Press Releases

Press requests should be directed to media@aclupa.org.

Good Government Advocates Tell State Supreme Court That Marsy’s Law Ballot Question Disenfranchised Voters

Good government advocates argued to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court today that the 2019 ballot question on constitutional rights for victims of crime presented voters with too many changes to the state constitution in a single question.

Police District in Northwest Philadelphia Launches Pilot Program of New Approach to Stop-and-Frisk

At a press conference today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania celebrated  the August 1 launch of a pilot program that will change how Philadelphia police interact with individuals who are committing minor offenses.

Montgomery County Commissioners Amend Public Transparency Policy Following ACLU-PA Lawsuit

Montgomery County commissioners have reached a settlement agreement with 15 county residents who filed suit after the commissioners fired Dean Beer and Keisha Hudson from the public defender’s office without a public vote and public comment, in violation of the Sunshine Act.
Issue Areas: Open Government

Supreme Court Decision Rules to Protect Students’ Full Free Speech Rights

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Mahanoy Area School District v B.L. today in a decision that reaffirmed the importance of free speech rights of young people and students across the country.

Supreme Court Decision Does Not Create a License to Discriminate

Today in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, the Supreme Court issued a narrow fact-specific ruling that does not create a license to discriminate based on religious beliefs.
Issue Areas: TLGBQIA+ Equality

New Report from ACLU of Pennsylvania Details State Legislature’s Continuing Expansion of Criminal Punishment

The ACLU of Pennsylvania has released a new edition of its report More Law, Less Justice, exposing how Pennsylvania state legislators continue to pass bills that expand the commonwealth’s criminal justice system with an overreliance on punishment. 

Federal Judge Orders New Approach to Eliminate Racial Bias in Stop and Frisk Policing in Philadelphia

On Thursday, a federal judge issued a new order in the decade-long enforcement of the agreement by the city of Philadelphia to end racial bias in stops and frisks by city police officers.

ACLU-PA Response to Allegheny County DA Zappala’s Abuse of Plea Deal Power

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has instructed his office to refuse all plea deals for clients of attorney Milton Raiford just days after Mr. Raiford criticized the DA’s office for what he characterized as systematic racism.

ACLU-PA Sues Montgomery County for Denying Its Lawyers Access to People in the Jail

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a federal lawsuit today alleging that Montgomery County violated the ACLU-PA’s First Amendment rights by denying ACLU lawyers access to people held in the county jail.