Featured Cases

Court Case
Sep 18, 2025
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  • Disability Rights|
  • +1 Issue

United States of America v. Maine

In September 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the State of Maine for violating young people's rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Court Case
Mar 01, 2022
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  • Criminal Legal Reform

Protecting the Right to Counsel – Robbins v. State of Maine

We're suing the state for failing to provide effective legal assistance to people who cannot afford their own attorney – just as the Sixth Amendment demands. A person’s freedom should never depend on their wealth.
Court Case
Jan 21, 2025
Birthright Citizenship Case
  • Immigrants' Rights

Defending Birthright Citizenship – New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Donald J. Trump

We're suing the Trump administration for issuing an executive order that blatantly violates the plain language of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

All Cases

47 Court Cases
Court Case
Mar 30, 2021
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Portland Chamber of Commerce et al. v. City of Portland

Court Case
Mar 03, 2021
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Immigration Legal Advocacy Project et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The ACLU of Maine, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) and the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic (RHRC) at the University of Maine School of Law are suing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for information about its detention activities in Maine.
Court Case
Feb 19, 2021
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A.S. v. LincolnHealth

The ACLU of Maine filed an amicus brief supporting the due process rights of people who are involuntarily hospitalized in Maine.
Court Case
Feb 02, 2021
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ACLU of Maine Foundation v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The lawsuit seeks to compel USCIS to release information about how the Boston and Newark asylum offices assess asylum requests. The lawsuit comes after advocates observed a marked decrease in asylum approvals from the Boston Sub-Office, especially for asylum seekers from central African countries.
Court Case
Feb 02, 2021
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Rodriguez v. Wolf et al.

The lawsuit challenges the practice by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of transferring immigrant detainees from New England to ICE detention facilities in southern states.
Court Case
Aug 11, 2020
View of CBP agent from the back with green uniform and marking reading "CBP / Border Patrol / Federal Agent"
  • Immigrants' Rights|
  • +1 Issue

Holding Border Patrol Accountable – Drewniak v. US CBP

We sued the federal government in 2020 for unconstitutional border patrol checkpoints in northern New England. In 2023, Border Patrol agreed to stop operating a problematic checkpoint until January 1, 2025.
Court Case
Jul 27, 2020
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  • Government Transparency

Keeping Government Transparent – Human Rights Defense Center v. Municipal Risk Pool

In a landmark decision, Maine’s highest court ruled that a government entity acted in bad faith when it withheld public documents. This ruling shows that Maine’s open records laws have teeth, and that when the government illegally denies access to public documents, it will pay the price.
Court Case
May 21, 2020
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Denbow v. Liberty

Court Case
Apr 15, 2020
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Denbow v. State

The ACLU of Maine filed a petition for post-conviction review on behalf of Joseph Denbow. The petition challenges Mr. Denbow's prison sentence which, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, risks becoming a death sentence.