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    • Active
    • Advancing liberty
    • Closed
    • Decided
    • Defending liberty
    • Filed
    • Historic
    • In federal trial court
    • In State Supreme Court
    • In state trial court
    • In U.S. Supreme Court
    • Landmark case
    • Lost
    • Lost appeal
    • On appeal
    • Open
    • Other
    • Pending
    • Settlement Agreement
    • Victory!
    • Won
    • Won appeal
    • Derechos De Los Inmigrantes
    • Immigrants' Rights
    • Reproductive Rights
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    • Voting Rights
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All Cases

50 Court Cases
Court Case
Jan 06, 2022
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Randy Burke v. Harold Clarke et al.

The ACLU of Virginia entered an appearance in a federal lawsuit on behalf of Randy Burke, an incarcerated person within the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC). Mr. Burke is a practicing Rastafarian who was put in solitary confinement for over five years for refusing to cut his hair, even though cutting his hair would violate a tenet of his religion. During his time in solitary confinement, he was also denied opportunities to practice his religion, including receiving religious services, religious items, and holiday meals.
Court Case
Sep 01, 2021
Over a light blue background is a white circle with a blue gavel over top.
  • Voting Rights|
  • +1 Issue

Adkins, et al. v. Virginia Redistricting Commission, et al. (Amicus)

The ACLU of Virginia, along with the ACLU, the League of Women Voters of Virginia, and the National Black Nonpartisan Redistricting Organization, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of Virginia in a case involving a challenge to House Bill 1255 (2020), a bill which set standards and criteria that the Virginia Redistricting Commission must follow when drawing new legislative districts, including the end of prison gerrymandering.
Court Case
Mar 19, 2021
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Galen Baughman (Amicus)

The ACLU of Virginia filed an amicus brief in the case of Commonwealth v. Galen Baughman in Arlington County Circuit Court. The brief supports Mr. Baughman’s assertion of his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in response to an incriminating questionnaire required to be completed as part of his court-ordered treatment.
Court Case
Jan 05, 2021
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Harwinder Sangha (Amicus)

In the final days of 2020, the ACLU of Virginia filed an amicus brief in the case of Commonwealth of Virginia v. Harwinder Sangha in the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, which invited amici to address whether the Circuit Court should proceed with a misdemeanor trial even though the Commonwealth Attorney for Fairfax County, Steve Descano, had decided he would not—and could not ethically—dedicate valuable prosecutorial resources toward low-level misdemeanors such as the one in this case, given the sheer number of criminal cases his office handles.
Court Case
Apr 22, 2020
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Interfaith Action for Human Rights et al v. The Commonwealth of Virginia et al

Court Case
Apr 22, 2020
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Whorley et al v. Northam et al

The ACLU of Virginia joined a federal class action lawsuit as co-counsel with Charlottesville attorney Elliott Harding on behalf of 27 people who are incarcerated in Virginia prisons. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday, April 8 against Gov. Ralph Northam, Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran and other state officials. It alleges that Virginia is violating the U.S. Constitution by failing to decarcerate overcrowded facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asks that the Commonwealth be ordered to immediately decrease the number of people in custody, implement policies for social distancing, and require staff members to wear personal protection equipment.
Court Case
Aug 28, 2019
CLR_Case_Page_GreenGavel.png
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Randall Mathena v. Lee Boyd Malvo (Amicus)

Court Case
Jun 04, 2019
CLR_Case_Page_GreenGavel.png
  • Criminal Legal Reform

HOME of Virginia, Inc. v. Wisely Properties, LLC and Multifamily Management Services, Inc.

Court Case
May 06, 2019
CLR_Case_Page_GreenGavel.png
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Thorpe, et al. v. Virginia Department of Corrections, et al.

The ACLU of Virginia, in collaboration with the law firm of White & Case LLP, today filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) seeking to end the practice of solitary confinement in two of its most notorious prisons.
Court Case
Jan 06, 2022
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
Court Case
Jan 06, 2022
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Randy Burke v. Harold Clarke et al.

The ACLU of Virginia entered an appearance in a federal lawsuit on behalf of Randy Burke, an incarcerated person within the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC). Mr. Burke is a practicing Rastafarian who was put in solitary confinement for over five years for refusing to cut his hair, even though cutting his hair would violate a tenet of his religion. During his time in solitary confinement, he was also denied opportunities to practice his religion, including receiving religious services, religious items, and holiday meals.
Explore Case
Court Case
Sep 01, 2021
Over a light blue background is a white circle with a blue gavel over top.
Court Case
Sep 01, 2021
  • Voting Rights|
  • +1 Issue

Adkins, et al. v. Virginia Redistricting Commission, et al. (Amicus)

The ACLU of Virginia, along with the ACLU, the League of Women Voters of Virginia, and the National Black Nonpartisan Redistricting Organization, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of Virginia in a case involving a challenge to House Bill 1255 (2020), a bill which set standards and criteria that the Virginia Redistricting Commission must follow when drawing new legislative districts, including the end of prison gerrymandering.
Explore Case
Court Case
Mar 19, 2021
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
Court Case
Mar 19, 2021
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Galen Baughman (Amicus)

The ACLU of Virginia filed an amicus brief in the case of Commonwealth v. Galen Baughman in Arlington County Circuit Court. The brief supports Mr. Baughman’s assertion of his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in response to an incriminating questionnaire required to be completed as part of his court-ordered treatment.
Explore Case
Court Case
Jan 05, 2021
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
Court Case
Jan 05, 2021
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Harwinder Sangha (Amicus)

In the final days of 2020, the ACLU of Virginia filed an amicus brief in the case of Commonwealth of Virginia v. Harwinder Sangha in the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, which invited amici to address whether the Circuit Court should proceed with a misdemeanor trial even though the Commonwealth Attorney for Fairfax County, Steve Descano, had decided he would not—and could not ethically—dedicate valuable prosecutorial resources toward low-level misdemeanors such as the one in this case, given the sheer number of criminal cases his office handles.
Explore Case
Court Case
Apr 22, 2020
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
Court Case
Apr 22, 2020
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Interfaith Action for Human Rights et al v. The Commonwealth of Virginia et al

Explore Case
Court Case
Apr 22, 2020
Over a light green background is a white circle with a green gavel in the middle.
Court Case
Apr 22, 2020
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Whorley et al v. Northam et al

The ACLU of Virginia joined a federal class action lawsuit as co-counsel with Charlottesville attorney Elliott Harding on behalf of 27 people who are incarcerated in Virginia prisons. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday, April 8 against Gov. Ralph Northam, Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran and other state officials. It alleges that Virginia is violating the U.S. Constitution by failing to decarcerate overcrowded facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asks that the Commonwealth be ordered to immediately decrease the number of people in custody, implement policies for social distancing, and require staff members to wear personal protection equipment.
Explore Case
Court Case
Aug 28, 2019
CLR_Case_Page_GreenGavel.png
Court Case
Aug 28, 2019
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Randall Mathena v. Lee Boyd Malvo (Amicus)

Explore Case
Court Case
Jun 04, 2019
CLR_Case_Page_GreenGavel.png
Court Case
Jun 04, 2019
  • Criminal Legal Reform

HOME of Virginia, Inc. v. Wisely Properties, LLC and Multifamily Management Services, Inc.

Explore Case
Court Case
May 06, 2019
CLR_Case_Page_GreenGavel.png
Court Case
May 06, 2019
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Thorpe, et al. v. Virginia Department of Corrections, et al.

The ACLU of Virginia, in collaboration with the law firm of White & Case LLP, today filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) seeking to end the practice of solitary confinement in two of its most notorious prisons.
Explore Case
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