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Court Cases

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      • Dismissed
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      • People Impacted by Discrimination
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    • Dismissed
    • Favorable Ruling
    • Filed
    • Lost
    • Settled
    • Victory!
    • People Impacted by Discrimination
    • Voting Rights
    • Economic Justice
    • Education Equity
    • Smart Justice
    • Health Equity
    • First Amendment

Featured Cases

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.
Court Case
Apr 19, 2023
Graphic with a dark blue and red overlay showing a school bus parked on a suburban street. 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|
  • +1 Issue

ACLU of Nevada v. Clark County School District

In February, Durango High School students were attacked by CCSD police, and video of the incident was captured by a bystander. CCSD continues to stonewall the release of public records related to the incident. The ACLU of Nevada is representing two of the students attacked in the incident.
Court Case
Oct 05, 2022
Graphic with a red and purple overlay featuring the exterior of the Nye County Development Services building. On the left side is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, separated by a vertical white line, the text reads “ACLU of Nevada v. Nye County” in a bold, serif font.
  • Voting Rights

ACLU of Nevada v. Nye County

On Oct. 4, 2022, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada filed a lawsuit against Nye County to prevent the county from moving forward with its proposed unlawful hand-counting scheme during this year’s elections. We are representing Nye County voters who risk having their freedom to vote suppressed by the county’s proposed procedures for this year’s election. The case is ACLU of Nevada v. Nye County, Case No. CV22-0503. We are asking the Fifth Judicial District court to prohibit the county from publicly announcing the selected candidates on each ballot prior to the close of polls on Election Day, from limiting the use of ADA touch screens to individuals with so-called “special needs,” from allowing election workers to ask about a voter’s disability or turn away otherwise eligible voters based on arbitrary decision making, and from using “stringent signature verifications” that violate state law.

All Cases

28 Court Cases
Court Case
Dec 21, 2021
Graphic with a purple and red overlay featuring a judge’s gavel and hand in a courtroom setting. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Martin v. City of North Las Vegas” in a bold, serif font.
  • Voting Rights

Martin v. City of North Las Vegas

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada Foundation seeks to restore the ability of North Las Vegas residents to elect a municipal court judge of their choosing. On Feb. 17, the city of North Las Vegas adopted Ordinance No. 3060, creating a new municipal court department and appointing a judge, Christopher Lee, to a 6-year term without any election. The ordinance directly violates the North Las Vegas City Charter, approved by the Nevada Legislature, which mandates that when the city appoints a judge to fill a vacant position in the Municipal Court, “[n]o such appointment extends beyond the first day of the month following the next general municipal election, at which election the office must be filled for the remaining unexpired term.” The next elections to be held in the City of North Las Vegas are scheduled for June and November of 2022, 4 years and two full election cycles before the appointment described in Ordinance No. 3060 ends. In its writ, the ACLU of Nevada is asking the court to require the city to hold an election for Municipal Court Department 1 during the 2022 election cycle as required by the North Las Vegas City Charter.
Court Case
May 11, 2021
Graphic with a deep navy overlay featuring a brass balance scale on a wooden table. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Cates v. Stroud” in a bold, serif font.

Cates v. Stroud

On May 11, 2021, the ACLU of Nevada and the Policing and Protest Clinic at the UNLV Boyd School of Law filed an amicus brief in Cates v. Stroud, a case on petition for review before the United States Supreme Court. The case calls into question the qualified immunity doctrine and arises from an incident in which a Las Vegas woman was subjected to a humiliating strip search during a visit to Nevada’s High Desert State Prison in violation of her constitutional rights. The brief urges the Supreme Court to grant the petition and review the case. For Nevada, qualified immunity creates a serious problem: If there are no state-level mechanisms for addressing civil rights abuses, and the federal courts won’t do it, how does our community protect their constitutional rights?
Court Case
Jan 06, 2021
Graphic with a bold red overlay featuring the Nevada Supreme Court building. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Williams v. Lazer” in a bold, serif font.
  • First Amendment

Williams v. Lazer

This case arises out of a defamation lawsuit filed by Mr. Lazer, a white man, against Ms. Williams, a Black woman. Mr. Lazer represented Ms. Williams in a real estate transaction and, according to Ms. Williams, made statements that were racist and sexist during the course of the sale.
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
Jun 07, 2019
Graphic with a warm red overlay featuring the Statue of Liberty. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Al Falahi v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Service” in a bold, serif font.

Al Falahi v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Service

The ACLU of Nevada and Prudhomme Law Office filed a petition for judicial review on December 16, 2016, with the Nevada District Court on behalf of Mr. Mohammad Al Falahi, seeking a de novo review of the denial of Mr. Al Falahi’s naturalization application by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petition alleges that Mr. Al Falahi is otherwise eligible for citizenship, but his application was denied solely because USCIS surreptitiously subjected him to the unconstitutional Controlled Application Review Resolution Program (CARRP). CARRP is a little-known, unconstitutional program that disproportionally targets citizenship applicants from Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities. Under CARRP, USCIS unjustifiably labels law-abiding citizenship applicants as “national security concerns” based on lawful religious activity, national origin, and innocuous associations. Applications subject to CARRP are subject to substantial delays and are ultimately denied for pretextual reasons, all without ever being told why their applications were treated differently than other applicants.
Court Case
Jul 05, 2018
Graphic with a dark blue overlay showing a clipboard with a medical form, a stethoscope, and a pen. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “ACLU of Nevada v. Nevada Department of Corrections” in a bold, serif font.

ACLU of Nevada v. Nevada Department of Corrections

The ACLU of Nevada submitted a public records request on June 15th asking for various records relating to lethal injection drugs and the Department of Corrections’ execution protocol, but the Department has refused to release any information prior to this execution. The writ petition seeks to force NDOC to release these records.
Court Case
Dec 18, 2017
Graphic with a red-toned overlay showing silhouettes of a family—adults and children—cast as shadows on a brick wall. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Haley v. Prevent Sanctuary Cities” in a bold, serif font.

Haley v. Prevent Sanctuary Cities

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada and Perkins Coie LLP on Nov. 21, 2017, filed a lawsuit in the First Judicial District Court challenging State Sen. Michael Roberson’s anti-immigrant ballot initiative. Our clients in this case include a former Nevada sheriff, a civil rights activist, and a nonprofit organization that works with immigrant victims of crime, including domestic violence. The ACLU of Nevada's complaint argues the entire “Prevent Sanctuary Cities Initiative” - from the language of the proposed amendment to the description of effect - is misleading to voters. Even the term “sanctuary cities” is deceptive, pejorative, and lacks a legal definition. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for the morning of Jan. 5, 2018, in Carson City.
Court Case
Nov 02, 2017
Graphic with a muted green overlay showing a simple balance scale. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Davis v. Nevada” in a bold, serif font.

Davis v. Nevada

Court Case
Dec 21, 2021
Graphic with a purple and red overlay featuring a judge’s gavel and hand in a courtroom setting. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Martin v. City of North Las Vegas” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Dec 21, 2021
  • Voting Rights

Martin v. City of North Las Vegas

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada Foundation seeks to restore the ability of North Las Vegas residents to elect a municipal court judge of their choosing. On Feb. 17, the city of North Las Vegas adopted Ordinance No. 3060, creating a new municipal court department and appointing a judge, Christopher Lee, to a 6-year term without any election. The ordinance directly violates the North Las Vegas City Charter, approved by the Nevada Legislature, which mandates that when the city appoints a judge to fill a vacant position in the Municipal Court, “[n]o such appointment extends beyond the first day of the month following the next general municipal election, at which election the office must be filled for the remaining unexpired term.” The next elections to be held in the City of North Las Vegas are scheduled for June and November of 2022, 4 years and two full election cycles before the appointment described in Ordinance No. 3060 ends. In its writ, the ACLU of Nevada is asking the court to require the city to hold an election for Municipal Court Department 1 during the 2022 election cycle as required by the North Las Vegas City Charter.
Explore Case
Court Case
May 11, 2021
Graphic with a deep navy overlay featuring a brass balance scale on a wooden table. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Cates v. Stroud” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
May 11, 2021

Cates v. Stroud

On May 11, 2021, the ACLU of Nevada and the Policing and Protest Clinic at the UNLV Boyd School of Law filed an amicus brief in Cates v. Stroud, a case on petition for review before the United States Supreme Court. The case calls into question the qualified immunity doctrine and arises from an incident in which a Las Vegas woman was subjected to a humiliating strip search during a visit to Nevada’s High Desert State Prison in violation of her constitutional rights. The brief urges the Supreme Court to grant the petition and review the case. For Nevada, qualified immunity creates a serious problem: If there are no state-level mechanisms for addressing civil rights abuses, and the federal courts won’t do it, how does our community protect their constitutional rights?
Explore Case
Court Case
Jan 06, 2021
Graphic with a bold red overlay featuring the Nevada Supreme Court building. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Williams v. Lazer” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Jan 06, 2021
  • First Amendment

Williams v. Lazer

This case arises out of a defamation lawsuit filed by Mr. Lazer, a white man, against Ms. Williams, a Black woman. Mr. Lazer represented Ms. Williams in a real estate transaction and, according to Ms. Williams, made statements that were racist and sexist during the course of the sale.
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
Court Case
Jun 07, 2019
Graphic with a warm red overlay featuring the Statue of Liberty. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Al Falahi v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Service” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Jun 07, 2019

Al Falahi v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Service

The ACLU of Nevada and Prudhomme Law Office filed a petition for judicial review on December 16, 2016, with the Nevada District Court on behalf of Mr. Mohammad Al Falahi, seeking a de novo review of the denial of Mr. Al Falahi’s naturalization application by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petition alleges that Mr. Al Falahi is otherwise eligible for citizenship, but his application was denied solely because USCIS surreptitiously subjected him to the unconstitutional Controlled Application Review Resolution Program (CARRP). CARRP is a little-known, unconstitutional program that disproportionally targets citizenship applicants from Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities. Under CARRP, USCIS unjustifiably labels law-abiding citizenship applicants as “national security concerns” based on lawful religious activity, national origin, and innocuous associations. Applications subject to CARRP are subject to substantial delays and are ultimately denied for pretextual reasons, all without ever being told why their applications were treated differently than other applicants.
Explore Case
Court Case
Jul 05, 2018
Graphic with a dark blue overlay showing a clipboard with a medical form, a stethoscope, and a pen. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “ACLU of Nevada v. Nevada Department of Corrections” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Jul 05, 2018

ACLU of Nevada v. Nevada Department of Corrections

The ACLU of Nevada submitted a public records request on June 15th asking for various records relating to lethal injection drugs and the Department of Corrections’ execution protocol, but the Department has refused to release any information prior to this execution. The writ petition seeks to force NDOC to release these records.
Explore Case
Court Case
Dec 18, 2017
Graphic with a red-toned overlay showing silhouettes of a family—adults and children—cast as shadows on a brick wall. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Haley v. Prevent Sanctuary Cities” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Dec 18, 2017

Haley v. Prevent Sanctuary Cities

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada and Perkins Coie LLP on Nov. 21, 2017, filed a lawsuit in the First Judicial District Court challenging State Sen. Michael Roberson’s anti-immigrant ballot initiative. Our clients in this case include a former Nevada sheriff, a civil rights activist, and a nonprofit organization that works with immigrant victims of crime, including domestic violence. The ACLU of Nevada's complaint argues the entire “Prevent Sanctuary Cities Initiative” - from the language of the proposed amendment to the description of effect - is misleading to voters. Even the term “sanctuary cities” is deceptive, pejorative, and lacks a legal definition. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for the morning of Jan. 5, 2018, in Carson City.
Explore Case
Court Case
Nov 02, 2017
Graphic with a muted green overlay showing a simple balance scale. On the left is the white ACLU of Nevada logo. On the right, the text reads “Davis v. Nevada” in a bold, serif font.
Court Case
Nov 02, 2017

Davis v. Nevada

Explore Case
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