The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia filed a lawsuit today against the City of Petersburg for violating the First Amendment rights of a resident who was prohibited from speaking at a city council meeting solely because he owed an unpaid fine to the City.

A federal court in Virginia today heard arguments in the case of a transgender male student at Gloucester High School who seeks to use communal restrooms that match his gender identity.

The ACLU of Virginia welcomed this week’s federal court ruling that Virginia may not sentence juveniles convicted of offenses other than homicide to life without parole, and called on Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring to accept the court’s ruling rather than appeal it.

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in federal court explaining that transgender students must be allowed to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity under Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972.

The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that lesbian and gay couples are entitled to equal marriage rights under the U.S. Constitution. The court’s action means that lesbian and gay couples across America will now enjoy the same freedom to marry that Virginia couples have enjoyed since October 2014.

The McAuliffe administration announced the removal of the requirement that individuals with a felony conviction pay their fees, fines, and restitution costs before becoming eligible to have their voting rights restored.