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ACLU of Ohio Initiates Investigation into Secret Meetings of Cleveland School Board (02/12/2004)
CLEVELAND--The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today sent public records requests to Cleveland School Board officials to investigate recent claims that school Board members have been conducting official business in private, in a potential violation of Ohio's Sunshine Laws.

ACLU Says Increased Indecency Fines Threaten Greater Chilling Effect on Speech (02/11/2004)
WASHINGTON - In light of a House hearing on legislation to increase Federal Communications Commission fines for broadcast indecency, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged caution against such a move, saying that current ambiguities in the definition of indecency, coupled with the increased penalties, would serve to chill free speech over the nation's airwaves.

Citing First Amendment, ACLU of Ohio Urges Local Officials to Revise Political Sign Ordinance (02/10/2004)
CLEVELAND - Saying that the city of Willowick's requirements regarding political signage violate residents' free speech rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today urged officials to revise its sign ordinance to comply with constitutional standards.

ACLU of New Mexico Wins Temporary Halt to Albuquerque's Anti-Panhandling Ordinance (01/16/2004)
ALBUQUERQUE -- State District Court Judge William F. Lang today granted the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico's request for a temporary restraining order barring Albuquerque from implementing an anti-panhandling ordinance that was to go into effect on January 21.

ACLU of Ohio Settles First Amendment Lawsuit Against City of Cleveland (01/15/2004)
CLEVELAND-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today announced a settlement in its First Amendment lawsuit against the City of Cleveland filed on behalf of three African American police officers and the African American Supervisors Association.

ACLU of Colorado Sues To Stop County's Criminal Libel Investigation Over "Howling Pig" Newsletter (01/08/2004)
DENVER -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado today filed a lawsuit in federal district court to stop Weld County law enforcement authorities from pursuing a criminal investigation and prosecution of Thomas Mink, the publisher of a satiric Internet-based publication called ""The Howling Pig.""

In First Amendment Victory, Appeals Court Nixes Mattel's Attempt to Block Artist's Use of Barbie Dolls (12/29/2003)
LOS ANGELES-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today hailed an appeal court ruling in favor of artist Tom Forsythe in a case involving toy giant Mattel's attempt to suppress his use of the Barbie doll in his artwork.

ACLU Opposes British-American Extradition Treaty; Says Measure Removes Crucial Due Process Protections (12/19/2003)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today weighed in against the ratification of a new extradition treaty between the United Kingdom and the United States, saying that the measure contains a number of ill-considered erosions of judicial review and would threaten the due process rights of Americans and others accused of crimes by the British government.

ACLU of New Jersey Files Free Speech Lawsuit Against School District for Retaliation Against Eighth Grade Webmaster (12/18/2003)
NEWARK - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit against school officials in the town of Oceanport who punished an 8th grade student for creating a website from his home computer that included student comments criticizing the school.

ACLU Successfully Defends Rhode Island Resident in Free Speech Case (12/02/2003)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today hailed the dismissal of criminal charges against Little Compton resident William Bullivant in a case that raised far-reaching free speech issues for state residents.

ACLU Wins Settlement for New Mexico Teachers Punished for Posting Anti-War Materials (11/14/2003)
ALBUQUERQUE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today announced the settlement of a civil rights lawsuit against the Albuquerque Public Schools for disciplinary actions taken against teachers and a counselor for posting materials related to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

ACLU Files Lawsuit to Protect Free Speech Rights of Connecticut Dentist (11/12/2003)
HARTFORD -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut today filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the state Department of Public Heath from disciplining an Orange dentist, Dr. Mark Breiner, for publishing an op-ed article in the Connecticut Post.

ACLU and Planned Parenthood Ask Tennessee Court to Block Anti-Abortion License Plate (11/06/2003)
NASHVILLE - The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed a lawsuit today to stop Tennessee officials from sponsoring an anti-abortion-rights specialty license plate, saying the program discriminates against opposing viewpoints.

NYCLU Files Lawsuit Against Lobbying Commission Over Free-Speech Billboard (11/03/2003)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan against David Grandeau, the Executive Director of the New York Temporary State Commission on Lobbying. The Commission has taken the position that NYCLU sponsorship of a billboard outside a shopping mall is lobbying, even though the billboard makes no mention of any legislation.

ACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Louisiana Inmate Punished for Mother's Internet Ad Seeking Legal Help for Her Son (09/18/2003)
BATON ROUGE, LA- In a federal lawsuit filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana charged officials at the state penitentiary at Angola with violating an inmate's rights when they punished him because his mother posted an online advertisement seeking legal assistance for her son.

ACLU Applauds Senate Block of New FCC Media Rules, Calls Bipartisan Vote a Victory for Marketplace of Ideas (09/16/2003)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Senate for adopting a resolution that seeks to repeal new media ownership rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), saying that if the rule remains in place, media monopolies would stifle an open and diverse exchange of views on the nation's airwaves.

ACLU of New Jersey Successfully Challenges Subpoena for Student Journalist's Death Penalty Documentary Notes (09/08/2003)
NEWARK - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced today that a federal court has blocked the forced disclosure of video-taped interviews that Rowan University student Jason Kitchen had created for a documentary about a New Jersey death row inmate.

Pennsylvania Town Suspends Restrictions on Door-to-Door Canvassing Under Threat of ACLU Lawsuit (08/28/2003)
PITTSBURGH -- Officials in Kennedy Township in Western Pennsylvania today agreed to the American Civil Liberties Union's request that it suspend enforcement of a new ordinance that restricts peoples' right to go door-to-door to discuss political, religious and other issues face-to-face with community residents.

ACLU of Ohio Sues Parma Heights Officials for Attempting to Silence Critics During Memorial Day Parade (08/26/2003)
CLEVELAND - The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a federal lawsuit against officials in Parma Heights who threatened to arrest residents who were distributing leaflets critical of the Mayor and stopped a city councilman and his daughter from wearing shirts supporting his candidacy during a Memorial Day parade.

ACLU Returns to Court in Controversy Over Free Speech On Salt Lake City's "Main Street Plaza" (08/07/2003)
SALT LAKE CITY - The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah today returned to court in the controversy over the Mormon Church's ability to restrict free speech rights on the city's Main Street Plaza, saying that city officials have failed to respect a federal court ruling that the plaza is a public forum.