rules
The military judge in the 9/11 trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others granted a government request to make all mention of alleged torture in the court classified. The defense called the ruling 'shameful.'
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Alleging US torture, terror convict Padilla appeals to Americas’ rights group
Jose Padilla's mother is alleging to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that her son, currently in solitary confinement in a Colorado prison, was tortured during his 4 years in a naval brig.
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Bullets vs. rocks? Border Patrol under fire for use of deadly force.
An Oct. 10 incident, in which a Border Patrol agent fired his gun in response to rock-throwing, leaving a 16-year-old dead, is drawing attention to the Border Patrol's use-of-force policy.
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From 'no' to 'yes,' how Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana
A day many thought they would never see has come and gone. In November, after years of, 'Just say no,' Colorado and Washington state both voted to legalize small amounts of marijuana for adults over 21.
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ACLU files lawsuit over policy barring women from ground combat
The civil rights group argued in a legal complaint filed in federal court in Northern California that a military policy to bar women from combat roles on the basis of gender was unconstitutional.
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Can people record police officers? Illinois ban gets no help at Supreme Court.
Supreme Court justices refused to hear an appeal on behalf of Illinois' tough eavesdropping law. A federal appeals court had ruled that the law 'likely violates' free speech guarantees.
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Border Patrol faces increased scrutiny following use of lethal force
The Department of Homeland Security has launched a probe of the Border Patrol agency. Since 2010, Border Patrol agents have killed 16 people. In eight cases the incidents involved rock-throwing.
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Did US go too far in its secret surveillance of citizens?
Critics say the Bush-era law designed to collect foreign intelligence intrudes on the constitutionally protected privacy and free speech rights of US citizens. The US Supreme Court hears the case Monday.
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NY appeals court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act, joining Boston court
The issue is expected to be decided by the Supreme Court. The decision came less than a month after the court heard arguments on Sept. 27.
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Horizons
Twitter bans Neo-Nazi group, a first for the websiteTwitter has blocked the account of a German Neo-Nazi group known as Besseres Hannover, or Better Hannover.
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9/11 cases: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed speaks in court, lectures judge
The accused 9/11 mastermind had skipped pretrial hearings at Guantánamo, but he made a surprise showing Wednesday afternoon and addressed the court. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had some counsel for the judge.
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On ballots: Has pro-marijuana camp found way to win over middle America?
Ballot initiatives in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington would make recreational use of marijuana legal. At least one is likely to succeed. Pro-legalization groups have been honing their message.
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Appeals court throws out bin Laden driver Hamdan conviction
In a 3-0 ruling, the appeals court said that material support for terrorism was not an international-law war crime at the time Hamdan engaged in the activity for which he was convicted.
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Morgan Stanley faces ACLU discrimination lawsuit
Morgan Stanley is being accused of discriminating against black homeowners and violating federal civil rights laws in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. Morgan Stanley calls the allegations 'completely without merit.'
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Can Los Angeles ban medical marijuana shops? Voters set to decide.
An initiative to override Los Angeles's ban on medical marijuana dispensaries has qualified for the ballot. Currently, federal, state, and city laws have created a confusing tangle.
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Father-daughter dances banned: R.I. school says it's gender bias
Father-daughter dances and mother-son ballgames violate state gender discrimination law, says Rhode Island school official. "Family dances" to replace them.
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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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Three early voting days in Ohio restored by judge
US District Judge Peter Economus in Columbus issued a preliminary injunction in the case involving state law that cuts off early voting for most residents on the Friday evening before a Tuesday election.
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Judge stops W. Va. single-sex classes: Were they a success or pseudoscience?
A federal judge prevented a West Virginia public school from proceeding with its single-sex classes, saying parents didn't get a fair chance to withdraw their kids. But the question of whether single-sex classes work or are built on unhelpful gender stereotypes gathers pace.
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9/11 hearings set to begin. Should Khalid Sheikh Mohammed be censored?
Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others await trial at Guantánamo. Starting Thursday, a military judge is to hear pretrial motions, including a censoring issue.
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Why judge refused to block Pennsylvania voter ID law
The ruling means that the Republican-backed voter ID law remains in effect for now. Opponents fear the law will suppress turnout among key Democratic constituencies, and have vowed to appeal.
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Pennsylvania voter ID law: Key swing states tinker with Election 2012 rules
A Pennsylvania judge refused to block a state voter ID law Wednesday, but Pennsylvania is only one of the key swing states squabbling over rules for Election 2012.
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