Detroit -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan blasted a Michigan Supreme ruling today, which upheld a lower court’s decision that Proposal 2, passed by Michigan voters in 2004, prohibits public employers from offering domestic partner benefits.  The majority opinion was written by Justice Steven Markman,which was joined by four other justices with a dissent written by Justice Marilyn Kelly and Justice Michael Cavanagh.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 19, 2008

DETROIT – The civil rights coalition challenging Proposal 2, the 2006 ballot initiative banning affirmative action in Michigan, expressed deep disappointed with a federal judge’s decision to dismiss their lawsuit. The coalition had asked the court to strike down the ban because it discriminates against students of color by removing race from consideration in admissions, while allowing the consideration of virtually all other non-academic factors.

DETROIT – A federal jury today found the Saginaw County Jail responsible for the egregious and unconstitutional treatment of detainees and awarded 4 plaintiffs $145,000 in damages. The lawsuit challenged policies that allowed prison personnel to strip detainees and place them naked in a cell referred to as "the hole." In 2005, the ACLU of Michigan joined the case, which was originally filed in 2001.

DETROIT --The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today marked the 45th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright by calling on Michigan to provide adequate legal defense for the poor.

DETROIT - In a letter to one of the largest insurers of churches in the country, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan expressed deep concern today over the company’s policy to deny churches coverage based on “controversial” stances.

DETROIT – A federal judge today granted the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan’s petition for a preliminary injunction prohibiting the Secretary of State from distributing the party preference declarations solely to the two major political parties of the State until oral arguments on March 26, 2008 at 2 p.m.