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.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1991

Meagher v. R.I. Ethics Commission

Voting Rights
Status: Closed

Lawsuit challenging Commission ruling that a person could not run for Town Council because her job as an architectural designer created a potential conflict of interest.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1991

Cambodian Society of R.I. v. Town of West Warwick

Immigrants’ Rights
Status: Closed

Successful federal lawsuit challenging a town's decision to cancel a Cambodian group's use of Civic Center based on fears of possible violence at the event.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Jan 3, 1991

Tucker v. Glocester Police Department

Privacy
Status: Closed

Favorably settled complaint challenging the use on police applicants of a standardized psychological test which asked questions relating to religious beliefs.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1990

In re: Our Lady of the Roses Church

First Amendment
Status: Closed

The Affiliate successfully represented a Wiccan Church that was initially denied a sales tax exemption by the Division of Taxation on the grounds that it was not a “legitimate” religion.

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1990

Atlantic Beach Casino v. Morenzoni

First Amendment
Status: Closed

Successful federal lawsuit on behalf of nightclub threatened with revocation of its entertainment license after booking the rap group “2 Live Crew.”

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Mar 28, 1990

City of Pawtucket v. Gugel

Due Process
Status: Closed

Successful lawsuit challenging a Municipal Court practice of requiring defendants to pay the overtime costs of the police officer who testified in the case.

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