About Us
The ACLU of Montana's mission is to hold the government accountable to all who live in Montana, with a particular focus on those who have been historically (or continue to be) disenfranchised. Our top priorities are to reform the criminal legal system and uphold Indigenous justice. We also work to protect the rights of immigrants, safeguard reproductive freedom, celebrate 2S-LGBTQIA+ people and families, ensure voting rights, protect free speech, and more.
We're building towards our vision of a fair, equitable, and free Montana that welcomes and celebrates diversity of all kinds. In our Montana, everybody is treated with dignity and respect, and has equal access to rights and freedoms.
On this page —
Highlights of Our Work
History of the ACLU of Montana
History of the ACLU of Montana
The Beginnings
1920
The American Civil Liberties Union was founded.
1972
The ACLU chartered the Montana affiliate. Since its inception, the organization has impacted public education, litigation and legislation.
1980s - 1990s
1980
An office was established in Billings, staffed part-time.
1982
Windy Boy v. Big Horn County 🪶
Won the right of Native Americans to fair voting representation.
1988
Scott Crichton was hired as the ACLU of Montana’s first full-time executive director.
1989
The ACLU of Montana Foundation was incorporated with the Montana Secretary of State and was granted its 501(c)3 status by the IRS.
1994
Langford v. Bullock ⚖️
Won the right to safe and humane prison conditions.
1996
Old Person v. Brown 🪶
Won the right for Indigenous communities to have political representation.
1997
The staff expanded to three employees with the addition of a staff attorney.
2000s - Today
2002
White v. Martz ⚖️
Won the right to competent legal defense for all defendants.
2003
The ACLU moved operations from Billings to Helena.
2006
The Montana affiliate was selected as one of five ACLU state affiliates for special consideration as part of the Strategic Affiliate Initiative (SAI) to provide additional resources and staffing. Montana was selected because of a demonstrated track record of being ambitious, accountable, collaborative, disciplined and strategic.
2009
Baxter v. Montana 🩺
Won the right to physical aid in dying for terminally ill patients.
2013
Chief Goes Out v. Missoula County ⚖️
Won the right to equal treatment for women and juveniles in jail.
2014
Rolando v. State 🏳️🌈
Won the right of same-sex couples to marry.
2015
Caitlin Borgmann became Montana's second executive director.
2022
In State v. Mefford, we won the right to digital privacy on personal devices. 🔒
In the Disability Rights Montana Settlement, we won the right to proper mental health care for incarcerated people. 🩺
2023
Akilah Deernose became our third executive director.
2024
In Cross v. State, we won the right of transgender youth to access gender-affirming care. 🏳️⚧️
In the Constitutional Ballot Initiative 128, we enshrined abortion rights explicitly in the Montana state constitution. 🩺
Today
The ACLU of Montana operates statewide with three offices – Missoula, Livingston, and Wolf Point.