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| Posted: 2009-09-08 |
| 9-8-09: E-Verify Could Cost You Your Job |
The federal E-verify system becomes mandatory for federal contractors today. The system essentially says that workers need a permission slip from the government to earn a living.
But the process by which workers will be check... |
| Posted: 2009-08-25 |
| 8-25-09: ACLU Dislodges Torture Report |
A lawsuit filed in 2003 by the ACLU has changed the conversation in Washington about government misconduct in interrogations of terrorism suspects.
On Monday, the partially declassified CIA report sought by the ACLU was release... |
| Posted: 2009-08-19 |
| 8-19-09: Collecting DNA |
Ground has been broken on a new $12-million state crime lab in Waterbury. One of the main reasons for its construction is to provide vastly larger space for DNA collection.
More space is urgently needed because of a provision i... |
| Posted: 2009-08-04 |
| 8-4-09: Fighting Racial Profiling |
Collection of racial data by four Chittenden County police departments is underway, and will be examined for signs of racial profiling.
The voluntary effort -- which involves departments in Burlington, South Burlington, Winoosk... |
| Posted: 2009-07-27 |
| 7-27-09: Google Book Search: Threat To Reader Privacy? |
What you choose to read says a lot about who you are, what you value, and what you believe. That’s why libraries and the ACLU have long defended the privacy of readers.
But protecting reader privacy rights in the digital era is tough.<... |
| Posted: 2009-07-22 |
| 7-22-09: PASS ID No Better Than Real ID |
| Gov. James Douglas is now head of the National Governors Association. At the group’s meeting this week in Biloxi, Miss., he heard complaints from other governors about why the federal REAL ID initiative is not a good idea. He’s coming around to their... |
| Posted: 2009-07-17 |
| 7-17-09: VT Supreme Court Reverses HS Stalking Conviction |
It was a case of what psychologists term “post-termination intrusive behavior.”
A male Vermont high school student was disappointed over a relationship with a female school friend. He sent her e-mails, waited for her after clas... |
| Posted: 2009-07-14 |
| 7-14-09: Approaching A Crossroads |
A lot of things around national security issues have happened very quickly in the last few weeks.
They have come as a wave of concern was growing about the direction the Obama administration was headed concerning practices left over fr... |
| Posted: 2009-07-07 |
| 7-7-09: Researchers Guess Our SSNs |
Social Security Numbers are thought by many to be secure IDs. We’re often asked to provide them, even sometimes for fairly routine purchases or services such as contracting for cell phone service.
Researchers from Carnegie Mell... |
| Posted: 2009-06-30 |
| 6-30-09: Court grants preliminary injunction in Barre sex offender residency restriction case |
| The Washington Superior Court has granted the ACLU of Vermont`s request for a preliminary injunction in the case of Christopher Hagan, who is contesting a Barre ordinance that excludes individuals convicted of a sex offense from living in large secti... |
| Posted: 2009-06-25 |
| 6-25-09: ACLU Wins Student Strip Search Case |
| The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in an 8-1 decision that school officials violated the constitutional rights of a 13-year-old Arizona girl when they strip-searched her based on a classmate`s uncorroborated accusation that she previously possessed i... |
| Posted: 2009-06-17 |
| 6-17-09: Laptop Searches At The Border |
The ACLU has filed a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to try to learn more about searches of laptop computers and other devices carried by travelers crossing into the U.S.
... |
| Posted: 2009-06-11 |
| 6-11-09: Hearing Held In Sex Offender Residency Restriction Case |
Judge Helen Toor presided over nearly four hours of testimony and argument Thursday in Washington Superior Court in Montpelier in the ACLU-VT’s lawsuit challenging the city of Barre’s sex offender residency restriction ordinance.
No de... |
| Posted: 2009-06-10 |
| 6-10-09: Hearing Thursday In Sex Offender Residency Restriction Case |
A hearing will be held Thursday, June 11 at 9 a.m. in Washington Superior Court in Montpelier in the ACLU-VT’s lawsuit challenging the city of Barre’s sex offender residency restriction ordinance.
At Thursday’s proceedings the court wi... |
| Posted: 2009-06-03 |
| 6-3-09 -- Legislature’s Budget Passed |
The Legislature returned in special session Tuesday and overturned Gov. James Douglas’s veto of the state budget passed by the Legislature last month.
On Wednesday, the Legislature passed a “companion” bill that made some chang... |
| Posted: 2009-05-12 |
| 5-12-09 -- “Speedy Trial” Case Back Before Vt. Supreme Court |
Two months after the U.S. Supreme Court said Michael Brillon’s constitutional right to a speedy trial wasn’t violated, the case is again before the Vermont Supreme Court, and the same issue is being raised -- this time under state constitutio... |
| Posted: 2009-05-08 |
| 5-8-09: City Agrees To Stay In Residency Restriction Case |
The city of Barre has agreed not to throw Chris Hagan out of his family’s apartment in Barre while the ACLU-Vermont lawsuit against the city moves forward.
Hagan was targeted by the city two weeks ago because of his criminal record, wh... |
| Posted: 2009-05-06 |
| 5-6-09: ACLU Challenges Sex Offender Residency Restrictions |
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Vermont has filed a lawsuit against the city of Barre on behalf of a man who has been told that he cannot live with his wife and children in the city solely because of his criminal record.
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| Posted: 2009-05-04 |
| 5-4-09: Driving Kept Separate From Draft |
In a close 68-60 vote on the House floor Monday, legislators turned back a proposal to link Selective Service registration to drivers’ license applications.
The vote defied usual voting patterns among the representatives. Some ... |
| Posted: 2009-05-02 |
| 5-2-09: Still Alive, Driving And The Draft |
I reported last week on a bill under consideration by the House Transportation Committee, H. 176, that would make Selective Service registration a condition to receive a driver’s license in Vermont.
The idea came under a lot of... |
| Posted: 2009-04-26 |
| 4-26-09: Draft Registration For A Driver`s License? |
The House of Representatives is considering a bill, H. 176, that would make Selective Service registration a condition to receive a driver’s license in Vermont. A young male’s name and contact information would automatically be forwarded to t... |
| Posted: 2009-04-17 |
| 4-17-09: Torture Memos Released, More Surveillance Revealed |
Two specters of the Bush administration’s “war on terror” re-appeared this week and caused new disappointment and concern for Americans who value civil liberties and human rights.
The first was the release -- after years of pro... |
| Posted: 2009-04-07 |
| 4-7-09: Overridden! |
In dramatic votes Tuesday morning, the Vermont House and Senate overrode Gov. James Douglas’s veto of S. 115, the same-sex marriage bill, making Vermont the first state in the country to grant marriage-equality for gay and lesbian couples wit... |
| Posted: 2009-04-03 |
| 4-3-09: Iowa Court Rules For Same-Sex Marriage |
Iowa`s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, a unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday. The court ordered that same-sex marriages be granted starting April 24, making Iowa the third state to legalize gay marriage.
The decision cam... |
| Posted: 2009-04-02 |
| 4-2-09: Same-Sex Marriage Debate Begins In House |
Shortly before 4 p.m. on Thursday the Vermont House began debate on S. 115, the same-sex marriage bill.
The debate began with an explanation of the bill’s provisions by House Judiciary Committee Chair Bill Lippert. That committ... |
| Posted: 2009-03-25 |
| 3-25-09: Governor Says He’ll Veto Any Same-Sex Marriage Bill |
Gov. Douglas announced in a hastily called press conference Wednesday afternoon that he will veto any same-sex marriage bill that comes to his desk.
Reaction at the statehouse was swift. Legislative leaders immediately called ... |
| Posted: 2009-03-24 |
| 3-24-09: Same-Sex Marriage Bill Gets Initial Approval |
The Senate on Monday gave initial approval to S. 115, the same-sex marriage bill, on a 26-4 vote -- a margin that surprised even supporters.
The measure comes up for final approval Tuesday, and will then be sent to the House. The House... |
| Posted: 2009-03-24 |
| 3-24-09: Same-Sex Marriage Bill Advances To House |
The Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to S. 115, the same-sex marriage bill, on a voice vote. This followed Monday’s initial approval on a 26-4 roll-call vote.
The measure is now in the House. The House Judiciary Committee began ta... |
| Posted: 2009-03-23 |
| 3-23-09: Same-Sex Marriage Bill Before Senate |
The full Senate takes up S. 115, the same-sex marriage bill, this week. Debate begins Monday at 3 p.m.
The quick action follows the 5-0 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee Friday approving the measure.
Friday’s unanim... |
| Posted: 2009-03-16 |
| 3-16-09: Same-Sex Marriage Bill Up For Consideration |
The Legislature returns this week after a two-week hiatus. Top item is S. 115, the same-sex marriage bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee starts its work Monday, and plans to vote the bill out by Friday. That’s a very fast track for a bill of... |
| Posted: 2009-03-09 |
| 3-9-09: U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Brillon |
The “speedy trial” decision by the Vermont Supreme Court in the Michael Brillon case has been overturned.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Brillon’s 6th Amendment right to a speedy trial was not violated by the state.
| Posted: 2007-12-06 |
| Police Fish For Prescription Drug Records |
Since the1960s, Vermont law enforcement officers have had the power to enter any Vermont pharmacy and ask to see anyone’s pharmacy records -- without a warrant or other order.
There is apparently now an attempt by police to exe... |
| Posted: 2007-11-20 |
| Border Patrol Re-Institutes I-91 Checkpoints |
As the busy holiday travel season begins, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection division of the Department of Homeland Security has once again begun traffic “checkpoints” on I-91 south of White River Junction. The purpose is to prevent terro... |
| Posted: 2007-11-01 |
| PSB To Press Forward With Phone Records Investigation |
The Vermont Public Service Board is reactivating an inquiry into possible violations of customer privacy by telecommunications companies Verizon and AT&T.
In an order issued Oct. 31, the board took note of new developments around the i... |
| Posted: 2007-10-30 |
| Leahy Honored As Civil Libertarian Of Year |
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy was honored as Vermont civil libertarian of the year at Saturday’s annual meeting of the ACLU of Vermont.
“No one in the U.S. Congress has done more than Sen. Leahy to uphold the freedoms of the Bill of Ri... |
| Posted: 2007-08-24 |
| Intelligence Chief Confirms Telecoms’ Role in NSA Spying |
The country’s national intelligence director, Mike McConnell, has confirmed that U.S. telecommunications companies assisted in the administration`s warrantless surveillance program.
“This admission virtually removes the chance ... |
| Posted: 2007-08-17 |
| Property Tax Prebate Information – Public Or Private? |
| The ACLU-Vermont has received numerous inquiries about the state’s new prebate/rebate credit system. The inquiries center on whether the credit information printed on homeowners’ property tax bills is public information and must be disclosed upon req... |
| Posted: 2007-06-29 |
| U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Free Speech Rights of Williamstown Student |
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the political free speech rights of a Williamstown Middle School student, putting to rest a case brought by the ACLU-Vermont three years ago.
On Friday the court announced it would not review the case ... |
| Posted: 2007-06-08 |
| Drug Policy Conference A Success |
More than 100 gathered June 7 in Montpelier for the ACLU-Vermont`s drug policy conference.
Principal speakers were Windsor County State’s Attorney Robert Sand, who advocated a new approach in the “war on drugs,” and former Middlebury P... |
| Posted: 2007-01-17 |
| Guantanamo – Five Years Later |
This month marks the fifth anniversary of the arrival of the first detainees at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba.
The national ACLU has put up a number of features on the ACLU Web site – ACLU Web site –... |
| Posted: 2006-12-02 |
| Ferry Search Challenge Fails |
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has upheld the dismissal of an ACLU-Vermont lawsuit challenging security searches on Lake Champlain ferries.
“We’re disappointed with the decision,” said ACLU-Vermont Executive Director ... |
| Posted: 2006-10-03 |
| Federal Government Sues State Over Phone Records Investigation |
The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit in U.S. District Court Oct. 2 to block the state`s investigation into whether Verizon and AT&T provided the National Security Agency with access to customers` private phone records.
The federal... |
| Posted: 2006-09-14 |
| Constitution Week Activities |
Use the recently decided student free speech case, Guiles v. Marineau, to help understand how the Constitution works to protect individual rights.
Congress requires schools to note the adoption of the U.S. Constitution on the anniversa... |
| Posted: 2006-08-30 |
| 2nd Circuit Decision Upholds Free Speech Rights of Williamstown Student |
The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court?s ruling and affirmed the free speech rights of a Williamstown Middle School student.
?The court?s decision is a strong statement for student free speech rights,? said... |
| Posted: 2006-08-02 |
| Federal Government Tells PSB To Shut Down Investigation |
| The federal government has threatened to take the state to court if the Vermont Public Service Board doesn`t halt its investigation into whether Vermonters` phone records may have been gathered by the National Security Agency and compiled into a huge... |
| Posted: 2006-06-27 |
| U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Vermont Campaign Finance Law |
By a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Randall v. Sorrell that Vermont`s Act 64 violates the First Amendment, as well as the Court`s own precedent against campaign spending limits.
While the ACLU of Vermont is not opposed to c... |
| Posted: 2006-06-20 |
| John Dean Coming to Vermont |
Watergate attorney John Dean will speak at an ACLU-Vermont fundraiser Friday, Oct. 6 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington.
Dean was counsel to President Richard Nixon. At congressional hearings into w... |
| Posted: 2006-06-15 |
| ACLU National Membership Conference |
| Save the date -- Oct. 15-17 in Washington, D.C. Theme: "Stop the Abuse of Power." The government`s abuses of power -- government-sponsored torture, provisions of the USA Patriot Act, an illegal domestic spying program -- disregard the Constitution an... |
| Posted: 2006-06-01 |
| Rule of Law |
Is the executive branch justified in claiming broad powers, powers that may go against laws passed by Congress?
Is the president above the law?
The question seems almost rhetorical, inviting a strong ?no.? Our rule of la... |
| Posted: 2006-04-14 |
| Privacy Conference -- June 13 |
"Privacy: How much is left?" is the topic of a daylong conference Tuesday, June 13 at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier.
(Note: Registration deadline is Friday, June 9.)
The conference, sponsored by the ACLU-Vermont, is fo... |
| Posted: 2006-03-15 |
| Innocent -- Even After Found Guilty |
The ACLU and the Peace and Justice Center are teaming up to help present the film "After Innocence" at the Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpelier.
The film examines the lives of inmates who are exonerated -- let out of jail because... |
| Posted: 2006-02-22 |
| Middlebury Reception! |
Learn about issues we`re following, initatives underway, and meet fellow civil libertarians at a reception Friday, March 10, 5-7 p.m. in Middlebury. For more information, contact us at 802-223-6304 or e-mail info@acluvt.org
... |
| Posted: 2006-01-22 |
| Real ID A Nightmare |
| The Real ID Act of 2005 would turn state driver`s licenses into a genuine national identity card and impose numerous new burdens on taxpayers, citizens, immigrants, and state governments -- while doing nothing to protect against terrorism. As a resul... |
| Posted: 2005-12-23 |
| Vermont Peace Groups Targeted in Pentagon Surveillance |
Vermont peace activists were the target of surveillance carried out in March 2005 under a secret Pentagon domestic spy program.
The Department of Defense surveillance is different from surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA)... |
| Posted: 2005-12-20 |
| Intelligent Design Rejected |
Intelligent design is not a scientific theory and cannot be taught as part of science courses, a Pennsylvania judge has ruled in a case brought by the the ACLU and other groups.
The decision is a major victory in the effort to protect ... |
| Posted: 2005-11-07 |
| Murrow Against McCarthy |
The film "Good Night, And Good Luck," is continuing at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier following a sell-out opening Nov. 4 with Casey Murrow, son of CBS broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow.
?Good Night, And Good Luck,? directed by Ge... |
| Posted: 2005-10-25 |
| Two ACLU-VT Cases Before Second Circuit |
Appeals in a case involving security searches on Lake Champlain ferries, and in a case involving student free speech rights, will be argued Oct. 27 and 28, respectively, in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City.
Follow t... |
| Posted: 2005-09-28 |
| The ACLU`s Challenge To Intelligent Design |
The trial of Kitzmiller v. Dover,which began Sept. 26 in a Pennsylvania courtroom, will test whether American public schools can include ?intelligent design? as a part of science education.
The school board in Dover, Pennsylvania, has ... |
| Posted: 2005-08-29 |
| Students Have Right To Opt Out Of Military Recruitment Listings |
As a new school year begins, the ACLU-Vermont is reminding parents of their right to control the release of student information to military recruiters, as well as to colleges.
Personal information belongs to students and their ... |
| Posted: 2005-08-22 |
| ACLU Opposes Anti-Terror Rules for Charities |
It?s recently been reported that United Ways in Vermont and around the country are requiring charities to sign anti-terrorism pledges if they want to receive United Way funds.
Each charity must complete a form certifying that t... |
| Posted: 2005-08-12 |
| NYCLU Sues New York City Over Subway Bag Search Policy |
A year ago the ACLU of Vermont challenged security searches on Lake Champlain ferries. The challlenge was rooted in 4th Amendment rights -- to be free of unwarranted, suspicionless searches.
The ACLU of New York has now challenged sim... |
| Posted: 2005-08-11 |
| ACLU Opposes New Involuntary Civil Commitment Proposal |
The Gov. James Douglas administration has released its plan for a new involuntary civil commitment program.
The plan includes involuntary commitment not just for certain sex offenders, but for certain "violent offenders" as well.
... |
| Posted: 2005-07-14 |
| Fell Death Penalty Verdict A Disappointment |
This summer Vermont witnessed its first death penalty trial in 43 years. It resulted in a death sentence for the defendant, Donald Fell.
We appreciate the enormity of the decision the jury in this case was asked to make, and we are cer... |
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