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, 1992

Pitochelli v. Town of Johnston

Voting Rights
Status: Closed

Successful federal lawsuit requiring the Town of Johnston to reapportion its city council and school committee districts after failing to do so for more than twenty years.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 27, 1992

Chreim v. Board of Governors for Higher Education

Students’ Rights
Status: Closed

Favorably settled suit on behalf of URI student denied in-state tuition residency status solely because he had not lived in-state for one year before enrolling.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 27, 1992

Decristo v. R.I. Commission for Human Rights

First Amendment
Status: Closed

Successful federal lawsuit on behalf of a person with HIV who was barred by statute from publicizing his complaint of discrimination while it was pending before the Human Rights Commission.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Jan 3, 1992

Weisman v. Lee

First Amendment
Status: Closed

Favorable ruling from U.S. Supreme Court in lawsuit challenging a public school’s practice of having an invocation and benediction delivered at a graduation ceremony.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1991

Kleczek v. R.I. Interscholastic League

Gender Equality
Status: Closed

Unsuccessful lawsuit challenging an Interscholastic League rule barring boys from playing field hockey.

Visit case page
Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1991

Whiting v. Town of Westerly

Economic Justice
Status: Closed

Federal lawsuit challenging a town ordinance that made it a crime to sleep in one’s car in public during the nighttime.

Visit case page