Chicago Civil Rights Attorney

Most of our precious civil liberties are defined nationally by the U.S. Constitution and other laws, with additional liberties defined by the state constitution.  At both a national and state level, judiciary interpretation of the civil liberties laws can create new law as well.   But, civil liberties in a large city such as Chicago take on extra significance, because the size and the diversity of the population increases the likelihood of civil liberties violations against a large number of people. 

Some recent Chicago cases

Here are some examples of recent cases that affect Chicago:

• Parental notification laws for abortions in Illinois:  The requirement that parents or guardians be notified prior to performing abortions on minor children has made national news and is being fought on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.  Most recently, after a moratorium, the law was to become effective on November 4, 2009.  But, on that day, the Chicago civil liberties lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union successfully convinced the court to put the legislation back on hold.  The outcome of this fight is of particular interest to Chicago because of the higher number of pregnant teens who might be affected.  Since the law would allow girls to bypass the law by appearing before a judge, with a maximum 48-hour decision on each case, the Chicago court system caseload could also be directly affected.
• Protest permits:  Protests on a range of issues are a large part of life in Chicago, allowing protesters to exercise their freedom of speech.  Not all protest issues are popular with the general population or with Chicago authorities.  A recent case of attempted protests against the Iraq war illustrates when a civil liberties lawyer in Chicago is needed to try to win the right to protest.  In this case, protesters applied for and received the proper permits on a number of separate occasions, only to have those permits revoked.  In another case, the city attempted to change Gay Rights parade permits in ways that the protesters felt would diminish their First Amendment messages.

In addition to these cases, civil liberties lawyers in Chicago are busy protecting minorities from Fair Housing Act violations, employment discrimination, racial profiling, and many other civil liberties violations, including police brutality.

Exceptional attorneys.  Specialized care.  Uncommon results.

Every Chicago civil liberties lawyer at Seidman Law Offices is a skilled litigator prepared to defend your civil liberties.  Located close to the Sears Tower, we offer free initial consultations and regularly meet clients on nights or weekends by appointment.  We operate on a contingency fee basis.

Contact Seidman Law Offices to speak to an experienced civil liberties or civil rights attorney in Illinois.