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Justice Department Releases Several Legal Memos On Bush Administration's War Policies (1/9/2009)
NEW YORK – In the final days of the Bush administration, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) released several memos that provide the legal basis for some of the president's war policies. However, the Justice Department continues to withhold many legal opinions, including memos justifying torture and surveillance policies that are responsive to Freedom of Information Act lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU Mourns Passing Of Civil Rights Leader Charles Morgan, Jr. (1/8/2009)
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union honors the memory of civil rights lawyer Charles Morgan, Jr. who died today of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Morgan became the first Director of the ACLU's Southern Regional Office in 1964 and served as the ACLU Washington Legislative Director in the 1970s. He was 78.

Attorney General Ends Constitutional Protection For Immigrants From Lawyers' Mistakes (1/8/2009)
NEW YORK – In a radical departure from years of legal precedent, Attorney General Michael Mukasey has ended the practice of allowing immigrants to reopen immigration cases that they lost because of their lawyers' mistakes or incompetence. Mukasey's order, which is effective immediately, may lead to the deportation of innumerable immigrants who have lost their cases due to attorney error.

Federal Court Delivers Thorough Rejection of Random Teacher Drug Testing in West Virginia (1/8/2009)
CHARLESTON, WV – A federal court in West Virginia today issued a written order halting the proposed random, suspicionless drug testing of nearly all Kanawha County public school employees. The order provides a thorough rationale for last week’s verbal ruling to block the controversial program and comes in response to a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in partnership with the West Virginia Education Association, which argues that drug testing without cause violates public servants’ constitutional right to privacy.

ACLU Calls Swift Passage of Pay Equity Bills Strong Steps to Help Protect Wages (1/7/2009)
WASHINGTON – Ahead of the numerous economic indicators set to be released this week – including December payroll figures – all of which are expected to show a worsening US economy, the ACLU sent a letter to Congress urging speedy passage of a pay equity legislative package that gives employees tools to fight unfair wage disparities. This week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act.