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Judiciary Committee Reviews Predatory Marketing Law Following Constitutional Challenge (10/15/2009)
The Maine Civil Liberties Union testified today in front of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee regarding a new Maine law with potentially disastrous consequences for the free flow of information and the First Amendment rights of Mainers. The law, which was intended only to protect children from predatory marketing by pharmaceutical companies goes far further, implicating not only free speech, but also privacy rights and Commerce Clause restrictions on state regulations.

Obama Administration Seeks To Gut Reporters’ Shield Legislation (10/01/2009)
WASHINGTON – According to a report in the New York Times today, the Obama administration has presented a proposal to Congress regarding legislative efforts to secure a federal reporters’ shield bill. The administration reportedly will oppose any legislation that would protect journalists from being thrown in prison for refusing to reveal confidential national security sources. The proposal reportedly claims that the administration could decide what stories would cause “significant” damage to national security and, in some cases, have courts defer to the administration’s assertions.

ACLU Wins Free Speech Victory: Court Declares City of Englewood's Sign Code Unconstitutional (10/01/2009)
Today, the Colorado Court of Appeals agreed with the ACLU in a case challenging the constitutionality of the City of Englewood's sign code. The case was brought on behalf of Mike Mahaney, an Englewood shop owner whose mural depicting an Alice in Wonderland scene prompted controversy and citations for allegedly violating the City's sign code.

Lawsuit Challenges Unlawful Arrests and Restrictions by Tacoma Police at Port of Tacoma Demonstrations (09/24/2009)
Anti-war activists are pursuing a lawsuit challenging Tacoma Police Department actions that violated their rights at demonstrations at the Port of Tacoma. The suit asserts police conducted unlawful arrests, imposed unconstitutional restrictions, used unreasonable force, and engaged in unauthorized surveillance in order to discourage and prevent peaceful protest.

FCC Proposes Net Neutrality Rules (09/22/2009)
WASHINGTON – On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed expanded “net neutrality” guidelines that would require Internet service providers to treat all content and applications equally, regardless of their origin or messaging. The American Civil Liberties Union strongly supports these principles put forth by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, which would offer much needed First Amendment protections. The FCC is also calling on operators to make their management practices transparent to users, offering greater consumer protections.

ACLU Appeals Ruling That FBI Agents Who Attacked Journalists Can't Be Held Responsible (09/10/2009)
SAN JUAN, PR – The American Civil Liberties Union today filed an appeal of a federal court ruling that found that, even though there was enough evidence to prove that FBI agents violated the Fourth Amendment rights of journalists by attacking them unprovoked, the agents who committed the attack could not be held responsible for their actions.

ACLU Petitions Court for Release of Richard Hatch (09/09/2009)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today filed a habeas corpus petition asking a federal court to release Richard Hatch from jail in Barnstable County. Mr. Hatch gained notoriety for having won the first season of the television show "Survivor," and for the legal battle regarding his taxes that ensued.

National Coalition of Authors Urges Rejection Of Google Book Search Deal (09/08/2009)
NEW YORK – A coalition of authors and publishers – including best-sellers Michael Chabon and Jonathan Lethem, as well as leading security author Bruce Schneier – is urging a federal judge to reject the proposed settlement in a lawsuit over Google Book Search, arguing that the sweeping agreement to digitize millions of books ignores critical privacy and speech rights for readers and writers. The group of more than two dozen authors and publishers, represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the American Civil Liberties Union and the Samuelson Law, Technology, and Public Policy Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, filed an objection to the settlement today. The coalition is concerned that the collection and potential disclosure of personally identifying information about users who browse, read and make purchases online at Google Book Search will chill their readership.

Victory In "Media Shield" Case (09/03/2009)
HONOLULU – The ACLU of Hawaii today announced a victory for all journalists in Hawaii in the wake of Kauai Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe's ruling yesterday that Hawaii's new "media shield" law applies to independent filmmaker Keoni Alvarez and that he cannot be forced to reveal his unpublished work or his confidential sources.

Judge Rules Connecticut Campaign Finance Law Unconstitutional (08/28/2009)
BRIDGEPORT, CT – A federal judge today struck down unconstitutional portions of Connecticut's campaign finance law because they unfairly discriminated against third party candidates. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Connecticut filed a lawsuit challenging the law on behalf of the Green and Libertarian Parties of Connecticut and several individuals in July 2006.