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One of the main ways the ACLU of Illinois works to protect civil liberties and civil rights is through litigation. Litigation remains one of the fundamental tools with which our adept legal team fights for equality and civil rights throughout the state. This section of our website documents the cases we’re working on now and those we’ve handled in recent years.
If you wish to request legal assistance, please visit our Request Assistance page.
The ACLU of Illinois and the Women’s Rights Project of the ACLU represent Jennifer Panattoni, a police officer working for the Frankfort Police Department (FPD), who was denied reasonable accommodations and forced onto leave because she was pregnant.
The ACLU of Illinois represented Sarah Spriesch (formerly Sarah Murphy), a paramedic working for the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) who was forced onto leave because she was pregnant and, when she returned to work after giving birth, denied breaks and a clean place for expressing breast milk. Ms.
The ACLU represents Bryton Mellott, a 22-year-old Urbana resident, unlawfully arrested and jailed for burning an American flag on July 4, 2016 and posting photos of the event to Facebook.
The ACLU has advocated for years to improve access to the ballot box for all persons. A significant step forward in this area in Illinois came when the State adopted and implemented Election Day registration (EDR). Following a pilot, the new system was set to be used statewide for the November
The ACLU of Illinois represented Melanie Jones, a Chicago area woman who was denied critical health care by Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. A Mercy doctor refused to remove Ms. Jones’ intrauterine device after it had become dislodged when she fell in her home. Ms.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, and Mayer Brown LLP represent three students their parents, along with the Illinois Safe School Alliance, in a case about public schools requirements to allow students who are transgender to use the restroom and locker room appropriate for
