Pennsylvania
Republican National Committee v. Genser
Voters in Butler County, Pennsylvania made a mistake in voting their mail ballots in the April 2024 primary election, forgetting to use the required secrecy envelope. Because their mail ballots could not be counted, they went to the polls in Election Day and voted provisional ballots. The County later determined that it would not count their provisional ballots, and the voter’s appealed, arguing that Pennsylvania law requires that when an eligible voter attempts to vote by mail but the mail ballot is rendered void due to some defect like lacking a secrecy envelope, the eligible voter may cast a provisional ballot and have that ballot counted notwithstanding the failed attempt to vote by mail.
Status: Ongoing
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29 Pennsylvania Cases
Pennsylvania
Mar 2023
Religious Liberty
The Satanic Temple v. Saucon Valley School District
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Saucon Valley School District (SVSD) in March 2023 for violating the First Amendment by prohibiting the After School Satan Club (ASSC) from meeting in district facilities. Although school officials initially approved the club’s application — explaining in an email to parents that the district “cannot discriminate among groups wishing to use the SVSD facilities” — they quickly bowed to the ensuing public outcry. The case seeks to allow the ASSC to meet in district facilities.
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Pennsylvania
Mar 2023
Religious Liberty
The Satanic Temple v. Saucon Valley School District
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Saucon Valley School District (SVSD) in March 2023 for violating the First Amendment by prohibiting the After School Satan Club (ASSC) from meeting in district facilities. Although school officials initially approved the club’s application — explaining in an email to parents that the district “cannot discriminate among groups wishing to use the SVSD facilities” — they quickly bowed to the ensuing public outcry. The case seeks to allow the ASSC to meet in district facilities.
U.S. Supreme Court
Dec 2021
Criminal Law Reform
Birt v. United States
Whether all individuals sentenced for crack cocaine offenses under a now-amended federal statute that created a 100-to-1 disparity between the treatment of cocaine in its crack and powder forms are eligible for resentencing under amendments made by the First Step Act of 2018.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Dec 2021
Criminal Law Reform
Birt v. United States
Whether all individuals sentenced for crack cocaine offenses under a now-amended federal statute that created a 100-to-1 disparity between the treatment of cocaine in its crack and powder forms are eligible for resentencing under amendments made by the First Step Act of 2018.
U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2021
LGBTQ Rights
Fulton v. City of Philadelphia
On November 4, the Supreme Court heard a case that could allow private agencies that receive taxpayer-funding to provide government services — such as foster care providers, food banks, homeless shelters, and more — to deny services to people who are LGBTQ, Jewish, Muslim, or Mormon.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2021
LGBTQ Rights
Fulton v. City of Philadelphia
On November 4, the Supreme Court heard a case that could allow private agencies that receive taxpayer-funding to provide government services — such as foster care providers, food banks, homeless shelters, and more — to deny services to people who are LGBTQ, Jewish, Muslim, or Mormon.
Pennsylvania
Nov 2020
Voting Rights
Donald J. Trump for President v. Boockvar
The ACLU and partners intervened in a Trump-campaign lawsuit that attempted to block the certification of the Pennsylvania Nov. 3 election results. On November 21, 2020, the district court dismissed the lawsuit, noting it was "presented with strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations ... unsupported by evidence." "In the United States of America," District Judge William Brann added, "this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state."
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Pennsylvania
Nov 2020
Voting Rights
Donald J. Trump for President v. Boockvar
The ACLU and partners intervened in a Trump-campaign lawsuit that attempted to block the certification of the Pennsylvania Nov. 3 election results. On November 21, 2020, the district court dismissed the lawsuit, noting it was "presented with strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations ... unsupported by evidence." "In the United States of America," District Judge William Brann added, "this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state."
Pennsylvania
May 2020
Voting Rights
Judicial Watch v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The ACLU and partners filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit, Judicial Watch v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on May 11, 2020. In that case, a pro-voter purge group is seeking to force three Pennsylvania counties to remove thousands of voters from the rolls before the upcoming election.
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Pennsylvania
May 2020
Voting Rights
Judicial Watch v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The ACLU and partners filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit, Judicial Watch v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on May 11, 2020. In that case, a pro-voter purge group is seeking to force three Pennsylvania counties to remove thousands of voters from the rolls before the upcoming election.