American Constitution Society

📚 New on the ACS Blog: Lauren Bonds of the National Police Accountability Project examines the Supreme Court’s recent action addressing accountability for ICE misconduct.

As ICE raids increase and reports of civil rights violations mount, the Court has gently nudged the Eleventh Circuit to align with other circuits in allowing victims of abuse by federal immigration officials to pursue legal recourse.

Will the Eleventh Circuit follow suit?

Read more: https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/when-ice-agents-break-the-law-can-victims-sue-the-supreme-court-hints-yes-will-the-eleventh-circuit-listen/

When ICE Agents Break the Law, Can Victims Sue? The Supreme Court Hints Yes. Will the Eleventh Circuit Listen? | ACS Over the past five months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents have arrested and deported U.S. citizens, caused car crashes during reckless pursuits, brandished weapons on unarmed children, and unnecessarily used force against elected officials. These are just a few of the egregio...

📚 New on the ACS Expert Forum: Nicole Huberfeld (Boston University School of Law) analyzes the Supreme Court’s decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood and its far-reaching implications.

The ruling grants states broad discretion to exclude healthcare providers from Medicaid, regardless of their qualifications. This decision raises serious concerns about the future of healthcare access and quality, especially for vulnerable populations.

Read the full piece: https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/limiting-legal-remedies-for-medicaid-prioritizes-politics-over-access-to-care/

Limiting Legal Remedies for Medicaid Prioritizes Politics over Access to Care | ACS In the first U.S. Supreme Court case involving access to abortion after the 2024 election, a 6-3 majority allowed states to block Medicaid patients from choosing their own health care provider. Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic involved a diabetic Medicaid patient seeking comprehensive hea...

We’re facing the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations—and it doesn’t have to be this way.

ACS is proud to join communities on July 17, five years since the passing of Congressman John Lewis, to make sure

Good Trouble Lives On On July 17, five years since the passing of Congressman John Lewis, communities across the country will take to the streets, courthouses, and community spaces to carry forward his fight for justice, voting rights, and dignity for all.

“Congress saw clearly the danger of new status-based caste systems arising in the United States, and when they rewrote the Constitution, they intentionally included immigrants.“ Read more in Taonga Leslie's new Expert Forum blog.

Don’t Let Trump Erase Immigrants from the Citizenship Clause | ACS What does it mean to be born free? How did the drafters of the U.S. Constitution’s Citizenship Clause think about it? And how should their vision of freedom at birth inform today’s debates over birthright citizenship?

A recording is now available of C-SPAN’s coverage of the ACS National Supreme Court Term Review (https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/discussion-on-supreme-court-legal-battles-over-trumps-executive-orders/661832), hosted earlier today in partnership with the Georgetown University O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, the Brennan Center for Justice, Ms. Magazine, Ms. Studios, and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

"This Court is in crisis. The damaging decisions coming out of this term, like too many in recent years, confirm the critical role courts play in either protecting or harming our democracy." Read ACS's take on the recent SCOTUS term.

ACS Releases Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024-2025 Term | ACS Washington, DC – The American Constitution Society today released the following statement from Interim President Zinelle October in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024-2025 Term.

SCOTUS ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood leaves the most vulnerable among us even more vulnerable when it comes to their ability to access healthcare. Here's why.

'Medina v. Planned Parenthood' Is One of the Term’s Most Consequential SCOTUS Cases Imani Gandy and I will be covering Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic from Washington, D.C.

Earlier today, 3d Cir. nominee Emil Bove addressed: whistleblower allegations that he suggested DOJ ignore a court order, his push to drop corruption charges against Eric Adams, and the decision to fire 1/6 prosecutors. He also said that he’s not a henchman.

Trump judicial pick Bove faces skeptical Democrats at confirmation hearing Emil Bove, nominated to be a federal appeals court judge, repeatedly denied a whistleblower’s allegations during his morning testimony.

In SCOTUS holds that Tennessee law banning gender affirming healthcare for trans youth does not violate the Equal Protection Clause, denying the plain reality that this and similar bans use sex-based classifications to discriminate against trans people.

The appalling 6-3 decision allows legislatures to deny critical, sometimes lifesaving healthcare based on animus rather than medical science or what's best for each family, and opens the door to further discrimination against all transgender people.

www.supremecourt.gov

Looking to get more engaged? Find a community of like-minded progressive legal leaders? Network with local and national thought leaders? If so, consider getting involved with your local ACS Lawyer Chapter. Our ACS Lawyer Chapters host hundreds of impactful and educational programs each year, engage in meaningful pro bono volunteer opportunities, and work to make positive change both locally and nationally.

Reach out to [email protected] to learn how to get more involved. And if you are in TX, WA, or Virginia, we are currently looking for good candidates to serve on these chapters’ boards.

Applications available here:

Washington State, due July 7 (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBUimusvWWFfgUqUkoRjc3nMPZ7yKk9ry4wqvhTtIGDlxkaA/viewform)

Houston, due July 7 (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGoJn-0TsYFDJ3XOU2JFpxGdUtrNnbqmI8io9Np7C05Rd0kg/viewform)

Dallas-Ft. Worth, due July 14 (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScY0817KmMH1hzzylnlG15juXXFAXdwYPJZWsdUGtqFopRKPg/viewform)

Austin, due July 7 (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevwvrgHjcf9WXzF0m7W_6gz6VZMTMpZVuvpgy6CaDwOl15Xg/viewform)

For Virginia, please email [email protected] to express your interest.

We’re thrilled to welcome Hayley Penan and Kaisa Goodman to the ACS Board of Directors! ACS is honored to have their leadership as we continue working toward a more inclusive and democratic legal system.

ACS is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law! Congratulations to Jodi Short, Mary Kay Kane Professor of Law at UC Law San Francisco, and Ari Goldstein, JD/MBA graduate of Penn Carey Law, for their outstanding scholarship.

Read more: https://www.acslaw.org/press_release/american-constitution-society-announces-winners-of-2025-richard-d-cudahy-writing-competition/