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Jack, picture left, stands with Public Counsel Senior Staff Attorney Talia Inlender at the US border.
VICTORY! Deported US Veteran Joaqin (Jack) Aviles Returns to the US as a Lawful Permanent Resident Today, on August 29th, 2019, Joaquin (Jack) Aviles, a deported US veteran, re-entered the United States after 20 years of being separated from his family, including his two children.

Groundbreaking Settlement in California Literacy Lawsuit to Provide Immediate Relief to 75 Low-Performing Schools, Advances Holistic Approach to Learning in Schools VICTORY! Superior court Judge Rupert Byrdsong accepted a wide-ranging settlement in a major education lawsuit brought by students, parents and advocacy groups against the State of California. The lawsuit is the first civil rights action brought under any state constitution to protect students’ right to access to literacy. The settlement is a historic step forward towards affirming the right to literacy for all children in California. We will remain vigilant and continue to push for change; however, today we begin to lay the foundation for building a California education system that gives all children the opportunity to pursue their dreams – to create a better tomorrow for themselves and our communities.

Advocates File Suit Against University of California for Discriminatory Use of Sat/Act In Admissions Students, community groups file suit against UC Board of Regents for discriminatory use of SAT/ACT in admissions – citing practice as meaningless barrier to higher education for underrepresented minority students and students with disabilities.

Federal Judge Orders Government to Provide Immediate Mental Health Treatment to Immigrant Families Torn Apart by Family Separation Policy In a groundbreaking 50-page order, U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt has ordered the federal government to provide immediate mental health screenings and treatment to thousands of immigrant families who were traumatized by the Trump Administration’s disastrous family separation policy.

02/20/2020
Groundbreaking Settlement in California Literacy Lawsuit to Provide Immediate Relief to 75 Low-Performing Schools, Advances Holistic Approach to Learning in Schools VICTORY! Superior court Judge Rupert Byrdsong accepted a wide-ranging settlement in a major education lawsuit brought by students, parents and advocacy groups against the State of California. The lawsuit is the first civil rights action brought under any state constitution to protect students’ right to access to literacy. The settlement is a historic step forward towards affirming the right to literacy for all children in California. We will remain vigilant and continue to push for change; however, today we begin to lay the foundation for building a California education system that gives all children the opportunity to pursue their dreams – to create a better tomorrow for themselves and our communities.

02/11/2020
Landmark Settlement Announced in Lawsuit to Affirm Educational Rights of Homeless Students On February 11, 2020, a judge approved a groundbreaking three-year consent decree that will ensure homeless students have basic access to public education. The settlement is the first of its kind in the State of Missouri and the first legal action that has resulted in substantial changes to state and district policies regarding access to education for students experiencing homelessness.

12/11/2019
Advocates File Suit Against University of California for Discriminatory Use of Sat/Act In Admissions On December 10, 2019, lawyers representing four students, six nonprofits and the Compton Unified School District announced lawsuits against the University of California Board of Regents for the UC system’s use of SAT and ACT test scores in admissions decisions. The civil rights lawsuits allege that the UC System is knowingly creating barriers to higher education for students of color and students with disabilities.

11/08/2019
Federal Judge Orders Government to Provide Immediate Mental Health Treatment to Immigrant Families Torn Apart by Family Separation Policy Judge finds that the Government's policy "caused severe mental trauma to parents and their children" and agrees that the government is responsible for remedying the harm it knowingly caused.

More Press Releases

10/16/2014

News Clips ___________________________________________________________________________________

01/14/2015
LA Times: Skid row doctor's care includes finding patients a home Los Angeles Times A new County program uses county Department of Health Services money to subsidize rents for the very sick among the county's 39,000 homeless people. Experts call it the nation's most promising initiative to end homelessness.

01/09/2015
Los Angeles Times: Activists fear that big-project zoning change would ignore L.A.'s poor Los Angeles Times Newly proposed rules meant to smooth the way for vetting big developments in Los Angeles are stirring up alarm among community groups that say the plan doesn't do enough to protect poor households or small businesses from being displaced.

01/05/2015
California Health Report: High school students push for playgrounds in small cities southeast of L.A. California Health Report A group of high school students from Southeast L.A. County is learning to lobby for green space and greater play opportunities for the area’s youngest children.

Gov. Gavin Newsom Accepts Public Counsel's 2019 William O. Douglas Award
2019 William O Douglas Awards Dinner
Mike Farrell Accepts Public Counsel's 2018 William O. Douglas Award
Grammy-nominated musical guest Aloe Blacc Performs at the 2018 Douglas Dinner
Mike Farrell -- Recipient of the 2018 William O. Douglas Award
Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Accepts Public Counsel's 2017 William O. Douglas Award
The Campaign to Legalize Street Vending In L.A.
Dignity for Wounded Warriors and Their Caretakers
The Fight for Justice at LAX and Beyond