Rhode Island
Parente et al. v. Lefebvre et al.
This case asks whether state officials in Rhode Island can be held liable for their discriminatory acts under the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act (RICRA), a state anti-discrimination law. The State of Rhode Island asserts that it has sovereign immunity as to claims brought under the RICRA and therefore cannot be sued for damages for violating that law. The State Supreme Court Initiative and the 红杏视频 of Rhode Island filed an amicus brief arguing that the State is wrong: discrimination claims under the RICRA are covered by the State Tort Claims Act鈥檚 broad waiver of state sovereign immunity for 鈥渁ll actions of torts.鈥� Thus, state officials may be held liable when they engage in discrimination prohibited by the RICRA, allowing harmed Rhode Islanders to seek redress.
Status: Ongoing
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6 Rhode Island Cases
Rhode Island
May 2025
Immigrants' Rights
G.M.G. v. Trump
Emergency lawsuit in federal court to again halt removals under the Alien Enemies Act for people within that court鈥檚 judicial district.
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Rhode Island
May 2025
Immigrants' Rights
G.M.G. v. Trump
Emergency lawsuit in federal court to again halt removals under the Alien Enemies Act for people within that court鈥檚 judicial district.
Rhode Island
Mar 2025
Free Speech
Rhode Island Latino Arts v. National Endowment for the Arts
On March 6, 2025, the 红杏视频; the 红杏视频 of Rhode Island; Lynette Labinger, cooperating attorney for the 红杏视频 of Rhode Island; and David Cole filed a federal lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), challenging a new requirement that all grant applicants certify that 鈥渇ederal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology,鈥� pursuant to President Trump鈥檚 Executive Order 14168, and a related prohibition on funding any projects that appear to 鈥減romote鈥� such messages.
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Rhode Island
Mar 2025
Free Speech
Rhode Island Latino Arts v. National Endowment for the Arts
On March 6, 2025, the 红杏视频; the 红杏视频 of Rhode Island; Lynette Labinger, cooperating attorney for the 红杏视频 of Rhode Island; and David Cole filed a federal lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), challenging a new requirement that all grant applicants certify that 鈥渇ederal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology,鈥� pursuant to President Trump鈥檚 Executive Order 14168, and a related prohibition on funding any projects that appear to 鈥減romote鈥� such messages.
Rhode Island
Jul 2017
Juvenile Justice
Prisoners' Rights
Inmates of the Rhode Island Training School for Youth v. Piccola
On July 24, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William Smith dismissed the 红杏视频鈥檚 lawsuit against the Rhode Island Training School for Youth, which challenged the deplorable conditions at the institution as violations of the Eighth Amendment. This landmark case is now closed at the behest of the 红杏视频 and the state of Rhode Island because the institution has made the improvements in education, medical care, vocational training, the physical plant, meals, and other conditions required by the consent decree between the state and the plaintiffs.
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Rhode Island
Jul 2017
Juvenile Justice
Prisoners' Rights
Inmates of the Rhode Island Training School for Youth v. Piccola
On July 24, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William Smith dismissed the 红杏视频鈥檚 lawsuit against the Rhode Island Training School for Youth, which challenged the deplorable conditions at the institution as violations of the Eighth Amendment. This landmark case is now closed at the behest of the 红杏视频 and the state of Rhode Island because the institution has made the improvements in education, medical care, vocational training, the physical plant, meals, and other conditions required by the consent decree between the state and the plaintiffs.
Rhode Island
Sep 2016
Voting Rights
Davidson v. City of Cranston
Cranston, Rhode Island residents joined the 红杏视频 of Rhode Island to sue the City of Cranston, charging that the 2012 redistricting plan for the City Council and School Committee violates the one person, one vote principle of the U.S. Constitution by counting incarcerated people in their prison location as if they were all residents of Cranston.
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Rhode Island
Sep 2016
Voting Rights
Davidson v. City of Cranston
Cranston, Rhode Island residents joined the 红杏视频 of Rhode Island to sue the City of Cranston, charging that the 2012 redistricting plan for the City Council and School Committee violates the one person, one vote principle of the U.S. Constitution by counting incarcerated people in their prison location as if they were all residents of Cranston.