Each Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.

Solitary Confinement Report:
From 2009 to present, Maine has reduced its population being held in its solitary confinement Special Management Unit by over 70 percent. Earlier this week, we released a report on how this happened called Change is Possible: A Case Study of Solitary Confinement Reform in Maine. The report documents a successful seven-year effort to reduce the use of solitary confinement in Maine. Read the report, view a slideshow of images from Maine State Prison, and learn how to take action here.
 
In LGBT rights:
On Tuesday, Colorado passed legislation legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples.

Two Wednesdays from now, the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) brought by Edie Windsor. You can learn more in this Reuters column.

The boy scouts of America will survey its members about attitudes around lifting the ban on gay scouts. Read more here or here
 
Death Penalty:
Maryland will likely become the 18th state to reject the death penalty. A man exonerated from his death sentence was at the Maryland state house while the legislature voted. Read about that here. Meanwhile opponents of the death penalty in Delaware have introduced legislation to repeal the death penalty in that state. The governor there has not yet taken a position on the issue.