Cases

The ACLU of Michigan files lawsuits that impact people’s rights by setting a legal precedent, or affecting the policies and actions of public officials. Our current Fall 2024 Legal Docket details our legal cases and actions taken in 2023-2024.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Jan 13, 2017

Academic Freedom Threatened by Subpoena in Defamation Case

Privacy & Technology

PubPeer.com is an online forum for scientific discussion and critique of published research.  Many of its participants comment anonymously so that they need not fear professional retribution if they...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Nov 7, 2016

Misleading Information About Voter ID

Voting Rights
Status: Defending liberty

In Michigan, registered voters may vote without showing a photo ID if they do not have photo ID or if they did not bring one to the polls. All they have to do is sign a statement identifying themselves, and...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Oct 18, 2016

D.R. v. Michigan Dept. of Education: Standing Up for Flint Students Following the Water Crisis

Flint Water Crisis
Status: Filed
...
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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Sep 23, 2016

Jail Won’t Let ACLU Send Letters to Inmates

Prisoners' Rights

The Livingston County Jail has a postcard-only policy, but there is supposed to be...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Sep 8, 2016

Emergency Room Health Care Governed by Religious Doctrine

Reproductive Freedom

In 2013 the ACLU filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) after a Catholic hospital in Muskegon refused to provide Tamesha Means with necessary treatment or...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Sep 5, 2016

Daily Searches at Public School

Student Rights

In July 2016 a 13-year-old student was forced to withdraw from a summer school program run by a public school district because he did not consent to a daily pat-down frisk and a search of his backpack.  The...

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