Legislature & Courts
NEW! See the ACLU of Florida's 2008 Regular Session summary!
Much of the ACLU of Florida's work to protect civil liberties is carried out in the legislative halls of our Capitol in Tallahassee and in courtrooms across Florida. We maintain a strong presence in Tallahassee, where Legislative Staff Counsel Larry Spalding serves as the ACLU's voice before the Florida Legislature, tracking more than 100 bills each regular session that have civil liberties implications.
The ACLU of Florida's legslative work is closely intertwined with the organization's Legal Department, which undertakes litigation that advances and defends constitutional rights in Florida. In recent years, the ACLU of Florida has filed lawsuits challenging state laws that funnel much-needed tax dollars to private, sectarian schools, discriminate against gays and lesbians and interfere with a person's right to refuse medical treatment.
In addition to challenging anti-civil liberties bills, our Legal Department also represents individuals whose rights have been trampled upon by government. Most of our clients are ordinary people who have experienced an injustice and have decided to fight back. A newspaper editor who was arrested for writing an article about police misconduct. A gay person who was denied the opportunity to adopt his foster child solely because of his sexual orientation. A doctor who was detained at an airport because federal air marshals did not "like the way he looked."
The ACLU of Florida litigates about 60 cases each year under the guidance of our legal director, Randall C. Marshall. His work is supplemented by highly respected pro bono attorneys who donate their time and talent to the ACLU.
On the left side of this web page, you will find a list of links about our Legislative and Legal Programs: some detailed information about current legislative issues, our extensive state-wide legal docket, briefs, complaints and other information about some major ACLU of Florida cases.
Click here to see an archive of previous ACLU of Florida Legislative Session summaries.
