News & Commentary

In a letter sent Thursday, the ACLU of Montana asked Governor Bullock, Governor-Elect Gianforte, and Acting Director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services Erica Johnston to prioritize certain vulnerable or marginalized populations for the COVID-19 vaccine. 

We’ve faced enormous challenges this year, as a country and here in Montana. But, together with our partners and supporters, we’ve done good work, won important victories, and made a real difference in the lives of Montanans. Here are a few highlights of our work from 2020. 

Ana Suda and Martha “Mimi” Hernandez, two American citizens detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for speaking Spanish while shopping at a local convenience store in Havre, Montana, have reached a settlement in their lawsuit against the Trump administration. Their lawsuit brought to light systemic racism on the northern border.

"The ACLU of Montana will work with our members and partners to hold Governor-elect Gianforte accountable for protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of Montanans. Governor-elect Gianforte has a dismal track record when it comes to reproductive freedom, LGBTQ equality, immigrants’ rights, and ensuring that people have access to services and treatment for mental health issues or substance use disorders. His stances on many issues are not aligned with the values that Montanans hold dear. We won’t back down. Legal action is not off the table if executive orders or legislation pass his desk that violate the rights of Montanans."

The ACLU of Montana is a non-profit organization which focuses on protecting constitutional rights and freedoms in the state of Montana. We also prioritize Indigenous justice - part of which recognizes and works to overcome historical disenfranchisement of the Native vote.

Three days after the Blackfeet Nation brought a federal lawsuit against Pondera County arguing that the county was violating the voting rights of tribal members, Pondera County has agreed to make changes to make voting more accessible. 

ACLU’s first lawsuit against the for-profit bail underwriters that drive the predatory bail industry ended in a financial payout. A Montana family who was stalked, hunted down, and held at gunpoint by bounty hunters in 2017 have settled a lawsuit filed against the insurance companies who make bounty-hunting possible and profitable. This settlement is the final chapter in a lawsuit filed in April 2019 by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Montana, Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC, and Tipp Coburn & Associates PC on behalf of Eugene Mitchell,  Shayleen Meuchell, and their young daughter. 

The ACLU of Montana today launched its first-ever statewide voter mobilization effort about the urgent civil liberties and civil rights issues -- including access to abortion -- at stake in the 2020 election. The Montana governor’s race is the focus of the voter education push. The ACLU of Montana does not support, oppose, or endorse candidates. The goal of this campaign is to inform voters on the candidates’ positions and how those positions could impact the lives of Montanans. “Civil rights and civil liberties, like abortion rights, are under attack, and that’s why we decided to get involved in this election,” said Caitlin Borgmann, executive director with the ACLU of Montana. Through its voter outreach and education work, the ACLU of Montana will reach over 100,000 voters throughout the state. Through mailers and digital ads, the organization will publicize the stance of gubernatorial candidates Mike Cooney and Greg Gianforte on issues including abortion and access to mental health and substance use disorder services. The ACLU of Montana sent a questionnaire to the gubernatorial candidates in August. Lt. Governor Cooney answered that he would veto any legislation that bans or restricts abortion.  Congressman Gianforte did not answer the questionnaire but has publicly stated that he supports overturning Roe v. Wade. Gianforte also cosponsored a 2019 bill that would have criminalized abortion providers wherein they could face up to five years in prison.“Abortion rights are on the line in this election. Our goal is to protect the right of abortion in Montana and protect medical providers from being criminalized for performing abortions by ensuring that people are informed before they vote,” said Borgmann. The questionnaire also included questions pertaining to LGBTQ equality, criminal legal reform, and Indigenous Justice. The ACLU of Montana is a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse or oppose any candidate for office. The ACLU’s goal is to promote voter education and voter participation.

The ACLU of Montana filed a brief on Monday with the Montana Supreme Court arguing that a district court’s degrading and humiliating punishment of two men who lied about serving in the U.S. military is unconstitutional.