Here is how You Can Vote Before Iowa or New Hampshire!


A number of media outlets complained recently that the 2008 election is beginning too early. Here is a way that you can cast a vote - though not for President - before the Iowa caucuses or the New Hampshire primary. Join us for the 2007 ACLU of Illinois Statewide Membership Summit and cast a ballot for our priorities in the year ahead.



The Summit, titled "Act Like a Real Patriot: Urge Congress to Restore Checks and Balances Now," gives ACLU of Illinois members an opportunity to speak out on priorities for our communications with members of Congress in the year ahead (the results of members' votes will be transmitted to our congressional delegation) and to strengthen their advocacy skills for the year ahead. Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn (pictured, left) and WVON radio talk show host Cliff Kelley (pictured, left) will join us for the program. To review the agenda and register, please go to http://www.aclu-il.org/conference/.



Parental Notice Law in Illinois Revived after a Decade



As you know, protecting the ability of women to access a full range of reproductive heath care services without government intervention is a core part of our work at the ACLU of Illinois. On January 19th, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a motion in federal court seeking to lift the permanent injunction the ACLU of Illinois sought and won against the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995. The action by the Attorney General came after the Illinois Supreme Court acted suddenly in September of 2006 to issue rules required under 1995 law, despite the fact that the Supreme Court as comprised in the mid-1990s refused to issue such regulations. You can read the statement of Lorie Chaiten, Director of the ACLU of Illinois Reproductive Rights Project, responding to the action by the Illinois Attorney General by going to http://www.aclu-il.org/news/press/2007/01/aclu_of_illinois_responds_to_e.shtml.



Additionally, you may have read recent news accounts about proposed legislation sponsored by State Representative John Fritchey that creates a wider range of options for young women unable to communicate with their parents about an unwanted pregnancy -- including older relatives and members of the clergy -- and that allows young women to choose to go through extensive counseling with qualified professionals, to examine all of their options and to ensure that their decision making is careful, thorough and informed. The ACLU of Illinois supports this legislation. We do not generally believe that the government should mandate through legislation family communication, but, unlike the 1995 law that is before the federal court--which is harmful to young women -- the bill introduced by Representative Fritchey focuses on quality healthcare and assures that young women are making thoughtful and informed decisions. We look forward to working with members of the General Assembly to assure passage of this legislation.



Progress in Juvenile Detention Center Case


Regular readers of the E-newsletter have tracked developments in our case against Cook County seeking to improve conditions for youth housed at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. In early January, the monitors appointed by the federal court at our request in the case submitted to the court a Modified Implementation Plan, a detailed document that can be used as a roadmap to make most of the needed improvements at the facility. The changes are necessary to assure safe, sanitary and secure conditions for the youth housed at the JTDC. You can read more about the plan by going to http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0701090202jan09,1,6527075.story.



Playing in Peoria - Making Our Schools Safe for LGBT Youth


Last evening, a consortium of groups in Peoria - including the ACLU of Illinois and the Peoria chapter of the ACLU - came together as the Heartland Safe Schools Initiative to host a forum on best practices for making our public schools safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. The program featured remarks by State Senator Dave Koehler (pictured, left) and Interim State School Superintendent Chris Koch. Although the program occurred too late to get materials into this edition of the E-Newsletter, you can read an advance story on the program that ran in the Peoria Journal Star by going to http://www.pjstar.com/stories/012807/TRI_BC7AOR1U.019.php.



Got Email?


2007 will be a year of challenge for the ACLU of Illinois. In the state legislature, we are anticipating critical legislation on reproductive rights, basic dignity for lesbian and gay couples, and personal privacy. In Congress, we hope the new majority will press to restore habeas corpus rights to the recently-adopted Military Commissions Act and for serious review and oversight of the way that the Bush Administration has used its (real and perceived) authority under the Patriot Act and other legislation. To be effective in responding to these challenges, we need to speak with a loud, clear voice. The best way for us to speak loudly and clearly is to be able to get information to you instantaneously - that means via e-mail! If we have your email address, thank you. If you have friends, relatives, co-workers and other persons committed to civil liberties who have not joined the Action Alert list - ask them today!