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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Oct 2, 2014

New Alabama Law Puts Teens Who Need Abortions on Trial. That's Dangerous and Cruel.

Picture this: You are 17 years old, in your senior year of high school, and you've just learned you're pregnant. You'd like to be able to turn to your parents for support but you know you can't. After all,...

By By Jennifer Dalven, Reproductive Freedom Project

Picture this: You are 17 years old, in your senior year of high school, and you've just learned you're pregnant. You'd like to be able to turn to your parents for support but you know you can't. After all,...

By By Jennifer Dalven, Reproductive Freedom Project
Oct 2, 2014

Oklahoma's Response to Botched Execution: Hide the Next One from the Public

It's a dark day for Oklahoma. That metaphor is particularly apt this week, as the Sooner State just redoubled its commitment to keeping capital punishment in the shadows by hiding its lethal injection...

By By Lee Rowland, Staff Attorney, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project

It's a dark day for Oklahoma. That metaphor is particularly apt this week, as the Sooner State just redoubled its commitment to keeping capital punishment in the shadows by hiding its lethal injection...

By By Lee Rowland, Staff Attorney, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project
Oct 2, 2014

Securing Our Data Should Come First

This post was first published as part of the New York Times Room for...

By By Alex Abdo, Staff Attorney, ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project

This post was first published as part of the New York Times Room for...

By By Alex Abdo, Staff Attorney, ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project
Oct 2, 2014

Up to 20% of Border Patrol Drone Flights Are Inside the United States

Free Speech and Pluralism

The GAO released a report Tuesday on Customs and Border Patrol’s use of Predator drones in which it revealed that up to 20 percent of the CBP’s drone...

By By Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project

The GAO released a report Tuesday on Customs and Border Patrol’s use of Predator drones in which it revealed that up to 20 percent of the CBP’s drone...

By By Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project
Sep 29, 2014

The Wal-Mart Model: Not Just for Retail, Now It’s for Private Prisons Too!

The nation's biggest and baddest for-profit prison company suddenly cares about halfway houses – so...

By Carl Takei, ACLU National Prison Project

The nation's biggest and baddest for-profit prison company suddenly cares about halfway houses – so...

By Carl Takei, ACLU National Prison Project
Sep 26, 2014

Smokey Says, Get a Permit, Shutterbug

Free Speech and Pluralism

Well, sort of.

First Amendment advocates have expressed escalating concern in recent days over a U.S. Forest Service rule requiring permits for photographers in national forests. In particular what...

By By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office

Well, sort of.

First Amendment advocates have expressed escalating concern in recent days over a U.S. Forest Service rule requiring permits for photographers in national forests. In particular what...

By By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office