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The ACLU of Tennessee stands up for equality, fairness and justice in the courts. Through our impact litigation and other legal advocacy, we’re fighting for you. ACLU’s legal advocacy in Tennessee spans from the historic Scopes “Monkey Trial” and representation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the sanitation workers’ march in Memphis, to ensuring access to private prison records, protecting families’ religious freedom rights, advocating for gay and lesbian parents who were denied visitation with their children, defending voters’ right to have their ballots counted, and much more. You can learn more about specific cases below.
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Jun 19, 2020
Memphis Center for Reproductive Health v. Slatery
Reproductive Justice
Status: Active
In the summer of 2020, a bill was passed that effectively banned all abortions in Tennessee, causing ACLU-TN to file a lawsuit that would block enforcement of the bill that same day.
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May 20, 2020
Busby et al. v. Bonner et al.
Criminal Legal Reform
Status: Victory!
In May of 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union; the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee; Donati Law Firm; Just City, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP filed a federal class...
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May 15, 2020
Lay v. Goins
Democracy & Voting
Status: Closed
With the 2020 elections taking place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC recommended mail-in voting to inhibit the spread of the virus. Unlike other states, Tennessee restricted mail-in-voting with...
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Apr 21, 2020
Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi v. Slatery
Reproductive Justice
Status: Active
The Tennessee General Assembly passed a law that would require clinics that provide medication abortions to give their patients false and misleading information about a "reversal" to medication abortions,...
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Apr 21, 2020
Adams & Boyle, P.C. et al v. Slatery et al
Reproductive Justice
Status: Closed
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Bill limited "non-emergency" healthcare procedures which reproductive healthcare was labeled as, prohibiting procedural abortions.
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Mar 20, 2020
McEwen et al v. Lee
Education Equity
Status: Active
In May 2019, the Tennessee state legislature passed the Tennessee Savings Account Pilot Program, or school vouchers, which authorizes taxpayer-funds to be diverted from public to private schools. This...