Legal Docket

For decades, the ACLU Foundation of Northern California has used the courts to protect and expand the rights of all Californians. From fighting against the internment of Japanese Americans, to suing California Highway Patrol for targeting Black and Latinx drivers, the ACLU is building a more just state one lawsuit at a time.

O'Connell v. City of Stockton

May 05, 2006

Is due process violated by a city forfeiture ordinance that authorizes the immediate seizure of vehicles allegedly involved in the solicitation of prostitution or drugs without any provision for a prompt hearing to determining probably cause and the necessity for retaining the vehicle during the pendency of the forfeiture action? Read More

Evans v. City of Berkeley

Mar 09, 2006

After the City terminated the Sea Scouts' free berth space, the Sea Scouts sued the City, claiming that it had violated their First Amendment and equal protection rights. The trial court dismissed the action, and plaintiffs appealed. The First Appellate district affirmed. Evans v. City of Berkeley, 104 Cal. App. 4th 1 (2002). The appellate court (after affirming the dismissal of contract and o... Read More

Michael Morales Cases

Feb 21, 2006

Michael Angelo Morales was scheduled to be executed at San Quentin State Prison on February 21, 2006.

Learn more:

Michael Morales's letter

Multiple-party letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger (English)

Multiple-Party letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger (Spanish)

Letter from retired Superior Court Judge McGrath to Gov. Schwarzenegger (Jan. 25, 2006)

Profile of Michael Morales (Spanish)

R.G. v. Koller

Feb 07, 2006

A federal civil rights lawsuit against Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF), the state's juvenile detention facility. The three plaintiffs were abused and harassed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity while at HYCF. Read More

Commission on Peace Officers Standards & Training v. Superior Court for County of Sacramento

Jan 17, 2006

The Los Angeles Times sought release of records from the California Commission on Police Officers Standards and Training regarding the appointment, promotion, and termination histories of various police officers. Trial court granted access to some of the requested information. Court of Appeal reversed it. The Los Angeles Times appealed. The ACLU Foundations of California filed an amicus brief in t... Read More

ACLU v. NSA

Jan 17, 2006

On January 17, 2006 the ACLU filed the first lawsuit against the Bush administration in connection with their spying program. "President Bush may believe he can authorize spying on Americans without judicial or Congressional approval, but this program is illegal and we intend to put a stop to it," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Eas... Read More

R.G. v. Koller (Juvenile Justice for LGBT Inmates)

Sep 02, 2005

Ruling requires policies to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in juvenile correction facility. Read More

Angelucci v. Century Supper Club

Aug 26, 2005

Must victims of discrimination affirmatively request and be denied equal treatment before they may sue under the Unruh Act or the Gender Tax Repeal Act? Does advertising a sex-based price discount violate the Unruh Act or the Gender Tax Repeal Act? Read More

California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC) v. Calderon

Jul 15, 2005

In July, 2005 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that there may no be any reason to bar the media from witnessing executions. Judge Hawkins writes, in his opinion for the en banc court, "We agree that executions are unquestionably matters 'of great public importance.' Pell, 417 U.S. at 830 n.7. Moreover, we believe that more information leads to a better informed public." While it had previo... Read More

Benitez v. Montoya

May 18, 2005

The New Haven Unified School District and the City of Union City have each reached groundbreaking settlements with students in Union City as a result of a federal lawsuit brought by the ACLU Foundation of Northern California on behalf of three high school students whose civil rights were violated. On February 22, 2002 the three were rounded up along with a group of mostly Latino and Asian students... Read More

Weber v. Lockyer

Apr 22, 2005

Does compulsory testing and maintenance of DNA from persons who are arrested for felony offenses and persons with past convictions who are no longer supervised by the criminal justice system violate the Fourth Amendment and federal privacy rights? Read More

California Statewide Communities Developement Authority v. All Persons Interested in the Matter of the Validity of the Purchase Agreement

Apr 07, 2005

The issue in this case is whether the California Constitution allows the government to underwrite part of the cost of a religious school's borrowing money to construct facilities. The government issues tax-exempt bonds to nonprofit organizations, acting as a conduit between the organization and lender, so that the interest on the loan is not taxed. This allows the organization to borrow money at... Read More