Cases

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.

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Jan 29, 2018

Monroe v. Jeffreys

LGBTQ and HIV Advocacy

The ACLU of Illinois represents a class of all people in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) who have requested treatment for gender dysphoria. Gender...

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D211
Dec 10, 2017

Maday v. District 211

LGBTQ and HIV Advocacy
Status: Settlement

In November 2017, Nova Maday sued Township High School District 211 in state court for discrimination after the District denied her use of the school locker rooms because...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Oct 4, 2017

Communities United v. Chicago

Police Practices and Racial Justice
Status: Settlement

Communities United, Community Renewal Society, Next Steps, ONE Northside, and the ACLU of Illinois sued the City of Chicago. Their lawsuit challenged the City’s policies and practices that authorize Chicago...

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Jennifer Panattoni
Sep 29, 2017

Panattoni v. Village of Frankfort

Women's and Reproductive Rights
Status: Settlement
The ACLU of Illinois and the Women’s Rights Project of the ACLU represented Jennifer Panattoni, a police officer working for the Frankfort Police Department (FPD), in a lawsuit alleging that she was...
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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
Sep 25, 2017

Sarah Spriesch v. City of Chicago

Women's and Reproductive Rights
Status: Settlement

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...

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Bryton Mellott
Jan 12, 2017

Mellott v. Sprague

First Amendment Advocacy
Status: Settlement

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. Despite clear...

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