This cartoon helps capture the struggle between Governor Scott and the state of Florida and the ACLU of Florida over drug testing.
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from being subjected to a government search without reasonable suspicion. It’s one of the core tenets of our justice system.
That’s why the ACLU of Florida has fought so hard to stop the suspicionless drug testing of Floridians being pushed by Governor Scott and the Legislature. In the past year they have passed laws and issued orders that would subject tens of thousands of Floridians to government drug testing.
In late 2011, the ACLU of Florida represented Orlando resident Luis Lebron in a challenge to the state law requiring testing for applications for temporary assistance. Lebron, a Navy veteran, single father, caretaker of his disabled mother, and full-time University of Central Florida, succeeded in getting the law blocked by a federal court in Orlando. Governor Scott has appealed the decision.
Just two weeks ago, the ACLU of Florida went to federal court in Miami on behalf of AFSCME – the state’s largest public employee union – to challenge the Governor’s order requiring suspicionless testing for state workers under his authority. A decision in that challenge is expected at any time.
And in the final days of this Legislative Session, lawmakers are considering yet another attempt to force government drug testing on state workers.
When Floridians are subjected to invasive, stigmatizing government searches, the ACLU of Florida will stand up to protect the rights of people like Luis Lebron, state workers, and everyone else subjected to these unconstitutional policies.