Tennessee
learn about our work in Tennessee
learn about our work in Tennessee
All Cases
13 Tennessee Cases
Tennessee
Dec 2021
League of Women Voters of Tennessee v. Hargett
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Tennessee, Campaign Legal Center, and Fair Elections Center filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Tennessee law that imposes substantial penalties on groups that foster political participation via voter registration efforts.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Tennessee
Voting Rights
League of Women Voters of Tennessee v. Hargett
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Tennessee, Campaign Legal Center, and Fair Elections Center filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Tennessee law that imposes substantial penalties on groups that foster political participation via voter registration efforts.
Dec 2021
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Tennessee
Sep 2021
Nashville Community Bail Fund v. Gentry
In Nashville, local officials keep money posted as bail to pay fines and fees. This happens even when the person whose bond was posted shows up to their required court dates. Under a local court rule and policies from the criminal clerk, pretrial release is conditioned on future payment, which leverages pretrial freedom to make money for the government.
Status: Ongoing
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Tennessee
Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
Nashville Community Bail Fund v. Gentry
In Nashville, local officials keep money posted as bail to pay fines and fees. This happens even when the person whose bond was posted shows up to their required court dates. Under a local court rule and policies from the criminal clerk, pretrial release is conditioned on future payment, which leverages pretrial freedom to make money for the government.
Sep 2021
Status: Ongoing
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Tennessee
Sep 2020
Butler v. Smith County
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit challenging widespread promotion of religion by officials in the Smith County School System. Brought on behalf of two families, the lawsuit alleges that school officials regularly incorporate prayer into school events and proselytize students in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Tennessee
Religious Liberty
Butler v. Smith County
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit challenging widespread promotion of religion by officials in the Smith County School System. Brought on behalf of two families, the lawsuit alleges that school officials regularly incorporate prayer into school events and proselytize students in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Sep 2020
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Tennessee
Aug 2020
Lay v. Goins
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit seeking to make absentee voting available to all eligible Tennessee voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Tennessee
Voting Rights
Lay v. Goins
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit seeking to make absentee voting available to all eligible Tennessee voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aug 2020
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2020
Baxter v. Bracey
In early 2014, Alexander Baxter was bitten by a police dog that was unleashed on him while he was sitting with his hands in the air, having surrendered to police. He sued for excessive force, but in late 2018, a federal appeals court ruled that his claim should be thrown out under the doctrine of “qualified immunity.”
Status: Closed (Dismissed)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Criminal Law Reform
Baxter v. Bracey
In early 2014, Alexander Baxter was bitten by a police dog that was unleashed on him while he was sitting with his hands in the air, having surrendered to police. He sued for excessive force, but in late 2018, a federal appeals court ruled that his claim should be thrown out under the doctrine of “qualified immunity.”
Jul 2020
Status: Closed (Dismissed)
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