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Home » E-newsletter » Archives » February 16, 2005
February 16, 2005 ACLU of Illinois E-News 2.16.05 We Want to Hear From You! Were you alarmed by the results of the 2004 general election? Are you concerned that the Bush Administration and leadership in the Congress is hostile to the constitutional values? Is so, would you be willing to spend a Saturday with other members of the ACLU to talk about the current threats to civil liberties at the national, state and local level? Through a generous grant from the Libra Foundation, we have been able to arrange for an Emergency Summit. The meeting is intended for all ACLU of Illinois members and other persons in Illinois interested in defending our constitutional values. The Emergency Summit will take place on Saturday, April 9, 2005, at the Hawthorn Suites and Conference Center (located at 101 Trade Centre Drive) in Champaign. The Emergency Summit will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m. For more information on the event -- and to register -- please go to www.aclu-il.org/conference/. ACLU Weighs in on "Embryo" Case On February 4th, the ACLU of Illinois and others were surprised and concerned when a state court judge in Chicago issues a ruling that a frozen embryo -- accidently destroyed at a Chicago fertility clinic -- was a "person" for purposes of a wrongful death lawsuit. The ACLU of Illinois responded to the decision, noting in part that the judge relied in his ruling on Illinois law that had been enjoined by federal courts as part of an ACLU of Illinois lawsuit. Colleen Connell, Executive Director, noted that the decision could have a chilling impact on doctor's research into fertility adn reproductive medicine. Colleen also noted that the decision was without precedent, saying "No appellate court has ever declared a fertilized egg a human being in a wrongful-death suit." ACLU of Illinois Endorses State Legislator's Efforts to Protect Illinois' Motorist from Harassing, Menacing, Suspicionless Searches by Drug-Sniffing Dogs In the last edition we reported to you that the ACLU of Illinois was disappointed with a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States -- in an Illinois case - that permitted police to introduce menacing, harassing drug-sniffing dogs into a routine traffic stop without any articulable suspicion that the motorist is involved in any sort of drug activity. On Monday, February 14th, the ACLU was proud to join with State Representative Monique Davis as she intorduced legislation that would require police in Illinois to have some "articulable, reasonable suspicion" before drug-sniffing dogs were introduced in a routine traffic stop. You can learn more about the legislation by reading a news story at http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-drugdogs15.html. |
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