News & Commentary

“Plaintiffs’ inability to assert civil actions by virtue of this statute burdens their fundamental right of access to the courts because they are unable to challenge the conditions of their confinement, namely, the physical harm they allegedly suffered while confined.”

In their letter, the organizations argue that this would have a chilling effect on free speech and the right to petition the government, undermining an important public forum and a fundamental principle of democracy.

The judgment comes in a lawsuit filed in March 2020 on behalf of Sean Carroll, an environmentally conscious Tesla owner who was ordered by the DMV to turn in his license plate “FKGAS” or else have his car registration cancelled.

In an important free speech decision, a U.S. District Judge has ruled that Johnston Police violated the First Amendment rights of retired Detective James Brady.

We filed an open records lawsuit against the state Attorney General's office, challenging a $225 fee they charged a law school student to provide her copies of reports that state law requires they annually submit to the RI General Assembly.

An unfavorable ruling in the case could “give police free rein to enter the home without probable cause or a warrant, whenever they think it is ‘reasonable’ to do so.”

We have filed a challenged to a Portsmouth town ordinance banning the posting of political signs on residential, private property.

Citing repeated instances of police not activating body worn cameras in encounters with the public, the ACLU of RI has called on PVD Pubic Safety Commissioner Paré and Police Chief Clements to take stronger steps to enforce the department’s body camera policy.

RI Commissioner of Education Angélica Infante-Green has ruled that the N. Kingstown school district could not ban students from in-school learning because their parents had let them attend school while their father was waiting for his COVID test results.