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
Apr 18, 2025
University of Maine
  • Immigrants' Rights

Pasula v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al.

The ACLU has filed a federal class action lawsuit on behalf of over 100 students whose F-1 student immigration statuses were unlawfully terminated. We're asking the court to reinstate their F-1 student status so that they can continue their studies.
Court Case
Apr 11, 2025
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  • Freedom of Expression

Defending Freedom of Speech - Smith v. Trump

On April 11, 2025, the ACLU and ACLU of Maine filed a lawsuit on behalf of two human rights advocates who, because of an executive order signed by President Trump, have been forced to stop humanitarian work with the International Criminal Court.
Court Case
Mar 26, 2025
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  • Civil Rights and Liberties

Stainnak v. Trump

The ACLU of DC is representing dozens of federal workers -- including a plaintfill from Maine -- who were targeted in Trump's purge of federal employees associated with DEI initiatives.
Court Case
Oct 10, 2023
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  • Freedom of Expression

Upholding First Amendment Rights – State v. Labbe

We filed a friend-of-the-court brief with Maine’s highest court arguing the state’s vague anti-stalking law opened the door to the criminalization of speech in violation of a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision. New legislation amended the law to ensure people cannot be prosecuted for protected speech.
Court Case
Aug 01, 2023
Child of Barni A image
  • Disability Rights

Enforcing Disability Rights Law to Keep Families Together – In re Child of Barni A

In a victory for parents and children with disabilities, Maine’s highest court reversed a decision that punished a family for the state’s own failure to provide home nursing services for a child.
Court Case
Jun 13, 2023
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  • LGBTQ Equality|
  • +1 Issue

Ensuring Public Dollars Are Never Used to Discriminate – St. Dominic Academy v. Makin

Crosspoint Church wants to exclude students from publicly funded education based on their identity. The right to discriminate has never been recognized by any court, and any school that wants to participate in state educational programs must play by the same rules as all others.
Court Case
May 02, 2023
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  • LGBTQ Equality|
  • +1 Issue

Ensuring Public Dollars Are Never Used to Discriminate – Crosspoint Church v. Makin, et al.

Crosspoint Church wants to exclude students from publicly funded education based on their identity. The right to discriminate has never been recognized by any court, and any school that wants to participate in state educational programs must play by the same rules as all others.
Court Case
Oct 28, 2022
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Dana Cheng & Epoch Group v. Dan Neumann & Maine People's Alliance d/b/a Beacon

On October 25, 2022, the First Circuit affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of Cheng and Epoch Group’s defamation claims on First Amendment grounds.
Court Case
Aug 26, 2022
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Sparks v. Mills

About 50 incarcerated workers in the state's work release program brought this lawsuit against the State for seizing their unemployment benefits without due process. The settlement returns their benefits and recognizes a protected property interest in incarcerated individuals' prison accounts.