News

Millions of Californians who renew their driver’s license or state identification by mail will be able to use the renewal form to register to vote or update their voter registration starting in April. Read More

Download the Winter 2018 ACLU of Northern California Newsletter and read about our latest events and initiatives. Read More

The Department of Justice is expected to reverse an Obama-era policy today that discouraged federal prosecutors from bringing charges against marijuana users in states where marijuana is legal. This decision would directly impact residents of the six states and the District of Columbia who have already legalized marijuana use, and should the change also affect medical marijuana regulations, could ... Read More

ACLU clients are home for the holidays after months in detention without due process. Read More

In the case of Garza v. Hargan, today the U.S. government announced it is releasing Jane Roe on her own recognizance. “We are pleased that these two young women are able to finally get the care they need," said Brigitte Amiri, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. "But the government’s policy is still in place. These two cases show how the government continues to abuse ... Read More

San Francisco — The American Civil Liberties Union Women’s Rights Project, the ACLU of Northern California, and the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP filed an amended complaint today in a lawsuit against the Department of Defense seeking equal access for female soldiers to ground combat positions. The amended complaint, filed on behalf of the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), challeng... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — The ACLU of Northern California proudly recognized Jim McQuillen, a Yurok Tribal member and dynamic champion for California’s indigenous students in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties, with the 2017 Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award at Bill of Rights Day on December 3. The award honors individuals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the battle to preserve and... Read More

LOLETA – Tribal leaders are hailing the news that Loleta Union Elementary School District has entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement with U.S. Department of Education. The Loleta School Board is scheduled to discuss the agreement at its December 13th board meeting, which will be held at 5pm in Room 8 at the Loleta Elementary School. Leaders from the Wiyot Tribe and the Bear River Band o... Read More

The American Civil Liberties Union’s Campaign for Smart Justice is launching an initiative that focuses on bolstering the movement to end money bail and eliminate wealth-based pretrial detention. Read More

California-based refugees, immigrants, and their loved ones are filing suit today to challenge the Muslim ban. Read More

Today the three California ACLU affiliates launched a hard-hitting new online ad campaign, featuring actress Rosario Dawson, urging California Republican House members to support a clean Dream Act by the end of 2017. The five representatives are key votes and have not yet announced support for the bipartisan legislation to protect Dreamers from deportation. The powerful ads show a mother driving ... Read More

Primary contact: Inga Sarda-Sorensen, (347) 514-3984 (isarda-sorensen@aclu.org)Washington – The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily allow the latest Muslim ban to take full effect as the case is litigated. Two federal appeals courts will soon hear separate challenges to the ban. The Ninth Circuit will hear Hawaii’s case on Dec. 6, and the Fourth Circuit will hea... Read More