News & Commentary

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The information is general in nature, and may not apply to particular factual or legal circumstances.

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July 8, 2009
The legal director of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, David Blair-Loy, was named as one of San Diego's top attorneys in an annual competition sponsored by the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Contact us to request a speaker for your event or program from our Speaker's Bureau of lawyers and other civil liberties advocates who are prepared to discuss a variety of civil liberties issues and the work of the ACLU.

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The ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLU-SDIC) seeks applicants to sponsor for public interest fellowships beginning in the Fall of 2012. America's foremost advocate of individual rights, the American Civil Liberties Union is a non-partisan organization founded in 1920. With national headquarters in New York and Washington D.C. and 53 affiliates throughout the country, it is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier public interest law firms.

The ACLU-SDIC promotes and defends civil rights and civil liberties, including freedom of speech, immigrants� rights, equal protection, privacy, and due process, through litigation and public education. Located in beautiful San Diego, the ACLU-SDIC affiliate has sixteen staff members, eighteen board members, more than 8,500 members and an annual budget of $1.2 million.

Fellowship Sponsor Opportunity:
ACLU-SDIC seeks applicants to sponsor for public interest fellowships such as Skadden or Equal Justice Works to begin Fall 2012. ACLU-SDIC is particularly interested in sponsoring a candidate who will work on a project defending and expanding civil rights and civil liberties in one of the following categories: Border Justice/Immigrants� Rights, National Security, Voter Empowerment, or Racial Justice, though proposals in other areas may be considered. Proposed projects should combine litigation and advocacy with community outreach and public education. The proposal should not include direct legal services.

The ACLU staff will work with candidates to finalize their proposals and applications.

Qualifications:
� Must graduate law school in or before summer 2012.
� Admitted to California bar, or sit for July 2012 California bar exam
� Excellent legal research and writing skills.
� Skilled at complex analytical legal work.
� Committed to advancing civil rights and civil liberties.

Salary and Benefits:
To be determined on an individual basis.

Application Procedure:
Individuals interested in receiving ACLU-SDIC sponsorship should send a letter of interest describing a potential project or projects, a resume, an unofficial transcript, the names and telephone numbers of two legal references, and a legal writing sample by email to jmorgan@aclusandiego.org or by mail to:

Click on the link below to view the ACLU's Spring 2010 newsletter.

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Please click on the link below to download a PDF booklet with the ACLU's major legal, legislative and advocacy accomlishments last year.

Amendment 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment 2
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment 3
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment 4
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment 5
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

Amendment 6
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment 7
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment 8
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment 9
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment 10
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

...and the post-Civil War amendments, from which many of our current due process rights evolve...

Amendment 13
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiciton.

Amendment 14
....No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws....

Amendment 15
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude....

...and the amendment giving women--finally--the right to vote...

Amendment 19
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.