News & Commentary

SACRAMENTO - A new bill that puts California at the forefront of efforts to guard the privacy rights of its residents cleared a major hurdle Tuesday when it was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee with strong bipartisan support.

A Governor who ran for office as the people's politician should unite the residents of California rather than divide.

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge dismissed claims by former arrestees challenging mandatory DNA testing provisions under Proposition 69 on April 22, 2005. In doing so, Judge Fern Smith of the U.S. District Court agreed with Attorney General Bill Lockyer's position that Proposition 69 will not be applied retroactively to persons arrested before the November 2, 2004 election.

LOS ANGELES - In a case dubbed Air Marshal X, the ACLU of Southern California is challenging the overly restrictive policies of the Federal Air Marshal Service that may decrease public safety.

LOS ANGELES - A judge certified a class action lawsuit affecting more than 100 Ontario police officers after they discovered a hidden camera in the police department's men's locker room two years ago.

SACRAMENTO - A broad coalition of privacy rights, women, consumer, and conservative groups are supporting a bill introduced by Bay Area Sen. Joe Simitian that would prohibit any document created by the state, county, or municipal government from containing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or other device that can broadcast an individual's personal information. The tags are tiny devices with miniature antennae that can broadcast personal information or enable that information to be scanned remotely.

LOS ANGELES - A federal district court ruled Friday that a proposed transfer of the federal land on which a Latin cross sits in the Mojave National Preserve to a private party is unconstitutional.

SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union today cheered a decision by California's Court of Appeal throwing out a legal challenge by anti-gay activists to the state's comprehensive domestic partnership law.

We would like to express our sadness at the passing of Johnnie Cochran. Johnnie's remarkable skill, intellect and commitment made him a giant in the legal and civil rights community. The ACLU was proud to work with Johnnie many times on the pressing need for police reform, police respect for communities of color and civil liberties for all.