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Montana District Court Affirms Parenting Rights (09/29/2008)
Missoula, MT – Montana District Court Judge Ed McLean today released his long-awaited decision in the Kulstad v. Maniaci case. The court recognized Michelle Kulstad as a parent to the two children she raised together with Barbara Maniaci, granting Kulstad time with her children and ordering that Kulstad have joint decision-making authority for matters significantly affecting the children, including their “education, activities, health care and spiritual upbringing.”

ACLU Challenges Montana's Flawed System For Third Party Ballot Access (04/09/2008)
HELENA, MT - The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Montana filed a lawsuit in federal court late yesterday challenging Montana's scheme for getting independent and minor-party candidates on the ballot. In the lawsuit, the ACLU charges that the state's burdensome system for non-major party candidates seeking to run for office is unconstitutional and asks the court to prohibit state officials from enforcing it in this year's elections.

Government Apologizes for Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Iraqi Refugee (08/23/2007)
SEATTLE -- The American Civil Liberties Union today announced that the United States government has apologized to Abdulameer Yousef Habeeb, an Iraqi refugee whom federal agents unlawfully stopped, interrogated, arrested, imprisoned, and sought to deport. At the request of federal officials and the ACLU, a federal district court judge in Montana vacated a 2006 ruling upholding Habeeb's arrest and detention. The government also provided Habeeb compensation for its mistreatment of him.

Montana Death Penalty Informational Website Launched (06/29/2007)
HELENA, MT - On the 35th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Furman v. Georgia, which declared the death penalty unconstitutional, the Montana Abolition Coalition is proud to announce the official launch of its website at http://www.mtabolitionco.org

Montana Enacts 'Declaration of Independence' From Real ID (04/17/2007)

Civil Rights and Church Groups Ask Montana Supreme Court for Right to Challenge Lethal Injections (08/10/2006)
HELENA, MT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, Montana Association of Churches, Montana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Montana Catholic Conference, Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, 11 legislators and two former justices today petitioned the state Supreme Court to allow them to challenge the pending execution of death row inmate David Dawson.

Montana Lawsuit Seeks Scrutiny of Lethal Injection Protocols (07/11/2006)
HELENA, MT -- Attorneys representing a broad array of interested parties today petitioned the Montana Supreme Court to bar execution by lethal injection until the protocols involved can be reviewed to be certain not to violate the United States Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.

ACLU Asks the Federal Government for Records of Spying on Grassroots Groups In Montana (06/08/2006)
HELENA, MT – The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana today filed a Freedom of Information Act request on behalf of eight Montana grassroots organizations that fear they may have been monitored because they have questioned federal policies including the war in Iraq.

Montana County Library Steps Up for ACLU Freedom Files After State Library Folds Under Pressure (02/23/2006)
HELENA, MT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana announced today that the Lewis and Clark Library will be the site for the screening and discussion of “Beyond the Patriot Act,” which is part of The ACLU Freedom Files, a documentary series airing nationwide on Court TV. The announcement comes after a decision yesterday by the Montana State Library to cancel the program.

ACLU Asks Court to Block Unconstitutional Election Plan in Montana (08/04/2005)
BILLINGS, MT -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of voters who say that the election plan for the city council is disproportionately drawn and dilutes the voting strength of thousands of citizens. The ACLU charges that the plan violates the ""one person, one vote"" principle of the U.S. Constitution, and is asking the court for a more equitable districting plan.

ACLU Hails Montana's Public Defense Bill as Leading National Trend (06/08/2005)
HELENA, MT - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Montana Legislature's passage of groundbreaking public defender legislation that creates a new statewide office and guarantees constitutional rights to all Montanans, not just those who can afford to pay lawyers.

Statewide Public Defender Becoming a Reality (06/08/2005)
The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Montana legislature for enacting a precedent-setting bill that creates the state's first ever state-wide public defender office.

ACLU Sues Federal Agents for Illegal Arrest and Detention of Iraqi Refugee (03/17/2005)
GREAT FALLS, MT--The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, and the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project today sued two federal agents for unlawfully stopping, interrogating, arresting, imprisoning, and seeking to deport an Iraqi refugee who was legally admitted to the United States and had broken no laws. As a result of his illegal detention, the man lost his job and suffered serious humiliation and emotional distress.

Montana High Court Says University System Must Provide Gay Employees with Domestic Partner Benefits (12/30/2004)
In a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the state must provide lesbian and gay employees of the University of Montana System with the option of purchasing health insurance and other employee benefits for their domestic partners.

ACLU Agrees to Postpone Trial Over Lack of Legal Defense for Montana's Poor While Attorney General Seeks Legislative Remedy (05/07/2004)
HELENA, MT - In response to a request from the Montana Attorney General, the American Civil Liberties Union and state officials today agreed to postpone trial in the ACLU's lawsuit over inadequacy of the state's legal defense system for the poor in Montana in order to allow the Attorney General to advocate for legislation that will address the problems the litigation seeks to remedy.

ACLU Urges Montana High Court to Require State University System to Offer Domestic Partner Benefits to Gay Employees (11/13/2003)
MISSOULA, MT - The American Civil Liberties Union appeared before the Montana Supreme Court today to ask the court to require the University of Montana System to give lesbian and gay employees the option of purchasing health insurance and other employee benefits for their domestic partners.

ACLU Urges Montana Supreme Court to Require Equal Treatment for Gay Employees of the Montana University System (06/02/2003)
MISSOULA, MT -In a brief filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union has asked the Montana Supreme Court to require the Montana University System to provide lesbian and gay employees an equal opportunity to purchase health insurance and other employee benefits for their partners.

ACLU to Ask Montana Supreme Court for Equal Benefits for Gay Employees of the University of Montana System (03/10/2003)
MISSOULA, MT -Today the American Civil Liberties Union filed its appeal to the Montana Supreme Court to require the University of Montana System to provide lesbian and gay employees an equal opportunity to purchase health insurance and other employee benefits for their partners.

Univ. of Montana System's 'Desperate and Cynical' Effort To Deny Gay Employees' Day in Court Should Be Rejected, ACLU Says (06/06/2002)
MISSOULA, MT -- The Montana University System is engaged in a "desperate and cynical" attempt to keep a state court from hearing a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of lesbian and gay university employees who can't get health insurance and other benefits for their families, the American Civil Liberties Union said today. 

ACLU Files Class-Action Lawsuit Against Montana's Indigent Defense Program (02/14/2002)
HELENA, MT - - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana today filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Montana and seven counties alleging that the indigent defense services in those counties are constitutionally deficient. 

ACLU Sues Montana Universities for Gay Partner Benefits (02/05/2002)
MISSOULA, MT -- The Montana University System is violating the state constitution by not offering health and other benefits to same-sex partners of lesbian and gay employees, according to a lawsuit filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union. A comprehensive national survey released today by the ACLU shows that nearly one-third of state-funded universities nationwide provide benefits for employees' domestic partners.

ACLU Appeals Court Ruling on Indian Vote Dilution in Montana (02/04/2002)
HELENA, MT--The ACLU of Montana along with the ACLU's Voting Rights Project today announced they will appeal a federal district court decision that dismisses a lawsuit which sought to establish an additional Indian majority district in time for the 2002 state legislature elections. 

ACLU of Montana Hails $50,000 Settlement in First Racial Profiling Case Brought Under State Human Rights Law (12/18/2001)
BILLINGS, MT--The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana today announced the settlement of a racial profiling case filed against the police department here on behalf of a Mexican-American couple who were repeatedly stopped on the highway and searched with police dogs. 

In Victory for Indian Voting Rights, Federal Appeals Court Sees Bias in Results of Redrawn Districts (11/02/2000)
Laughlin McDonald, the director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project in Atlanta and the attorney who argued Earl Old Person v. Cooney in the Ninth Circuit, called the decision "a significant victory for Indian voters and Indian voting rights."

ACLU of Montana Settles Lawsuit Over Ten Commandments, Nativity Scene Placed on County Property (10/12/2000)
BILLINGS, MT--The American Civil Liberties Union today announced a settlement in its lawsuit against Custer County officials over the display of religious symbols on government property.

ACLU of Montana Radio Spots Recognized in ABA's National Media Competition (05/26/2000)
BILLINGS, MT -- The American Bar Association announced today that it has selected the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana radio series "These Are Your Constitutional Rights" to receive an Honorable Mention citation in the radio category for this year's Silver Gavel Awards Competition for Media and the Arts.

ACLU Victorious in Securing Voting Rights For Native Americans in Montana (05/18/2000)
MISSOULA, MT -- Acting to ensure the voting rights of Native Americans on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, a federal judge has ordered local officials to create new boundaries for the 2000 Rosebud County Commissioner elections, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

ACLU of Montana Honors Journalist, Community Advocates with Civil Liberties Award (01/28/2000)
MISSOULA, MT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana announced today that it has selected three distinguished Montanans -- Dorothy Eck, Sue Bartlett, and John Kuglin -- to receive the organization's highest award, named after ACLU's first vice-president, Jeannette Rankin.

ACLU of Montana Challenges County Creche Display (12/21/1999)
BILLINGS, MT -- The ACLU of Montana today filed suit against Custer County and its commissioners in a long-running dispute over the County's insistence on displaying a nativity scene on the courthouse lawn next to a large tablet engraved with the Ten Commandments.

Montana Tunes in to Constitutional Rights Via Public Service Announcements from ACLU (12/14/1999)
BILLINGS, MT -- Radio listeners in Montana are getting 60-second lessons on religious liberty, free speech, privacy rights, and other key Constitutional rights along with their news, weather and traffic reports, courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Laurel Residents and ACLU Sue Police Over Wrongful Searches (10/08/1999)
BILLINGS, MT -- In a lawsuit filed here today in Montana State District Court, Georgette Demarais and her son Lawrence say that Laurel police officers wrongfully searched them, in violation of their state and federal civil and constitutional rights.

ACLU and Indian Rights Group Seek to Secure Voting Rights for Montana's Native Americans (07/07/1999)
MISSOULA, MT -- In two lawsuits filed here today in U.S. District Court, Indian tribal members said that county election practices dilute their voting strength, in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act and the United States Constitution.