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Court Cases

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Featured Cases

Court Case
Aug 15, 2025
Graphic with a maroon overlay featuring the statue of Lady Justice holding scales in the background. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “ACLU of Nevada v. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles” in a bold, serif font.
  • First Amendment|
  • +1 Issue

ACLU of Nevada v. Department of Motor Vehicles

We’re suing the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for violating Nevada’s public records laws by refusing to release records related to their communications with ICE.
Court Case
Jul 09, 2025
Graphic with a dark blue and red overlay featuring a police car with flashing lights in a city at night. On the left, the white ACLU of Nevada logo appears. On the right, the text reads “ACLU of Nevada v. LVMPD” in a bold, serif font, divided by a vertical white line.
  • Smart Justice|
  • +1 Issue

ACLU of Nevada v. LVMPD

We are suing the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to get public records about the full extent of its involvement with federal immigration enforcement.

All Cases

7 Court Cases
Court Case
May 26, 2025
Graphic with a green overlay showing students raising graduation caps in celebration. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “ACLU of Nevada v. CCSD” in a bold, serif font.
  • First Amendment|
  • +2 Issues

ACLU of Nevada v Clark County School District

As Southern Nevada high school seniors headed toward graduation, many of the students were at risk of having their First Amendment rights violated under a Clark County School District policy adopted in March that added new restrictions on cap and gown decorations and banned objects and adornments that “constitute proselytizing speech.” Our civil rights attorneys say that the policy has led to individual schools creating their own guidelines, which even contradict themselves. The complaint says, for example, that Canyon Springs High School and Del Sol Academy have communicated both that all cap decorations will be banned and that students can adorn their caps with decorations that have religious or cultural significance. Las Vegas High School is going even further and requiring students to submit pictures of decorations and accessories for advanced approval.
Court Case
Dec 30, 2024
Graphic with a blue overlay featuring a judge’s gavel resting beside a balance scale. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Singh v. Nissan Moto Co.” in a bold, serif font.
  • People Impacted by Discrimination

Singh v. Nissan Moto Co. (Amicus)

The ACLU of Nevada filed an amicus brief urging the Nevada Supreme Court to strengthen its interpretation of the Equal Rights Amendment to prevent racial discrimination within the courts. A Batson challenge is an objection raised by a lawyer during jury selection when they believe the other side is excluding a potential juror because of their race. Under the Nevada Supreme Court decision in Dixon v. State, Batson challenges are not applicable when the excluded juror is an alternate who did not actively deliberate. Our amicus argues that the Batson process should prohibit a party from striking a juror if that party offers a race-based justification, even if that juror would have been an uncalled alternate. Ultimately, the panel of judges decided that it was a harmless error, a decision unfavorable to our amicus brief.
Court Case
Oct 08, 2024
Graphic with a blue overlay showing a close-up of a person’s hand holding prayer beads. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Griffin v. LVMPD” in a bold, serif font.
  • First Amendment|
  • +1 Issue

Griffin v. LVMPD

In May 2024, Laura Griffin, a Muslim woman, was forcibly removed from her home by LVMPD during an eviction. While being arrested, Ms. Griffin explained she is Muslim and repeatedly asked for and was denied her religious head covering. During the course of her arrest, transport, and booking, Ms. Griffin requested her head covering over three dozen times. Officers not only ignored her requests but also actively denied her access to her head covering, even when it was brought to the police station by her son. The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit against LVMPD for violating Ms. Griffin’s rights under the U.S. Constitution. In addition to providing damages for the harm caused to Ms. Griffin, the LVMPD adopted policies and provided training to ensure that people who are arrested are afforded religious accommodations and that such mistreatment does not happen again.  
Court Case
Sep 26, 2024
Graphic with a red and blue overlay featuring a low-angle view of a courthouse with tall, classical columns. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Spencer v. City of Henderson” in a bold, serif font.
  • People Impacted by Discrimination

Spencer v. City of Henderson (Amicus)

The ACLU of Nevada and Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice filed an amicus brief in Song Spencer & James Spencer v. City of Henderson, urging the Nevada Supreme Court to allow people to recover attorney’s fees as special damages in successful challenges in civil asset forfeiture cases when the government wrongfully seizes their property. Our amicus brief argues that Nevada law already allows recovery of attorney’s fees in cases when warranted, even when there is no law directly on point, and that principle should apply here, when someone is forced to sue the government to get their own property back. This case is a challenge to the constitutionality of civil forfeiture laws.
Court Case
Mar 27, 2024
Graphic with a dark blue and yellow overlay featuring a statue of Lady Justice in front of a blurred background of legal books. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Flynn v. Nevada” in a bold, serif font.
  • Smart Justice|
  • +1 Issue

Flynn v. Nevada

Our client is a prisoner at Florence McClure Women's Correctional Facility in Southern Nevada. She was sexually abused by a prison chaplain, Donald Burse, on two separate occasions in August 2020. While Burse was fired after the abuse came to light, and there is a pending criminal case, we are taking on this case because we believe that the Nevada Department of Corrections has not done enough to make sure that such abuse will not happen again in the future.
Court Case
Aug 18, 2020
Graphic with a gold and navy overlay featuring a low-angle view of a courthouse with tall classical columns. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Semper vs. LVMPD” in a bold, serif font.
  • People Impacted by Discrimination|
  • +1 Issue

Semper, et al. vs. LVMPD

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada filed this case on behalf of eleven individuals whose constitutional rights were violated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Rio Hotel. On August 19, 2018, our plaintiffs were having a birthday celebration at the Rio Hotel. Each of the 34 guests in attendance that evening is Black. LVMPD, aided by Rio staff, stormed in with no warrant and no reason to believe that any crime was being committed. Despite having no reasonable suspicion, LVMPD officers handcuffed and searched every single guest in attendance. Each guest was made to sit in the hallway of the Rio handcuffed with no access to food, water, or restroom facilities for up to 6 hours. LVMPD alleged that the birthday party was a “gang party,” but no guest was arrested for any criminal gang activity. We’re suing to end LVMPD’s racially discriminatory practice of indiscriminately and unlawfully detaining and searching individuals in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Court Case
Mar 31, 2020
Graphic with a red overlay showing a clipboard, a pen, and a stethoscope laid over a medical form. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Ramirez v. Culley” in a bold, serif font.
  • Health Equity|
  • +2 Issues

Ramirez v. Culley

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada Foundation filed this case to secure the release of two men who are being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Henderson Detention Center. Our plaintiffs are medically vulnerable and at risk of severe illness or even death because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Constitution requires that detention facilities ensure the health and safety of the people in their care, but these facilities are unable to implement social distancing and other medical best practices to prevent exposure. The people housed at the Henderson Detention Center have already been exposed to COVID-19. Jail officials confirmed on March 28 that 13 individuals held in ICE detention there have been isolated in individual cells after they were transported by an ICE agent who later began to show symptoms of COVID-19. The only remedy to this constitutional issue is to release our plaintiffs.
Court Case
May 26, 2025
Graphic with a green overlay showing students raising graduation caps in celebration. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “ACLU of Nevada v. CCSD” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
May 26, 2025
  • First Amendment|
  • +2 Issues

ACLU of Nevada v Clark County School District

As Southern Nevada high school seniors headed toward graduation, many of the students were at risk of having their First Amendment rights violated under a Clark County School District policy adopted in March that added new restrictions on cap and gown decorations and banned objects and adornments that “constitute proselytizing speech.” Our civil rights attorneys say that the policy has led to individual schools creating their own guidelines, which even contradict themselves. The complaint says, for example, that Canyon Springs High School and Del Sol Academy have communicated both that all cap decorations will be banned and that students can adorn their caps with decorations that have religious or cultural significance. Las Vegas High School is going even further and requiring students to submit pictures of decorations and accessories for advanced approval.
Explore Case
Court Case
Dec 30, 2024
Graphic with a blue overlay featuring a judge’s gavel resting beside a balance scale. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Singh v. Nissan Moto Co.” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Dec 30, 2024
  • People Impacted by Discrimination

Singh v. Nissan Moto Co. (Amicus)

The ACLU of Nevada filed an amicus brief urging the Nevada Supreme Court to strengthen its interpretation of the Equal Rights Amendment to prevent racial discrimination within the courts. A Batson challenge is an objection raised by a lawyer during jury selection when they believe the other side is excluding a potential juror because of their race. Under the Nevada Supreme Court decision in Dixon v. State, Batson challenges are not applicable when the excluded juror is an alternate who did not actively deliberate. Our amicus argues that the Batson process should prohibit a party from striking a juror if that party offers a race-based justification, even if that juror would have been an uncalled alternate. Ultimately, the panel of judges decided that it was a harmless error, a decision unfavorable to our amicus brief.
Explore Case
Court Case
Oct 08, 2024
Graphic with a blue overlay showing a close-up of a person’s hand holding prayer beads. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Griffin v. LVMPD” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Oct 08, 2024
  • First Amendment|
  • +1 Issue

Griffin v. LVMPD

In May 2024, Laura Griffin, a Muslim woman, was forcibly removed from her home by LVMPD during an eviction. While being arrested, Ms. Griffin explained she is Muslim and repeatedly asked for and was denied her religious head covering. During the course of her arrest, transport, and booking, Ms. Griffin requested her head covering over three dozen times. Officers not only ignored her requests but also actively denied her access to her head covering, even when it was brought to the police station by her son. The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit against LVMPD for violating Ms. Griffin’s rights under the U.S. Constitution. In addition to providing damages for the harm caused to Ms. Griffin, the LVMPD adopted policies and provided training to ensure that people who are arrested are afforded religious accommodations and that such mistreatment does not happen again.  
Explore Case
Court Case
Sep 26, 2024
Graphic with a red and blue overlay featuring a low-angle view of a courthouse with tall, classical columns. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Spencer v. City of Henderson” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Sep 26, 2024
  • People Impacted by Discrimination

Spencer v. City of Henderson (Amicus)

The ACLU of Nevada and Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice filed an amicus brief in Song Spencer & James Spencer v. City of Henderson, urging the Nevada Supreme Court to allow people to recover attorney’s fees as special damages in successful challenges in civil asset forfeiture cases when the government wrongfully seizes their property. Our amicus brief argues that Nevada law already allows recovery of attorney’s fees in cases when warranted, even when there is no law directly on point, and that principle should apply here, when someone is forced to sue the government to get their own property back. This case is a challenge to the constitutionality of civil forfeiture laws.
Explore Case
Court Case
Mar 27, 2024
Graphic with a dark blue and yellow overlay featuring a statue of Lady Justice in front of a blurred background of legal books. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Flynn v. Nevada” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Mar 27, 2024
  • Smart Justice|
  • +1 Issue

Flynn v. Nevada

Our client is a prisoner at Florence McClure Women's Correctional Facility in Southern Nevada. She was sexually abused by a prison chaplain, Donald Burse, on two separate occasions in August 2020. While Burse was fired after the abuse came to light, and there is a pending criminal case, we are taking on this case because we believe that the Nevada Department of Corrections has not done enough to make sure that such abuse will not happen again in the future.
Explore Case
Court Case
Aug 18, 2020
Graphic with a gold and navy overlay featuring a low-angle view of a courthouse with tall classical columns. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “Semper vs. LVMPD” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Aug 18, 2020
  • People Impacted by Discrimination|
  • +1 Issue

Semper, et al. vs. LVMPD

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada filed this case on behalf of eleven individuals whose constitutional rights were violated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Rio Hotel. On August 19, 2018, our plaintiffs were having a birthday celebration at the Rio Hotel. Each of the 34 guests in attendance that evening is Black. LVMPD, aided by Rio staff, stormed in with no warrant and no reason to believe that any crime was being committed. Despite having no reasonable suspicion, LVMPD officers handcuffed and searched every single guest in attendance. Each guest was made to sit in the hallway of the Rio handcuffed with no access to food, water, or restroom facilities for up to 6 hours. LVMPD alleged that the birthday party was a “gang party,” but no guest was arrested for any criminal gang activity. We’re suing to end LVMPD’s racially discriminatory practice of indiscriminately and unlawfully detaining and searching individuals in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Explore Case
Court Case
Mar 31, 2020
Graphic with a red overlay showing a clipboard, a pen, and a stethoscope laid over a medical form. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Ramirez v. Culley” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Mar 31, 2020
  • Health Equity|
  • +2 Issues

Ramirez v. Culley

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada Foundation filed this case to secure the release of two men who are being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Henderson Detention Center. Our plaintiffs are medically vulnerable and at risk of severe illness or even death because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Constitution requires that detention facilities ensure the health and safety of the people in their care, but these facilities are unable to implement social distancing and other medical best practices to prevent exposure. The people housed at the Henderson Detention Center have already been exposed to COVID-19. Jail officials confirmed on March 28 that 13 individuals held in ICE detention there have been isolated in individual cells after they were transported by an ICE agent who later began to show symptoms of COVID-19. The only remedy to this constitutional issue is to release our plaintiffs.
Explore Case

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