Thanks to our supporters, Equal Justice Under Law celebrated its 10-year anniversary on March 24, 2024! This work would not be possible without the dedication of donors who agree that wealth-based discrimination undermines the foundation of our justice system.

Recently, the Illinois State Supreme Court upheld the 2021 Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act (officially known as Public Act 101-652), which abolishes cash bail and specifies procedures judges must use to impose pretrial detention.

Equal Justice Under Law secured a monumental victory in its lawsuit, Welchen v. Sacramento, a case challenging Sacramento’s pretrial cash bail system. Filed in 2016 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Welchen v. Sacramento alleged that Sacramento’s policy of charging exorbitant pretrial bail amounts without accounting for arrestees’ ability to pay was unconstitutional.

Last month, Tennessee’s Elections Division issued new guidance requiring formerly incarcerated residents who have been convicted of a felony to fully restore their citizenship rights before being allowed to register to vote.

A federal class action challenging pre-trial fees in Anderson County, Texas secured a critical victory this week when the court granted class certification to the plaintiffs. In Anderson County, many pre-trial arrestees — who have not been found guilty of any crime — are required to…

A federal lawsuit challenging Ravalli County’s “Jail Diversion Program” is advancing forward after a judge denied the county’s motion to dismiss and granted class certification to the plaintiffs. In Ravalli County, pre-trial arrestees — who have not been found guilty of any crime — are required to pay pre-trial fees adding up to hundreds of dollars per month, no matter their income level.

On November 3, 2022, Governor Wolf signed HB 987 into law, which will lift any current driver’s license suspensions related to drug offenses. HB987 will end active and pending drug-related driver’s license suspensions by converting the suspensions to “served” on driving records.

The settlement agreement is a crucial step towards addressing the economic and racial implications of the U.S. carceral system. Although a growing number of state legislatures are working to reform their respective bail systems, the practice of setting and imposing bail, particularly cash bail, in the U.S. continues to disproportionately affect poor people of color.

Last month, Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell of the Eastern District of Texas granted consolidation of two cases by Equal Justice Under Law challenging pre-trial fees in Anderson County, Texas, while also denying the county’s motion to dismiss.

Last week’s decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade (and thereby undoing the constitutional right to an abortion) will have devastating and long-lasting consequences, particularly for our most vulnerable populations. As a civil rights organization, Equal Justice Under Law’s mission is to fight wealth discrimination in the “justice” system, and we foresee this landmark decision by the highest court as a massive blow to the people for whom we fight for justice.