Cases

At any given time, the ACLU of RI is involved in dozens of legal battles on behalf of civil liberties in the Ocean State. Below is a list of many the cases we have worked on. For our annual case dockets, click here.

Filter Cases
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1999

DeAscentis v. Pine

Voting Rights
Status: Closed

Favorably resolved challenge to a state law barring all municipal employees, except teachers, from holding public office in the city or town where they are employed.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1999

Solas v. Emergency Hiring Council of the State of Rhode Island

Government Transparency
Status: Closed

Successful lawsuit challenging the failure of the Governor’s Emergency Hiring Council to abide by the Open Meetings Law.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1999

Hermanowski v. Farquharson

Due Process
Status: Closed

This was the first of a number of successful cases handled by the Affiliate challenging, on due process grounds, the indefinite detention by the INS of lawful permanent residents awaiting deportation.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 27, 1999

Theberge v. Rocco

Criminal Justice
Status: Closed

Favorably settled federal lawsuit challenging police officers’ warrantless entry into, and search of, a house in order to arrest a person seen to have engaged in underage drinking.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1998

Providence Firefighters Local #799 v. Partington

First Amendment
Status: Closed

Successful federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a fire department order barring employees from speaking to the media without approval of the fire chief.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1998

Gray v. Registry of Motor Vehicles

Disability Rights
Status: Closed

Successful appeal on behalf of a person arbitrarily denied a chauffeur’s license based on a 14-year-old fainting incident.

Visit case page