News & Commentary

Andrew D. Smith, a former student at Novato High School and current U.S. Marine, authored two opinion pieces for his school's student newspaper, The Buzz. The articles were originally approved by the school principal, but after publication school officials confiscated copies of the The Buzz and said the editorials violated school policy after other students and parents complained about the content of the articles. Smith sued the school district and the Superior Court issued a ruling against him, which, if not reversed, will almost certainly chill future speech by sending the message that school officials can prevent or punish students for publishing certain views, Sun said.

LOS ANGELES - The ACLU of Southern California on behalf of Los Angeles-based community groups that represent victims of domestic violence and day laborers, moved today to defend a policy of the Los Angeles Police Department, known as Special Order 40, designed to better protect all residents of Los Angeles.

Guest columnist, Malek Moazzam-Doulat, presents the compelling arguments for legislative measures intended to protect privacy in the face of RFID technology.

LOS ANGELES - In pledging its support for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's school reform bill, the ACLU of Southern California becomes the first major civil rights group to back the plan to improve Los Angeles Unified School District and increase accountability within the system.

ORANGE, Calif. - On behalf of a Buddhist temple, the ACLU of Southern California sued the city of Garden Grove today demanding an injunction to stop the enforcement of an unconstitutional city code.

LOS ANGELES - On behalf of a U.S. military veteran, a medical doctor, small business owners and others who have been illegally denied citizenship, the ACLU of Southern California, the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project and the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a class action lawsuit today against the federal government.

LOS ANGELES - A panel of judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the release of a Buena Park man who has been detained since July 2004.