News & Commentary

Shahid Haque-Hausrath was the 2017 Jeannette Rankin Civil Liberties Award recipient.  Below is the speech he gave at the award reception on March 4:

Settlement Requires Major Improvements in Conditions for Prisoners With Disabilities at Montana State Prison

FOIA Filed As Part of Coordinated Campaign With 50 ACLU Affiliates

HELENA, Mont. - The ACLU of Montana, working with the Montana Association of Counties, the Montana League of Cities and Towns, and the Montana County Attorneys Association, prevailed yesterday in their lawsuit about the effective date of CI-116, also known as Marsy's Law. In a 5-0 ruling, issued just 32 days after the case was filed, the Court held that the Attorney General's ballot statement indicating the amendment would be effective on approval conflicted with the plain language of the Montana Consitution, Article XIV, Section 9(3). Jim Taylor, the Legal Director for the ACLU of Montana said, "We were glad to work with the other plaintiffs in this action, and appreciate the perspective and experience they brought to the litigation. We are gratified that the Court understood the importance of the issue and acted as swiftly as it did."

First Judicial District Court Grants Motion to Preserve and Produce Evidence in Death Penalty Case Smith v Batista

Follow the Money: Frequently Asked Questions about Donating to the ACLU

The ACLU of Montana, working with the Montana Association of Counties, the Montana League of Cities and Towns, and the Montana County Attorneys Association, is filing a lawsuit today about the effective date of CI-116, also known as Marsy’s Law. The Montana Constitution, in Article XIV, Section 9(3), requires that changes to our Constitution approved by ballot initiative go into effect on July 1, 2017, unless the amendment provides otherwise. The ACLU, MCAA, MLCT, and MACo are arguing that the Attorney General’s ballot summary incorrectly stated the initiative would become effective immediately. On November 28, a majority of the Board of Canvassers met, and pursuant to their statutory obligations, declared that the effective date of CI-116 is July 1, 2017. The Secretary of State improperly rejected their decision, contrary to Montana law. On November 30, the Secretary of State again rejected the Board’s decision about the effective date, and has set a third meeting for December 5. Because we have no reason to believe the Secretary will change her position, we have moved forward with a petition directly to the Montana Supreme Court. Marsy’s Law mandates a dramatic reinterpretation of how the criminal justice system in Montana functions. Among other issues, it defines the victim of a crime expansively.  It includes the actual victim that suffers direct or threatened physical,

The movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline or, on social media #NoDAPL, has been a Native-led, organized effort. Indigenous activists, lawyers, and media have taken to social media so make people aware of the civil rights violations happening under the watchful eye of the North Dakota Governor and the Morton County Police Department.Although #NoDAPL is miles away in another state, Montanans feel very passionate in showing solidarity with them. Here are a few events that ACLU of Montana has been involved in:In October, in partnership with The Montana Racial Equity Project based in Bozeman, we organized “Montana Stands with Standing Rock,” an event at the Headwaters of the Missouri River. Indigenous leaders prayed and blessed the headwaters and Indigenous activists and community le

Two years ago today, marriage equality was recognized in Montana. The ACLU of Montana couldn’t be more proud to have brought the lawsuit, Rolando vs State of Montana, that was a part of the fight for marriage equality, but the real heroes are the plaintiffs in the case.