Latest From ACLU of Washington

The latest content and updates from the ACLU of Washington website.

Teens who engage in “sexting” should not be prosecuted as sex offenders

Published: 
Friday, April 14, 2017
The ACLU of Washington has filed a friend of the court brief in State of Washington v. E.G. asking the state court of appeals to reverse the trial court decision and dismiss E.G.’s conviction. The purpose of Washington’s child pornography law is to prevent minors from being sexually exploited or abused for someone else’s personal gratification or commercial gain, not to criminalize young people for experimenting with their sexuality. The purpose of Washington’s child pornography law is not to criminalize young people for experimenting with their sexuality.
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ACLU of Washington Files Lawsuit Demanding Documents on Implementation of Trump Muslim Ban

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
The ACLU of Washington today joined ACLU affiliates in Montana and North Dakota in filing a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit today demanding government documents about the on-the-ground implementation of President Trump’s Muslim bans. The lawsuit is seeking records from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s regional office. In particular, the lawsuit seeks records related to CBP’s implementation of President Trump’s Muslim bans at SeaTac airport. Today’s action is part of a total of 13 FOIA lawsuits filed by ACLU affiliates across the country.
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State Supreme Court: Courts can’t discriminate against an LGBT parent or favor religion when approving parenting plans

Published: 
Monday, April 10, 2017
In a unanimous decision in Re: the Marriage of Black, the state Supreme Court affirmed there’s no place for LGBT bigotry in court-approved parenting plans. The Supreme Court in its decision agreed with arguments made by Rachelle’s attorneys, the ACLU-WA as friend of the court, and other organizations. The Court ruled that the trial court discriminated against Rachelle for her sexual orientation and impermissibly favored her husband’s religion—which disapproves of same-sex relationships— when it approved the parenting plan.
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Washington State Attorney General's Immigration Enforcement Guidance

Document, Published: 
Friday, April 7, 2017
This AGO guidance seeks to answer questions local agencies— including libraries, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and schools —may have about the impacts of changes to immigration laws and their discretion regarding participation in federal immigration enforcement.
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ACLU Urges State Supreme Court to Ensure Trial Courts Determine a Person’s Ability to Pay Before Imposing Legal Debts

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
The ACLU-WA has filed a petition asking the Washington Supreme Court to direct the Grant County District Court to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that requires them to determine a person’s ability to pay court system debts known as Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) before imposing these debts. When courts impose LFOs on people who cannot afford to pay them, individuals remain trapped in debt, stuck in poverty, and tied to the criminal justice system. Although the suit focuses on Grant County, similar practices exist in many courts around the state.
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What to Expect at Flights & Rights, when we return to in-person programming

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