LOS ANGELES -- The Honorable S. James Otero denied motions by the Regents of the University of California and Brentwood School to set aside an earlier ruling that numerous land deals approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on its campus in West Los Angeles were illegal.

TEHACHAPI, CA – Today, the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) sent a letter to the California Correctional Institution (CCI) demanding that its officers follow the law and allow Muslim women to wear their hijab, a religiously-mandated headscarf, during visits.

LOS ANGELES – The ACLU of California (ACLU CA) made significant progress toward protecting the civil liberties of all Californians through the state Legislature in 2013. This year, the ACLU played a central role in getting to the governor’s desk 16 bills, dealing with a wide range of civil liberties issues including privacy, criminal justice and drug law reform, immigrant rights and LGBTQ rights. We are pleased to report that the governor signed 12 of those bills, of which most will become law on January 1, 2014.

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown today vetoed a bill that would have modestly reformed California’s drug sentencing laws for simple possession, significantly reduced incarceration costs for counties and helped the state end its ongoing incarceration crisis.

SANTA ANA--In observance of World Homelessness Day, the ACLU of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) announces the launch of its Dignity for All Project to address civil and human rights issues arising from homelessness. In any given year, Orange County, one of the wealthiest counties in the United States, is home to thousands of people forced to live and sleep on the streets because they cannot obtain housing or shelter.

Sacramento – Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation today that would increase access to safe, early abortion for California women. The bill, AB 154 was authored by Assembly member Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).

The ACLU of California applauds Governor Brown for signing AB 4, the TRUST Act, a bill authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano.

Los Angeles--Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB 60: The Safe and Responsible Driver Act. Starting in January 2015, California residents who learn the rules of the road and pass a driving test will be eligible to obtain a driver's license regardless of immigration status.

LOS ANGELES--The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) commends Governor Jerry Brown for signing into law The California Liberty Preservation Act (AB 351) yesterday.