News & Commentary

It has been a heart-wrenching month for Vermont’s transgender community and allies.

Meaningful change in the American legal system begins with a recognition that the entire system is built on systemic racism and classism, and policies that perpetuate the same. That includes cash bail.

Now that the dust has settled after crossover week, here’s an update on key legislation advanced by the ACLU and our allies: bills that passed, are on the move, proposing studies, and stuck on the wall.

We’re about to enter “crossover week” in the Vermont Legislature, when House and Senate lawmakers scramble to vote bills out of the committees send them “across” to the other chamber. At this critical juncture, we wanted to share a status update on some of our priority issue areas.

Where does Vermont stand on police reform, two years after the murder of George Floyd forced a nationwide reckoning on police brutality and structural racism? 

Last year, Vermont lost over 200 of our friends, neighbors, and family members to drug overdoses. This is an unprecedented and tragic record for overdose deaths here. It seems as if this horrendous reality has become the "new normal." Are we, as a state, in denial? Are we to settle for this?

(With apologies to The Beatles and with gratitude to my students at Vermont Law School for inspiring and informing these reflections) 

Pledge to vote yes.

The Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee has now held two hearings on S.254, a bill that would end qualified immunity in Vermont. Qualified immunity is a court doctrine that prevents people who are victims of police misconduct from having their cases heard when their rights have been violated. Here’s a quick rundown of what the committee has heard so far: