The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana rejoined state lawmakers in Helena today as the 2023 Legislative Session reconvened after the transmittal break. ACLU of Montana Staff and advocates will continue beating back the continuing assaults on Montanans’ civil rights.

Montana’s Constitution provides some of the strongest protections in the Nation for privacy, reproductive rights, and equal protection. House Bill 544 only aims to chip away at the constitutionally protected right to abortion.

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the ACLU of Montana Foundation, and Nixon Peabody LLP have released the following statement after filing a civil contempt motion on behalf of Plaintiffs in Marquez v. State of Montana. 

The Montana Supreme Court issued an order today on the State’s Petition for Supervisory Control in the Marquez v. State of Montana case.

The common thread we are seeing through all legislation this year is an attempt to control our bodies: what they are, what they should be, and how they should function. The ACLU of Montana remains dedicated to stopping these harmful bills and protecting the right to privacy and bodily autonomy.

The Supreme Court is preparing to hear oral arguments in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case that could gut ICWA — a law which establishes basic requirements to protect Native American children from continued forced removal from their families. We urge the court to uphold the constitutionality of ICWA.

The Commissioner of Political Practices dismissed three complaints that Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen filed against nonprofit organizations that had recently prevailed in a voting rights lawsuit against her Office.

A Montana court today struck down as unconstitutional two state laws that hinder Native American participation in the state’s electoral process.