Image via Wikipedia The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska and the ACLU of Alaska Foundation are non-partisan organizations dedicated to advancing the cause of civil liberties in Alaska. The former fulfills its mission through legislative advocacy, coalition building, and grassroots advocacy. The latter pursues the same mission through public education and legal action.

The ACLU is currently involved in four lawsuits which could have significant public policy implications:

Nick, et al. v. Bethel, Alaska, et al.

ACLU and Native American Rights Fund (NARF) lawsuit charging that state and local officials have denied voter assistance and failed to provide oral language assistance and voting materials to citizens who primarily speak Yup’ik in the Bethel region. A motion for preliminary injunction has been filed.

State v. Callahan / State v. Lundy / State v. Chase

ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the Alaska Court of Appeals in support of Superior Court decisions requiring the Department of Corrections to provide in-prison sex offender treatment to prisoners. Oral argument in the Alaska Court of Appeals was heard on May 7th [2008]

State of Alaska v. ACLU of Alaska

ACLU lawsuit overturned a state law re-criminalizing an adult’s private possession and use of small amounts of marijuana in the home. The state appealed and oral argument in the Alaska Supreme Court was heard on March 20, 2008.

Coonrod v. State of Alaska

ACLU lawsuit challenging a state law that provides a property tax exemption for religious school teacher housing. Oral argument in the Alaska S: uperior Court was heard on February 28, 2008.

To learn more of these cases and/or to find out information about the Alaska ACLU, call them at (907)276-2258, fax them at (907)258-0288, e-mail them at akclu@akclu.org, or mail them at:

ACLU of Alaska
PO Box 201844
Anchorage, AK 99520

[Source: Northern Rights, May 2008]