At any given time, the ACLU of RI is involved in dozens of legal battles on behalf of civil liberties in the Ocean State. Below is a list of many the cases we have worked on. For our annual case dockets, click here.
Filter Cases
Mar 27, 1989
Virella v. Scott
Privacy
Status: Closed
Favorably settled federal lawsuit challenging Health Department policy denying married but separated women the right to give their children the surname of their choice.
Visit case page
Mar 27, 1989
Pimental v. Department of Transportation
Privacy
Status: Closed
“Friend of the court” brief in the state Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of drunk driving roadblocks; the court ruled them unconstitutional.
Visit case page
Mar 28, 1988
United States v. Providence Journal
First Amendment
Status: Closed
Amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court in support of newspaper’s right to have published an article in violation of a “prior restraint” order issued by a court.
Visit case page
Mar 28, 1988
Secretary of Labor v. General Dynamics
First Amendment
Status: Closed
Challenge to an administrative gag order barring employees in a safety violations case from discussing the court proceedings in public; the court lifted the gag order.
Visit case page
Mar 28, 1988
Injured Workers of Rhode Island v. Rotondi
Government Transparency
Status: Closed
Favorably settled federal lawsuit on behalf of public interest group denied the right to take notes at Workers Compensation Commission hearings.
Visit case page
Mar 27, 1988
Lyman v. Kellner
Students’ Rights
Status: Closed
Favorably settled federal lawsuit on behalf of students barred from extra-curricular activities for refusing to sign an oath condemning drug and alcohol use.