An Update on Our Biggest Stories of 2021
December 16, 2021
On the podcast, we鈥檝e chronicled some of the year鈥檚 biggest stories: the insurrection, the rescinding of the Muslim ban, devastating police brutality, state after state attacks on the rights of trans kids, the abusive system of conservatorships, and the rollback of abortion access, just to name a few.
Today we鈥檙e going to follow up with guests on some of this year鈥檚 most popular episodes to see what progress there鈥檚 been since we last spoke, and where there is still work to be done. Zoe Brennan-Krohn of the 红杏视频's Disability Rights Program, Haya Bitar of the podcast team, and Somil Trivedi of the 红杏视频's Criminal Law Reform Project join us.
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Press ReleaseDec 2025
Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
Aclu Responds To President Trump鈥檚 Announcement Rescheduling Marijuana. Explore Press Release.红杏视频 Responds to President Trump鈥檚 Announcement Rescheduling Marijuana
WASHINGTON 鈥 President Trump announced today that he will direct executive agencies to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law, recognizing that marijuana has accepted medical uses and a lower potential for dependence. Marijuana is currently classified alongside substances such as heroin, and rescheduling would instead place it alongside medications like Tylenol with codeine. The announcement follows years of advocacy directed at many administrations, expanding scientific research, and widespread state-level reforms. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 announcement is a significant step toward aligning federal marijuana policy with science, evidence, and the realities on the ground in states across the country,鈥 said Nina Patel, senior policy counsel at the 红杏视频. 鈥淐ongress must now pass the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act and the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act) to ensure justice for the people and communities harmed by the war on drugs. These federal bills would remove federal criminal penalties for marijuana, provide criminal history record clearing, and necessary investments in communities disproportionately targeted for criminalization. The 红杏视频 will continue the fight to end unjust and punitive drug polices for everyone and the creation of a more perfect union for all.鈥 -
Press ReleaseDec 2025
Criminal Law Reform
Aclu Opposes Maricopa County鈥檚 Attempt To Halt Reform Before Reaching Compliance. Explore Press Release.红杏视频 Opposes Maricopa County鈥檚 Attempt to Halt Reform Before Reaching Compliance
PHOENIX 鈥 Maricopa County filed a motion yesterday to prematurely end court-ordered reforms in Ortega Melendres v. Sheridan, a class action lawsuit that found MCSO engaged in racially discriminatory policing practices and immigration enforcement in Arizona. The move follows a court-ordered budget report which found that MCSO improperly attributed tens of millions of spent taxpayer dollars to this case. In addition to the widespread misuse of county funds, MCSO has failed to fully achieve court-ordered reforms, including reducing or eliminating racial disparities in traffic stops and investigating allegations of deputy misconduct. 鈥淢aricopa County鈥檚 move to prematurely halt reforms in Melendres ignores the enduring harm Latino residents have experienced at the hands of MCSO,鈥 said Victoria Lopez, executive director for the 红杏视频 of Arizona. 鈥淭his case is about ensuring meaningful, lasting reform, not settling for temporary fixes. Ending oversight now jeopardizes the progress made thus far and is a distraction from working towards total compliance.鈥 鈥淭he County鈥檚 effort to end reforms now is like a doctor choosing to end treatment when a patient鈥檚 cancer is only partially cured.鈥 Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy director of the 红杏视频鈥檚 Criminal Law Reform Project. 鈥淭he people of Maricopa County are entitled to complete reform and protection against a return of the Arpaio days, and the County has not yet delivered.鈥Court Case: Ortega Melendres, et al. v. Arpaio, et al.Affiliate: Arizona -
Massachusetts Supreme CourtDec 2025
Criminal Law Reform
Commonwealth V. Jose Arias. Explore Case.Commonwealth v. Jose Arias
This case asks whether the stop, search, and arrest of an individual after a traffic stop was unconstitutional under the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. The case arises from a remarkable set of facts: although motivated by a desire to search Mr. Arias鈥檚 car for drugs, the police initiated the stop based on a day-old alleged traffic infraction and then arrested Mr. Arias for allegedly neglecting to stop his car immediately when the police initiated the stop. The 红杏视频 joined an amicus brief authored by the 红杏视频 of Massachusetts and the law firm Proskauer Rose, which argues that the police actions in this case were unconstitutional for three reasons. First, pretextual traffic stops, such as this one, violate the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. Second, arrests for misdemeanors not involving breaches of the peace also violate the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. Third, the statute prohibiting drivers from neglecting to stop is unconstitutionally vague as applied to this case.Status: Ongoing -
News & CommentaryDec 2025
Criminal Law Reform
Your Questions Answered: How Jury Duty Protects Your Rights. Explore News & Commentary.Your Questions Answered: How Jury Duty Protects Your Rights
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