Cases and Legal Advocacy

One of the main ways ACLU-DC works to protect civil liberties and civil rights is through litigation. This section of our website documents the cases we’re working on now and those we’ve handled in recent years. Click here for general information about what types of cases we litigate.

Important disclaimer: Communicating with us through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship; only a signed agreement can create such a relationship. Additionally, past success is no guarantee of future results, even if we agree to represent you.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Feb 16, 2021

ACLU-DC v. District of Columbia – Challenging D.C. Police’s Failure to Release Stop-and-Frisk Data

Criminal Justice Reform
Status: Victory!

The Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act, enacted in March 2016, included a key provision requiring the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to collect detailed and comprehensive data...

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Jan 15, 2021

Huisha-Huisha v. Gaynor – Defending Due Process Rights for Children Seeking Refuge in U.S. During COVID-19 Pandemic

Immigrants' Rights
Status: Victory!
This is our fifth case challenging the Trump administration’s policy of expelling refugees without any of the protections required by the immigration laws, on the ground that they might have COVID-19...
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ID: the judges' bench in a courtroom in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Three seats face to the right and the judges’ bench extends outwards into the background. Mahogany paneling glows from the light overhead.
Dec 18, 2020

Cruz-Martin v. Dept. of Homeland Security – Defending due process for government employees

Due Process/Procedural Rights
Status: Victory!
We represented an attorney for the TSA whose job was suspended without pay after his security clearance was revoked without adequate warning or opportunity to respond to the revocation.
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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Oct 20, 2020

Fraternal Order of Police v. District of Columbia - Requiring Prompt Release of Body-Worn Camera Videos

Criminal Justice Reform
Status: Amicus Filed
The D.C. Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) sued to block that legislation, claiming that it violated the separation of powers (arguing that only the Mayor has the power to supervise the police) and infringed the...
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ID: a picture of a street art stencil rendered in black spray paint on a white wall. The design is of a disposable surgical mask with the ties fluttering in the wind. "COVID-19" is stenciled below. Photo by Adam Niescioruk from Unsplash.com
Oct 5, 2020

P.J.E.S. v. Wolf - Defending Due Process Rights for Children Seeking Refuge in the U.S. During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Immigrants' Rights
Status: Victory!
This case challenges the Trump administration’s policy of expelling refugees without any of the protections required by the immigration laws, on the ground that they might have COVID-19 infections.
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military helicopter
Oct 1, 2020

Dashtamirova v. United States

Freedom of Speech and Association
Status: Victory!
The ACLU-DC filed a formal complaint on behalf of a protestor who was injured by the National Guard’s use of low-flying helicopters to intimidate racial justice demonstrators.
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