News and Commentary

As the leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State, we at the ACLU of Texas believe it is our duty to keep the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged.

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Jan 29, 2015

For-Profit Companies Are Helping to Put People In Jail for Being Poor. I Should Know, I Was One of Them.

In December, I was jailed for five days simply because I couldn't afford to pay $838 in traffic fines and fees to DeKalb County and a private probation company called Judicial Correction Services, Inc....

By By Kevin Thompson

In December, I was jailed for five days simply because I couldn't afford to pay $838 in traffic fines and fees to DeKalb County and a private probation company called Judicial Correction Services, Inc....

By By Kevin Thompson
Jan 28, 2015

No, Senator, You Can’t Have the Torture Report Back

The new chairman of a powerful Senate committee wants to ensure that the full Senate torture report, the executive summary of which was released in December last year, never sees the light of day. And he...

By By Ashley Gorski, Nadine Strossen Fellow, National Security Project, ACLU

The new chairman of a powerful Senate committee wants to ensure that the full Senate torture report, the executive summary of which was released in December last year, never sees the light of day. And he...

By By Ashley Gorski, Nadine Strossen Fellow, National Security Project, ACLU
Jan 28, 2015

Cause for Optimism During Weeks of Tragedy for the Trans Community

It seems basic enough to ask that one be treated like a human being – that a person’s dignity be honored in life and death.

But tragically for too many transgender people that is still a far off...

By By Chase Strangio, Staff Attorney, ACLU

It seems basic enough to ask that one be treated like a human being – that a person’s dignity be honored in life and death.

But tragically for too many transgender people that is still a far off...

By By Chase Strangio, Staff Attorney, ACLU
Jan 26, 2015

FOIA Documents Reveal Massive DEA Program to Record American’s Whereabouts With License Plate Readers

Free Speech and Pluralism

(Updated below)

The Drug Enforcement Administration has initiated a massive national license plate reader program with major civil liberties concerns but disclosed very few details,...

By By Bennett Stein, ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project

(Updated below)

The Drug Enforcement Administration has initiated a massive national license plate reader program with major civil liberties concerns but disclosed very few details,...

By By Bennett Stein, ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project
Jan 26, 2015

On Women's Health, the House Trades One Bad Idea for Another

Watching Congress' actions toward women last week might leave you confused about what year it is. Instead of advancing a single policy designed to help women, the U.S. House of Representatives has chosen to...

By By Georgeanne M. Usova, Washington Legislative Office

Watching Congress' actions toward women last week might leave you confused about what year it is. Instead of advancing a single policy designed to help women, the U.S. House of Representatives has chosen to...

By By Georgeanne M. Usova, Washington Legislative Office
Jan 23, 2015

Will Justice Scalia Be the Savior of the Fair Housing Act?

Going into this week's argument in ...

By By Rachel Goodman, Staff Attorney, ACLU Racial Justice Program

Going into this week's argument in ...

By By Rachel Goodman, Staff Attorney, ACLU Racial Justice Program