In the Courts

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.

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READ ABOUT OUR CASES BELOW:

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Dominguez v. City of New York

The New York Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU sued the NYPD on behalf of a transgender woman who police arrested and charged with “false personation” after she provided the officers with both her previous and current legal names and explained that she changed her name to align with her gender i

January 22, 2019 Transgender Rights Police Accountability

NYCLU v. ICE

Since 2013 ICE has used a computer program known as the Risk Classification Assessment Tool in deciding whether someone should be released. ICE feeds information about a person into the system, and an algorithm spits out a recommendation: detention or release on bond.

December 11, 2018 Immigrants' Rights Detention and Due Process

Vasquez Perez v. Decker

In November 2018, the New York Civil Liberties Union, along with the Cardozo Law Immigration Justice Clinic and The Bronx Defenders, filed a putative class action lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) challenging the unconstituti
November 15, 2018 Immigrants' Rights Detention and Due Process

Duchitanga v. Lloyd

The New York Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, National Center for Youth Law, and the law firm Morrison & Foerster seek to represent a national class of migrant children whose release to parents or other sponsors has been delayed due to a new policy requiring fingerprint

November 9, 2018 Immigrants' Rights Family Separation

League of Women Voters v. NY State Board of Elections

The New York Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, and the law firm Latham & Watkins LLP challenged New York’s 25-day voter registration cutoff for arbitrarily disenfranchising tens of thousands of eligible voters.

November 9, 2018 Voting