Hector Villagra, ACLU/SC Executive Director: It is fitting that today the federal government should announce an order preventing DREAM Act-eligible undocumented immigrants from being deported. Thirty years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a state law prohibiting undocumented children from receiving a free public education. The Court recognized the unfairness and irrationality of punishing innocent children who are here through no fault of their own by denying them an education.

The ACLU of Southern California held its 18th Annual Law Luncheon, which honors and recognizes the work of attorneys and bravery of individuals who speak up when injustices occur.

The court granted the motion for class certification to include present and future inmates in Men’s Central Jail, Twin Towers, and the Inmate Reception Area. The court also made it clear that it found no merit to disqualify the ACLU as counsel.

By Inimai Chettiar, ACLU & Alex Stamm, ACLU Center for Justice As states begin to realize that they can reduce their prison populations safely, the pace of reform has begun to pick up a bit this year. State legislative sessions are coming to a close, which makes it a good time to review the actions lawmakers have taken to reduce their unsustainable prison populations in 2012. Here are the some of the legislative reform highlights:

Today, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in the case of California Justice Committee v. Bowen, prohibiting the California secretary of state from enforcing a January deadline by which new political parties must meet onerous qualification requirements in order to place their candidates on California’s November presidential ballot.

SAN FRANCISCO GATE: By Nanette Asimov Students say the bathrooms at Oakland High are messed up because they lack supplies, leak, or are always locked. At Far West High in the same city, students complain of classrooms so crowded that they have to sit on tables.