Court Cases

Action against the City of Fresno for its failure to provide records about police canine use of force, as required by the state’s Public Records Act.

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California sued the California Department of State Hospitals for refusing to provide public records about severely mentally ill individuals who died in jail, while waiting to get treatment at a state facility. At least 35 people died in one five year period alone. DSH claimed it did not keep track of the in-custody deaths of people on its waitlist.

A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking to compel production of grievance logs filed at ICE detention centers.

A California Public Records Act lawsuit seeking to compel production of documents and information reflecting collaboration between the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and ICE.

The California Racial Justice Act (“RJA”) prohibits the State from pursuing convictions or sentences based upon race, ethnicity, or national origin. The law also permits challenges when such outcomes show racial bias or disparities. The ACLU of Northern California works to force prosecutorial transparency, engaging in a statewide effort to access information to develop and pursue potential RJA claims.