Susan Herman, Constitutional Law Scholar, Elected As New ACLU President
ACLU Releases Presidential Transition Plan to Restore Civil Liberties
Expanding Border Powers Create ‘Constitution-Free Zone’ That Impacts Two-Thirds of Americans
Observing Another Guantánamo Show Trial
A Personal Message from Anthony D. Romero About California’s Prop. 8
Court Issues Stay of Execution for Troy Davis
Human Rights Begin at Home
Will You Be Able to Vote on Nov. 4th?
Don’t Let the IRS Tax Your IRA!
White House Challenges Validity of 200,000 Registered Voters In Ohio
Know Anyone in California? Ask them to vote NO on Proposition 4
Susan Herman, Constitutional Law Scholar, Elected As New ACLU President
At a recent meeting, the ACLU Board of Directors elected constitutional law professor Susan Herman as its new president. Herman is a Centennial Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School and has served on the ACLU’s National Board for 20 years, on the Executive Committee for the last 16 and acted as the Board’s General Counsel for the last ten.
“I’m deeply honored to have the privilege of leading the ACLU, especially as our country goes through a period of profound transition,” said Herman. “Through every administration, no matter who is president, there are always challenges requiring the protection of our country’s fundamental freedoms, and that remains especially true in these tumultuous times. The ACLU has been and will remain on the front lines to protect our civil liberties.”
Herman replaces Nadine Strossen who stepped down this year after serving as ACLU President for 18 distinguished years. Strossen will remain active in ACLU campaigns and continue to teach full time at New York Law School.
>> Learn more about Susan Herman.
White House Challenges Validity of 200,000 Registered Voters In Ohio
In a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey this week the ACLU demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) reject a White House request to challenge 200,000 registered voters in Ohio.
The White House’s request came days after the U.S. Supreme Court denied an attempt by Ohio Republicans to challenge voters with discrepancies between the information on their registration forms and other government databases. There is considerable evidence showing these databases are fraught with errors that could lead to the wrongful disfranchisement of thousands of lawful voters.
Last Friday, at the urging of Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner, the White House requested the Department of Justice investigate whether 200,000 newly registered Ohio voters must reconfirm their registration before November 4. However, the databases that would be used to compare the new voter lists are riddled with errors and could lead to massive disfranchisement solely due to typos or other data-entry mistakes.
The removal of voters based on mismatched information at this late date would violate other federal statutes and constitutional provisions governing federal elections.
“With the election one week away, this kind of intrusion represents partisan politics at its worst. In addition, challenging or purging lawfully registered voters in the days before an election invites chaos and undermines the integrity of the democratic process,” said the letter signed by ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero and Washington Legislative Office Director Caroline Fredrickson.
>> Read the ACLU’s letter to Attorney General Mukasey.
>> Learn more about the ACLU Voting Rights Project’s efforts to fight voter suppression this election season.
Know Anyone in California? Ask them to vote NO on Proposition 4
For the third time in four years, opponents of legal abortion are attempting to restrict teenagers’ access to abortion.
Mandatory parental notification laws like Prop 4 put teenagers in real danger. They create barriers to pregnant teenagers’ ability to access critical medical care. A scared, pregnant teen who can’t go to her parents can feel trapped and desperate. She might choose to have an unsafe, illegal abortion. She might even contemplate suicide. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics, California Nurses Association, California Teachers Association, California Medical Association, and California Association of School Counselors all oppose Prop 4.
If you have friends and family in California, please contact them right now, and ask them to vote NO on Proposition 4.
You can send them a message here.

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October 31 , 2008
ACLU Releases Presidential Transition Plan to Restore Civil Liberties
In anticipation of the presidential election, the ACLU released a set of recommendations detailing steps that the new president should take to “clean house,” renew freedom, and restore the nation’s reputation.
“This past administration has left us with a disastrous legacy of bad policy, abuse of power, and civil liberties violations,” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the Washington Legislative Office. “The next president, whoever he is, must immediately begin the process of undoing this far-reaching assault on our nation’s freedoms and core values, and the ACLU’s ‘to do’ list provides a detailed roadmap for achieving that.”
”Actions For Restoring America,” outlines actions to be taken by the next president on his first day in office, in his first 100 days, and in his first year.
The 83-page document proposes actions across a wide variety of topics, including national security, human rights, women’s rights, civil rights, drug policy, the rights of LGBT Americans, immigrants and prisoners, privacy and free speech.
>>Read the entire ACLU transition plan including suggested executive orders, mandates and directives from the president.
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Expanding Border Powers Create ‘Constitution-Free Zone’ That Impacts Two-Thirds of Americans
The extraordinary powers of customs and border agents to invade the privacy of individuals at the U.S. border are spreading inland. The efforts amount to a “Constitution-free Zone” that fully covers two-thirds of the American population.
“The authorities can do things at the border that they could never do to citizens and residents inside our country under the Constitution,” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “Yet the government is asserting that some of these powers extend as far as 100 miles inside the actual border. It is a classic example of law enforcement powers expanding far beyond their proper boundaries — in this case, literally.”
Using the latest census data, the ACLU released a map showing the 100-mile “border region” claimed by the government, and cities and states that fall within it. The map shows 9 of the nation’s top 10 largest metro areas fall within the border zone.
>> Learn more about ‘Constitution-Free Zones.’
Observing Another Guantánamo Show Trial
This week, while the eyes of the American public and the world focus on the final leg of the presidential race, a new trial commenced at Guantánamo. The trial of Ali Hamza al Bahlul, al Qaeda’s alleged media secretary, is only the second full trial to take place at the naval base since the first group of detainees was transferred there from Afghanistan in January 2002.
“Clearly something is fundamentally wrong with a system that admits evidence obtained through torture, employs ad hoc rules that are made up on the fly and lacks meaningful constitutional protections,” said Jamil Dakwar, Director of the ACLU Human Rights Program who is observing al-Bahlul’s proceedings. “America deserves better than a system that is incompatible with universal notions of fairness and justice.”
Currently, 253 detainees classified as “alien unlawful enemy combatants” remain in U.S. custody, and only 25 have been charged before this flawed military commission system.
The ACLU has been present as an independent observer at nearly every military commission hearing since 2004 and continues to see no indication that the proceedings are fair, impartial or in accordance with constitutional principles.
>>Read Jamil Dakwar’s blog series containing his comments and observations from the hearings.
A Personal Message from Anthony D. Romero About California’s Prop. 8
Among the many ballot initiatives that impact civil liberties this November, one in particular is very close to ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. California Proposition 8 would end marriage for same-sex couples in California and dash hopes for marriage equality in many states around the country. Anthony sent out a heartfelt letter to supporters this week, encouraging us all to reach out to friends and family in California to ask them to vote No on Prop 8. In case you missed it, you can read Anthony’s message here. You can also, send an eCard you to friends and family.
Court Issues Stay of Execution for Troy Davis
Troy Davis’s rollercoaster ride continues.
On October 24, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued the third eleventh-hour stay of execution that Troy has received in the past year and a half. The Court directed Troy’s lawyers to try to show why he is entitled to a new appeal to pursue his innocence claims.
So, Troy Davis lives to see another day. However, it still remains uncertain whether he will be given his day in court to prove his innocence. The question for the 11th Circuit is not whether he is innocent. Rather, it is whether or not, under the overly stringent federal habeas rules designed to expedite executions — not to seek justice — Troy is even entitled to a hearing to prove that he is innocent.
This is no way to run a criminal justice system. One would think the system would bend over backwards to ensure that the people it planned to execute were guilty. But that is not the way our system works.
Nevertheless, it is wonderful news that Troy Davis remains alive.
Human Rights Begin at Home
While the U.S. government was a leading voice in the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), its policy and practice over the past 60 years has shown a failure to live up to these ideals.
On December 10th, 2008, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of this instrumental document.
A recommitment by the U.S. to the principles and ideals of the UDHR is essential not only for improving U.S. standing in the world, but, more importantly, for its promise to ensure equality and justice for all at home.
Help us send that message to the next Administration and Congress by signing our UDHR petition today.
Know someone between ages of 16 and 23? The ACLU’s Human Rights Program is sponsoring a contest for young people to create a 60-second video about an article in the UDHR. The winner will win a trip to New York to attend the December 10th, 2008 session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City! Enter the video contest today!
>>Learn more at www.udhr60.org.
Will You Be Able to Vote on Nov. 4th?
The ACLU is going all out to protect the right to vote, and we need your help getting critical information out.
We’re distributing hundreds of thousands of voter empowerment cards in eight different languages to 34 states across the country. The cards summarize the basic state and federal laws pertaining to every voter and list emergency contact numbers for voters to call if they encounter problems at the polls. The cards also provide answers to common questions such as: Where do I vote? Is identification required? How can I minimize potential problems?
Voters can report complaints on a wide range of elections issues — including equipment malfunctions, access to the polls and discriminatory or illegal election practices — by calling the ACLU toll-free help line:
1-877-523-2792.
>> Find out the voting rights in your state and then share with friends and family.
Don’t Let the IRS Tax Your IRA!
Do you have an Individual Retirement Account and are at an age where you are required to take taxable distributions, whether you need them or not? You know how taxing that experience can be! Why not take advantage of the new “charitable IRA rollover” law. If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can make a tax free gift directly from your IRA to the ACLU Foundation. Your IRA withdrawal will be free from federal income tax and count toward your required minimum distribution. For more information, visit www.aclu.org/irarollover
Have Questions? Email: legacy@aclu.org
This information is not intended as tax or legal advice. We recommend that you consult with your legal and financial advisors to learn how a gift would work in your circumstances. Laws and regulations governing all gifts and availability of certain life income gifts vary by state.
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