Cases

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California undertakes litigation when doing so is the most effective way to advance a civil liberties concern. We file lawsuits that will have an impact on people’s rights by setting a legal precedent or affecting the policies and actions of public officials. We both provide direct legal representation to people and file amicus (friend-of-the-court) briefs addressing civil liberties issues in cases initiated by others. All of the ACLU SoCal’s legal work is on a pro bono basis; we never charge for our legal services.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Dec 10, 2020

Utzman v. County of Orange

Houselessness
Status: Filed

The horrific conditions in the shelters, as well as punishment for merely objecting to them, are not...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Jul 31, 2020

Gente Organizada v. Pomona Police Department

Police Practices
Status: Active

Police officers’ legal authority to kill underwent a key change in California on January 1, 2020, when a new law stated that lethal force was justifiable only “when necessary in defense of human life.”...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Jun 3, 2020

Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles v. Garcetti

First Amendment and Democracy
Status: Filed
“The City and County of Los Angeles are attempting to use these curfews to suppress Black Lives Matter – L.A.’s right to protest,” said Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of BLM-L.A. “They are attempting to...
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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
May 18, 2020

Simental v. Ozuna

Police Practices
Status: Filed

Pablo Simental, Jr. and three friends — all of whom were high school students — were walking towards the Wonderful College Prep Academy on their way to pick up prom passes when a police car pulled aside...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
May 16, 2020

Garries v. Milusnic

First Amendment and Democracy
Status: Active

In May of 2020, more than 900 people incarcerated in Lompoc had tested positive for the virus — that’s more than 65% of positive tests in all of Santa Barbara County, where the prison facilities are located...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
May 16, 2020

Wilson v. Ponce

First Amendment and Democracy
Status: Filed

More than 700 people, including several staff members, have tested positive for COVID-19 on Terminal Island in Los Angeles. At least nine have died.

This crisis need never to have reached such...

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