The New York Civil Liberties Union works in the courts as a public-interest law firm, bringing constitutional test cases in state and federal court. The NYCLU's legal program balances enforcement litigation, or cases that enforce previously established standards, and cutting-edge test case litigation, or cases that seek to set new standards. While litigation alone does not represent a complete strategy to preserve and enhance civil liberties, the lawsuits pursued by the NYCLU are important because of the particular wrongs they right, the individuals and groups they protect, and the constitutional doctrines they establish. Our litigation complements our proactive program of public education and advocacy.
The New York Civil Liberties Union in partnership with Shearman & Sterling LLP filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Rochester Police Locust Club seeking an indeterminate delay in the City of Rochester’s production of any police officer disciplinary records.
The New York Civil Liberties Union in partnership with Shearman & Sterling LLP filed an Article 78 proceeding against the Rochester Police Department to obtain records related to police misconduct requested by the NYCLU under the state Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). This comes after months of ob
The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by Mike Martucci, candidate for 42nd State Senate District, that seeks to disenfranchise voters whose ballots were already validated by the local boards of elections.
The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Rockland County Board of Elections to address long lines and inadequate accommodations for voters during early voting. Filed on behalf of the Spring Valley and Nyack Branches of the NAACP and several individual voters, the suit seeks the
The New York Civil Liberties Union and The Legal Aid Society filed a lawsuit against Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, Chief of Department Terence Monahan, the City of New York, and several individual police officers for their roles in the indiscriminate brutalizing of peaceful
The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department to force the disclosure of information about the NYPD’s presence in schools and the impact of school policing on students through the use of metal detectors.