News & Commentary

On Oct. 14, U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. entered a consent judgment in the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri’s challenge to the City of Miner’s unconstitutional ordinances banning loitering, vagrancy and begging. The ACLU filed the lawsuit last December on behalf of a homeless couple who was threatened with arrest by Miner police officers for nothing more than peaceably standing on public property and holding a sign that read “Traveling. Anything helps. God bless.”

Law enforcement officials can no longer force peaceful protesters in Ferguson to keep moving on sidewalks when they are breaking no law. Federal Judge Catherine Perry granted a preliminary injunction this afternoon in the lawsuit Mustafa Abdullah v. Saint Louis County et al., regarding the “five-second rule.”

Supreme Court Lets Stand Four Appeals Court Decisions Requiring States to Allow Same-Sex Couples to Marry

Missouri Circuit Judge J. Dale Youngs ordered that the marriages of 10 couples must be recognized by the state of Missouri. His decision came eight days after hearing the oral arguments in Barrier v. Vasterling, Missouri’s landmark case filed in February by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri on behalf of 10 same-sex Missouri couples.

On Sept. 29, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri (ACLU of Missouri) received a copy of the FBI audit regarding the embezzlement of county funds by Edward Mueth. This report was released as a result of Judge David Lee Vincent II’s judgment in the ACLU’s Sunshine Law suit filed July 16. The FBI audit can be found on the ACLU’s website in two parts below.

Today was a monumental day for the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri. Seven of their 10 courageous plaintiff couples were present at the Jackson County Courthouse when legal director Tony Rothert presented oral arguments in Barrier v. Vasterling, a suit fighting for the recognition of same-sex marriages performed outside of the state of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, MO – Sarah Rossi assumed her new role as the director of advocacy and policy for the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri last week and works out of the Kansas City office. She oversees the organization’s legislative, public education and advocacy efforts.

The ACLU of Missouri mourns the loss of our former Board President, national board member and dear friend, Fred Epstein. A second-generation ACLU member and a long-time supporter, Fred ushered in one of the most productive periods in our affiliate’s history when he was named Board President in 1970. During his tenure, he secured our first full-time Executive Director, Joyce Armstrong, and oversaw the expansion of our legal work, which grew to include litigation with local and national impact. He continued to shepherd the organization through its many years of continued growth until 2006, when he retired from the board, though not from his position as elder statesman and resource for the affiliate.