Justice

Over sixty years ago, Clarence Gideon stood alone in a Florida courtroom, accused of a felony and too poor to afford a lawyer. He asked the judge for legal representation — and was denied. At the time, Florida only provided counsel in death penalty cases. Forced to defend himself against the full power of the state, Gideon was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.

But his fight didn’t end there. Gideon petitioned the courts, and with the support of the ACLU, his case reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In a landmark ruling, the Court held that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to an attorney for all defendants facing imprisonment — not just those facing the death penalty.

Justice Hugo Black wrote: “The right of one charged with crime to counsel may not be deemed fundamental and essential to fair trials in some countries, but it is in ours. … This noble ideal cannot be realized if the poor man charged with crime has to face his accusers without a lawyer to assist him.”

Following this decision and with the ACLU of Florida by his side, Gideon was retried and acquitted. He returned to his family in South Florida, where he lived until 1972.

Gideon’s case transformed the law. It affirmed that the right to counsel is not a privilege for the few but a safeguard for all — ensuring that justice is not reserved for those who can afford it, but a promise kept for everyone.

In 1985, Todd Shuttleworth, a 31-year-old gay man and respected budget analyst for Broward County, had built a career marked by excellence. His glowing evaluations, steady promotions, and consistent raises reflected his talent and commitment.

But when his AIDS diagnosis became known, county officials abruptly fired him—hiding behind fear and claiming he posed a danger to others. It was discrimination, plain and simple. With our support, Shuttleworth fought back, making it clear that no one should lose their livelihood or their constitutional rights because of stigma and ignorance. His case—the first of its kind—drew national attention, exposing the injustice of AIDS-based discrimination and the urgent need for workplace protections.

“We sued to send a message,” said Larry Corman, cooperating attorney for the ACLU of Florida’s Broward Chapter, “to the defendants and other government officials of the price of policies set against government workers, especially when those deny constitutional rights.”

In the end, the County reinstated Shuttleworth, paid $190,000 in back pay, medical, and legal costs, and pledged to treat employees with AIDS under civil rights law.

“I can use the settlement,” Shuttleworth said in 1986. “The most important thing is the precedent. Other employers should know that you can’t fire anybody just because they have AIDS.”

His victory set a lasting precedent for fairness, dignity, and equality in Florida workplaces — a reminder that civil rights must extend to everyone, especially in the face of fear and prejudice.

At Florida’s Baker County Detention Center, people in ICE custody have faced horrific abuse, neglect, and dehumanizing treatment for years.

Ana, a 33-year-old survivor of human trafficking and domestic violence, requested menstrual products while detained. As a Spanish speaker, she struggled to communicate with officers — who failed to provide interpretation, yelled at her, and accused her of disobedience. She was punished with a month in solitary confinement—where she endured sexual abuse, excessive force, and medical neglect.

Amy Godshall, immigrants’ rights attorney at the ACLU of Florida, representing Ana said: “Her experience reflects a deeply troubling pattern of inhumane conditions in ICE detention across Florida. Too many are suffering in silence, unable to speak out about the dehumanization they face.”

Guillermo Serrabi, another detainee, faced similar cruelty. While held in solitary confinement, he was illegally detained, taunted, and brutally assaulted by officers. The attack ruptured his eardrum, leaving him with permanent hearing loss, and he was denied proper medical care.

“No one should endure the brutality Mr. Serrabi suffered at his most vulnerable moment,” said Amien Kacou, ACLU of Florida staff attorney.

These are not isolated incidents—they reveal systemic cruelty and abuse at Baker. With survivors and advocates, we filed lawsuits against the detention center and its officers, demanding justice for those harmed and calling for its closure. This fight is about ensuring that every person held in detention is treated with dignity — and that their fundamental rights are upheld, no matter their status.