News and events from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky http://aclu-ky.org 2012-02-10T17:52:30+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2012-01-31T09:53:01+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/502/166/ @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal div.Section1 @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal div.Section1 By: Kate Fischer, ACLU of Kentucky intern Senator Rand Paul is no novice when it comes to frequent flyer miles. But by some standards, he may now be an expert on the invasive TSA policies and procedures for screening passengers. In an interview with FOX news, Paul explained that “This morning I went through the screener, and the machine said there was a hot spot near my knee. So I showed them my knee and pulled my sock down and felt that would be sufficient. But they wanted to do a pat-down exam. I said I would walk back to the screener. They said no, you either get a pat-down or you don't fly. Senator Paul was escorted to a cubicle where he made a cell phone call to his office informing them that he would miss his speaking engagement. TSA officials then told him that because he used his cellphone he would be getting a full pat-down. text/html 2012-01-06T06:40:39+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/501/ by Keith Rouda The time to end the death penalty in Kentucky has come. A report released earlier this month on a two year assessment conducted by the American Bar Association [ABA] found that Kentucky's death penalty system is so broken and unfair that the state should declare a moratorium on executions. A moratorium would be a good start, and if Kentucky voters have any say in the matter, one will be imposed sooner rather than later. A survey conducted right before the report was released showed that strong majorities of likely 2012 Kentucky voters support a death penalty moratorium, and these majorities go across party affiliation, gender, and even geography within the state. Source: Lake Research Partners survey of 405 likely November 2012 Kentucky voters, Nov. 30–Dec. 4, 2011, margin of error (±4.9%) But a moratorium doesn't go far enough. The time has come to end the death penalty in Kentucky once and for all. (If you agree, sign this petition (http://signon.org/sign/end-the-death-penalty-2?source=c.em.cp r_by=177254) that will be delivered to Governor Beshear and members of the Kentucky House and Kentucky Senate.) Read the full Louisville.com story here (http://www.louisville.com/content/new-years-resolution-kentucky-lets-end-death-penalty-our-state-opinion-arena). text/html 2011-12-05T12:58:37+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/500/103/ @font-face { font-family: "Courier New"; }@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal a:link, span.MsoHyperlink a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed div.Section1 ol ul The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Foundation (ACLU-KY) seeks a Development Director to manage and significantly expand the fund development program for the ACLU and strengthen the links between the ACLU and its supporters. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Development Director is responsible for planning, supervising and executing the ACLU of Kentucky’s fundraising strategies. The Development Director provides leadership to the staff and Board of Directors to reach our annual and long-range fundraising goals and reports to the Executive Director. With an annual combined budget of $500,000, the ACLU of Kentucky and its Foundation operate jointly as private, non-profit organizations. We are the state affiliate of the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to the protection and advancement of civil rights and civil liberties. The development program supports the ACLU’s legislative, public education, and legal programs on a broad range of constitutional issues including but not limited to voting rights, abolition of the death penalty, immigrants’ rights, free speech, religious freedom, reproductive rights, and the rights of gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender individuals. Founded in 1955, the ACLU-KY is located in downtown Louisville but works statewide through volunteer and member engagement. The ACLU-KY has approximately 3,000 members and supporters. Our current staff consists of five full-time members. We are currently undergoing a long-range planning process with designs on organizational expansion to increase our overall impact within Kentucky. The Development Director position is a crucial link in securing and maintaining significant resources to sustain such an expansion. Click Read More to see the full job description text/html 2011-11-15T06:55:47+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/499/104/ Central Kentucky Civil Liberties Union (CKCLU) Program Title: Civil Liberties Issues Before the U.S. Supreme Court Date/Time: Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 7:00 p.m. Place: Temple Adath Israel 124 North Ashland Avenue Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 269-2979 Panelists: Paul Salamanca Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs Professor of Law, UK College of Law Allison Connelly Director of the UK Legal Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor of Law, UK College of Law Roberta M. Harding William L. Matthews Professor of Law, UK College of Law Nicole Huberfield Galion Baker Professor of Law, UK College of Law CLEs (Continuing Legal Education Units): pending Panelist bios: Paul E. Salamanca Paul E. Salamanca is the Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs Professor of Law. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1983 and Boston College Law School in 1989, where he was a note editor for the Boston College Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. Professor Salamanca served as a law clerk to Judge David H. Souter of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and subsequently clerked for Justice Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court. He practiced law with the firm of Debevoise Plimpton in New York from 1991 to 1994 and was a visiting assistant professor of law at Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans before joining the faculty at UK in June 1995. Professor Salamanca writes in the areas of separation of powers, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and privacy. He has published articles on these subjects in the University of Cincinnati Law Review, the Missouri Law Review, the Georgia Law Review and the Kentucky Law Journal, among other places text/html 2011-10-31T06:36:46+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/498/171/ This letter to the editor appeared in the October 31st edition of the Courier-Journal On October 19th, the Louisville Metro Board of Public Health held a panel discussion about the hospital merger, which gave University of Louisville Hospital, Jewish/St. Mary Hospital System and Catholic Health Care Initiatives a chance to answer the community’s questions. It is commendable that these three merger partners gave the community a chance to answer questions; however this dialogue needed to start months ago and not after the deal is seemingly done. With that being said we did find out a few answers about what health care will be like under after the merger at the University of Louisville Hospital. The first is that according to University Medical Center president James Taylor, the hospital is “doing just fine”. In fact, a Business First article from July 2010, reported that the UMC posted a $15.3 million profit in 2009. After the merger where will those profits go? Will they go back to the University, for more care, or will those profits go back to CHI’s Denver headquarters? Without access to the contracts, the public will never know. We also learned that University of Louisville Hospital would no longer dispense birth control. The panel said that would not dispense birth control prescriptions that are written at the hospital, but that women would be free to have the prescription filled at the pharmacy of their choice. What they failed to state is that for most women, the pharmacy of choice would be the one at the University of Louisville Hospital. text/html 2011-10-26T08:35:01+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/497/104/ For more information contact Kate Miller at 502-581-9746 or kate@aclu-ky.org and check out the facebook event here (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179805968765908). text/html 2011-10-26T08:24:40+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/496/103/ LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Civil rights lawyer, professor and author Michelle Alexander will talk about what she describes as the “mass incarceration” of African Americans during the fifth annual Anne Braden Memorial Lecture Nov. 10 at the University of Louisville. Her free, public talk is titled The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, which also is the title of her 2010 book. Alexander's lecture will begin at 6 p.m. in the Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. Third St. Parking is available for $4 in the adjacent garage. UofL's Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research sponsors the lecture; both are named for a Louisvillian active in the civil rights movement for nearly six decades. text/html 2011-08-18T10:29:42+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/487/104/   Please join the ACLU for the Annual Bill of Rights Dinner on October 22. We are pleased to welcome Amy Goodman (images/stories/amy_goodman.pdf) back to Louisville. Ms. Goodman is the award-winning investigative journalist and syndicated columnist, author and host of Democracy NOW! airing on more than 950 public radio and television stations in 35 countries around the world. We are also pleased to announce that the Dinner will serve as the opening of the Americans Who Tell the Truth (images/stories/awttt_description.pdf) exhibit. This exhibit is a series of portraits by artist Robert Shetterly whose subjects range the spectrum of eras and issues throughout American History with a common thread of courage to stand up and speak the truth. Please follow this link (http://ky.aclu.org/site/Calendar?id=110781 view=Detail) or contact the office by email at Nancy@aclu-ky.org or at 502-581-9746 if you are interested in purchasing tickets for the dinner and/or the special reception with Amy Goodman or if you are interested in special sponsorship opportunities, including sponsoring students and young professionals to attend the event. Carmichael’s Bookstore will be hosting a book signing after the event. KY Center forAfrican American Heritage 1701 W.Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville October 22, 2011 Ticketed Reception: 5:00 pm - $125 Public Reception: 5:30 pm – cash bar Dinner: 6:30 pm - $60 text/html 2011-10-04T14:23:02+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/494/104/ @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Gotham-Medium"; }@font-face { font-family: "AJensonPro-Regular"; }@font-face { font-family: "Times-Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal p.NoParagraphStyle, li.NoParagraphStyle, div.NoParagraphStyle p.BodyCopy, li.BodyCopy, div.BodyCopy span.DropCap div.Section1 @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Gotham-Medium"; }@font-face { font-family: "AJensonPro-Regular"; }@font-face { font-family: "Times-Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal p.NoParagraphStyle, li.NoParagraphStyle, div.NoParagraphStyle p.BodyCopy, li.BodyCopy, div.BodyCopy span.DropCap div.Section1 The ACLU of Kentucky is seeking individuals interested in being nominated to run for the Board of Directors. The Nominations Committee seeks candidates who are dedicated to the ACLU mission and willing to dedicate their time, talents and resources to help ACLU-KY achieve its mission and strategic priorities. ACLU-KY is committed to recruiting a board that is reflective of the diversity of the state. Our board culture is one of open dialogue with diverse perspectives committed to the vision of the organization. Among the Board responsibilities and requirements are: 1) monitor progress toward goals; 2) develop, review and approve policies and budgets; 3) ensure adequate resources; 4) enhance the ACLU’s public image; 5) ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and financial standards; 6) monitor and evaluate programs and services; 7) support the Executive Director and provide a performance review; 8) attend 6 board meetings a year and the Annual Meeting; 9) participate on one board committee; 10) make a financial contribution according to one’s ability; 11) be a member of the ACLU. Priority areas of expertise are in finance, budget management and fundraising. Individuals living in areas of the state outside Louisville and Lexington are of particular interest. Individuals representing various racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religious groups and those with disabilities are encouraged to consider nomination. Self-nominations will be accepted. The terms for board members are three years with the opportunity for a second term. Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting in March of 2012. Submissions should include the following information: 1.) Nominee name; 2.) Nominee email address and telephone number 3.) Brief description of nominee’s qualifications (profession, community involvement, ACLU involvement (if applicable); 4) Nominator’s name, email address and telephone number Please communicate to the nominee that a nomination does not ensure that a nominee will be selected as a candidate to run for election. Submit nominations by November 1 , 2011 to: Eleanor Self c/o ACLU-KY 315 Guthrie Street #300 Louisville, Ky. 40202 or email info@aclu-ky.org with “Board Nominee” in the subject line text/html 2011-10-13T21:11:41+01:00 http://aclu-ky.org http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/495/ The Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty hosts speaker Ray Krone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded v=nDa4Hpdvs3I noredirect=1), the 98th person exonerated from Death Row. Krone was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 for a murder committed outside of a Phoenix bar where he was an infrequent customer. In 2002, after countless appeals and eleven years in prison, he was finally exonerated on DNA evidence linking another man to the crime.Ray travels globally to speak about the criminal justice system that undoubtedly dis-served him. “I would not trust the state to execute a person for committing a crime against another person,” he says. “I knowhow the system works. I know what prison is like, I know what the judges are like, and I know what the prosecutors are like. It’s not about justice or fairness or equality. It’s absolutely wrong. Any chanceI can, whether I start with one or two people or a whole auditorium filled with people, I’ll tell them what happened to me. Because if it happened to me, it can happen to anyone.” Ray will be making several stops on his Witness to Innocence Tour: Monday, Oct. 31, 7 pm, at Thomas More College in Steigerwald Hall in the Holbrook Student Center. The college is in Crestview Hills and located at 333 Thomas More Parkway. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6:15 pm at Bluegrass Community Technical College in Lexington be at the Oswald Auditorium (230 OB) at the Cooper Campus. BCTC is located at 470 Cooper Drive. This event is also co-sponsored by the college's Criminal Justice program and Students for Peace and Earth Justice. Thursday, Nov. 3, 7 pm at the Newman Center at the University of Kentucky. The center is located at 320 Rose Lane in Lexington.