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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Oct 16, 2016

Harlan v. Scholz

Voting Rights

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...

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Melanie Jones
Aug 23, 2016

Melanie Jones v. Mercy Hospital and Medical Center

Women's and Reproductive Rights
Status: Closed

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...

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Wooden gavel
Wooden gavel
May 26, 2016

Parents and Students for Privacy v. District 211

LGBTQ and HIV Advocacy
Status: Dismissed

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...

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Apr 28, 2016

Katzman and Webber v. Bernadine’s Stillman Inn

First Amendment Advocacy
Status: Active

The ACLU of Illinois represents Alexandra Katzman and Jonathan Webber who were denied the ability to hold their wedding at Bernadine’s Stillman Inn in Galena because they wanted a nonreligious wedding...

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Apr 6, 2016

People v. Minnis

First Amendment Advocacy
Status: Decided

The ACLU of Illinois filed an amicus curiae brief in the Illinois Supreme Court along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The case centered on a downstate Illinois man charged with a felony after he...

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twittergate
Jul 28, 2014

Daniel v. Peoria

First Amendment Advocacy
Status: Settlement

We represented Peoria resident Jon Daniel, the subject at the center of what came to be known as “Twittergate” in that community. In March 2014, Mr. Daniel began a Twitter account — @Peoriamayor — that...

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