News & Commentary
Jan 05, 2016
ACLU, Don't Shoot Coalition and State Legislators Announce Filing of the Bipartisan Fair and Impartial Policing Act
Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Missouri, in conjunction with the Don’t Shoot Coalition and other community partners, announced the filing of The Fair and Impartial Policing Act, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) and Representative Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin).
Jan 05, 2016
Court Rules Department of Corrections Violated Sunshine Law by Withholding Death Penalty Records
The Circuit Court of Cole County ruled that the Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC) knowingly violated the Sunshine Law by refusing to provide information related to the state’s execution witness selection process.
Dec 10, 2015
Resident Sues Cole County Prosecutor for the Release of Public Records
Over the course of seven months, Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Richardson denied all three of Mr. Aaron Malin’s requests for public records on the basis that his office’s documents are “closed to the public” and that compiling and providing them would be “unduly burdensome.” Today, the ACLU of Missouri and Dave Roland, a public interest attorney, filed a Sunshine Law suit against the Prosecutor on Mr. Malin’s behalf.
Dec 03, 2015
Springfield Resident Challenges City's Unconstitutional Panhandling Ordinance
On November 7, 2015, Bobby Honicutt, a 61-year old Springfield resident, was threatened with criminal charges after silently holding a sign on a public sidewalk that read “Trying to Support My Sick Wife| Please help.” Today, the ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the City of Springfield on Mr. Honicutt’s behalf.
Nov 24, 2015
ACLU Remembers Don Wolff, Authentic Civil Liberties Hero
The ACLU of Missouri mourns the passing of former General Counsel Don Wolff. Current Board President, Brad Pierce, served with Mr. Wolff and shares these thoughts:
Nov 19, 2015
ACLU Files Sunshine Law Suit Over ACT Missouri’s Refusal to Release Public Documents
The ACLU of Missouri has filed a Sunshine Law suit on behalf of Aaron M. Malin against the Missouri Association of Community Task Forces (ACT Missouri) for denying a request for the release of public documents.
Nov 10, 2015
ACLU Statement on MU Law Enforcement's Attempt to Police Free Speech
The following may be attributed to Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Missouri:
Nov 10, 2015
ACLU Statement on Missouri Supreme Court Ruling in Strake v. Robinwood
Today in Strake v. Robinwood West Community Improvement District, the Missouri Supreme Court held that a government entity’s refusal to provide a citizen with public records amounts to a purposeful violation of Missouri’s Sunshine Law. The Supreme Court reversed the decision of a lower court, which had held that a government entity cannot have knowingly or purposefully violated the Sunshine Law when it does so on the advice of its attorney. Government bodies that knowingly or purposefully violate the public records law face a civil penalty and being required to pay the citizen’s attorneys’ fees.
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