News & Commentary

ST. LOUIS -- U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey ruled today that Morgan County has seven days to adopt a policy to notify senders of mail to inmates when their mail has been rejected. The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri filed a suit in July. ACLU-EM client Tara Ballenger had regularly sent printed materials, such as letters, newspaper and magazine clippings, and books to a detainee, who did not receive items she sent. Ballenger never received notice that the items were confiscated, and none of the items were returned to her.

KKK activity in Desloge, MO, was covered by:

On Aug. 29, 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri formally requested that the American Board of Anesthesiology suspend the board certification of the anesthesiologist who is slated to execute two Missouri inmates this fall. According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, the executioner, known to the public as M3, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has participated in at least one execution in the past.

The St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) and the ACLU-EM are hosting an open meeting to discuss street performance in the metropolitan St. Louis area from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, at the Regional Arts Commission office, located at 6128 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112.

The ACLU sent letters to Kirkwood and Mehlville School Districts advising them to not turn away students from unaccredited schools. This was covered by the:

The ACLU sent letters to Kirkwood and Mehlville School Districts advising them to not turn away students from unaccredited schools. This was covered by the:

ST. LOUIS – The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri sent letters Friday to the superintendents of both Mehlville and Kirkwood School Districts detailing why it is unconstitutional to refuse to accept students from unaccredited school districts. The letters also include offers from the ACLU-EM to discuss ways the school districts can honor the rights of the parents and children involved.

Street performers do not need to audition or purchase a license to perform in St. Louis City. Today U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry granted an injunction in the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri’s case, Pence v. City of St. Louis. The injunction also prevents the enforcement of geographic limits, so street performers are now free to appear at any public location. The Court ordered the parties to attempt to resolve this case in mediation.

On July 19, the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri filed a suit against the St. Louis County Police Department for failing to comply with a Sunshine Law request. In February, the ACLU requested public records, including a copy of an anonymous letter sent to the department that alleged that former Lt. Patrick Hayes engaged in racial profiling practices. The Department has refused to release any records.