News & Commentary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2014CONTACT: Brooke Anderson, 334-420-1750, [email protected], Ala. – The ACLU of Alabama, together with the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a lawsuit today in federal court on behalf of a Chilton County pastor whose right to freely practice his faith was violated by a new Alabama law that prevents him from pursuing his ministry and exercising his deeply-held religious beliefs.For over three years, Pastor Ricky Martin, leader of the Triumph Church in Clanton, Ala., and a volunteer prison chaplain, allowed registered sex offenders recently released from prison to live in trailers behind his church. “Pastor Martin believes it is his Christian duty and his calling to help those in need—especially those in dire need and cast out from society,” said Susan Watson, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama.

Calls State’s Basis for Admitting Privileges Requirement “Exceedingly Weak”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 4, 2014

CONTACT:
ACLU Media Office, 212-519-7894, ACLU National, 212-519-7829, [email protected]
Planned Parenthood Media Office, 212-261-4433, [email protected]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A federal judge has struck down a harmful state law that would have severely restricted access to safe, legal abortion by forcing all but two of the licensed health centers in Alabama to stop providing abortions. Laws like these — which are opposed by the American Medical Association (AMA) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — single out doctors who provide abortions and require them to obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital.

After a searching review, that included a 10-day trial, the judge found that:

The law would actually make women less safe by “undermining the patient-care goals put forward by the State”;
The state’s justifications for the law were “exceedingly weak” and “speculative”;
The law “does not reflect the practice of 21st century medicine:; and
“Evidence compellingly demonstrates” the requirement would “have the striking result of closing three of Alabama’s five abortion clinics;”

In the opinion, the judge wrote that “if this requirement would not … constitute an impermissible undue burden, then almost no regulation, short of those imposing an outright prohibition on abortion, would.” He also noted that the Department of Health found the requirement unnecessary and that existing regulations already protect public health.

FOR

FOR

FOR

FOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2014

CONTACT:
Brooke Anderson, ACLU of Alabama, 334-420-1750, [email protected]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama ruled late Tuesday afternoon that the federal requirement that health insurance plans provide contraceptive coverage does not violate the religious free exercise rights of Mobile-based Eternal World Television Network (EWTN)—the largest religious media network in the world.

“Religious freedom is a fundamental right provided by the Constitution, but making employees ineligible to receive contraceptives even when a third-party would absorb that portion of the coverage is discrimination,” said Susan Watson, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama.

The law provides that non-profit entities which object to providing contraception based on religious beliefs can sign a waiver allowing a third-party to absorb the responsibility for that part of the plan. By doing so, EWTN would no longer be the one providing the contraception. EWTN argued, however, that the action of signing the waiver itself violated EWTN’s religious exercise rights and its right to be free from compelled speech. The Court rejected all of EWTN’s arguments.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2014

CONTACT:
Brooke Anderson, ACLU of Alabama, 334-420-1750, [email protected]
Robyn Shepherd, ACLU National, 212-519-7829, [email protected]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit today challenging Alabama’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of April and Ginger Aaron-Brush of Birmingham. The couple was wed in Massachusetts but their marriage is not recognized in their home state.

“The word marriage, in itself, brings validity and respect to any committed relationship,” said April Aaron-Brush. “One's marriage status shouldn't change simply by crossing state lines. Gay couples seek to be married for the very same reasons that opposite-sex couples choose to be married-- love, honor and commitment.”

The lawsuit was filed in Birmingham at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

“There needs to be marriage equality in Alabama for the sake of family security and family protection,” said Ginger Aaron-Brush.

“All loving and committed couples deserve the dignity and protections that come with marriage, no matter where they live,” said Susan Watson of the ACLU of Alabama. “It’s time for marriage equality to come to Alabama.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Brooke Anderson, ACLU of Alabama; D: (334) 420-1750, [email protected]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The following is the official statement from Susan Watson, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama regarding the start of today's abortion law trial that imposes medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion providers and would ultimately force most of the state's clinics to stop providing abortions:

"We are glad we are able to ask the court to acknowledge what is already perfectly clear: this law hurts women.

Admitting privileges can be granted or denied for various reasons that are not related to medical quality or credentials. This law has little to do with patient care, but is intended to shut down clinics and end access to safe, legal abortion.