Press Releases

Freedom of the press is part of the fabric of our democracy. It acts as a check against government power and a tool for enabling the public to make informed decisions. It’s why we make media relations an essential facet of our work. Our communications team handles all media inquiries.

Apr 18, 2018

ACLU of Utah Statement on Retirement of Utah Department of Corrections Executive Director Rollin Cook

The ACLU of Utah would like to make the following statement about the May 15 scheduled retirement of Utah Department of Corrections Executive Director Rollin Cook.
Issue Areas: Prisons & Jails
Apr 10, 2018

ACLU of Utah’s Campaign for Smart Justice to Release County Questionnaire for Prosecutor Candidates

The ACLU of Utah is submitting questionnaires to every county prosecutor candidate in Utah so voters can be informed on the candidates’ positions on ending mass incarceration, addressing racial disparities, and accountability for prosecutorial misconduct.
Issue Areas: Smart Justice
Mar 29, 2018

Settlement with Ogden City over Prior Gang Injunction

The ACLU of Utah announce that Plaintiffs and Ogden City have reached a compromised settlement of claims raised by Plaintiffs against Ogden City in this case.  
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal System
Feb 27, 2018

ACLU of Utah Files Lawsuit Over Illegal Search and Unlawful Detention by Federal Agents

The ACLU of Utah filed a lawsuit over two SWAT-style, home raids on a Utah family living in Heber City in April 2017.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights, Criminal Legal System
Court Cases: Ramirez v. Reddish (2018)
Feb 21, 2018

Settlement Announced in Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission v. San Juan County

The ACLU of Utah reached a positive settlement agreement regarding plaintiffs’ claims that San Juan County did not provide effective language assistance to Navajo-speaking voters and that Navajo voters had unequal voting opportunities.
Issue Areas: Participatory Democracy, Racial Justice
Court Cases: Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission v. San Juan County et al (2016)
Jan 12, 2018

ACLU Statement on Lawsuit Filed by the Disability Law Center on Behalf of Institutionalized Utahns with Intellectual Disabilities

On January 12, 2018, the Disability Law Center (DLC) and the law firm of Parsons Behle & Latimer filed a class-action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Utah against the state of Utah.
Issue Areas: Disability Rights
Court Cases: Disability Law Center v. Utah (2017)
Oct 27, 2017

ACLU of Utah Statement on New Immigration Detention Facilities

The ACLU of Utah joined with a number of organizations nationally on October 26, 2017 to express concern about the Trump Administration’s steps to expand immigration detention facilities across the area using private contractors.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Sep 19, 2017

ACLU of Utah Statement on Operation Rio Grande (UPDATED)

After five weeks of implementation activity under the umbrella of this operation, the ACLU of Utah has seen very little to change our original assessment of this law-enforcement-heavy effort as “business as usual.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal System
Sep 12, 2017

Voting Rights Lawsuit Over Navajo Voting Rights in San Juan County to Advance to Trial

U.S. District Court Judge Jill Parrish issued a decision allowing the lawsuit to proceed to a trial on the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims that San Juan County is not providing effective language assistance to Navajo-speaking voters.
Issue Areas: Participatory Democracy, Racial Justice
Court Cases: Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission v. San Juan County et al (2016)