SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union today cheered a decision by California's Court of Appeal throwing out a legal challenge by anti-gay activists to the state's comprehensive domestic partnership law.

"Today's decision is a great victory for the many families who have had to worry that they would lose the protections that our legislature chose to provide same-sex couples and their families through its domestic partnership law," said Christine Sun, a staff attorney for the ACLU. "Many couples can rest easier knowing that there are protections for their families during times of crisis."

Today's decision affirms an earlier trial court decision dismissing challenges to the domestic partnership law brought by Campaign for California Families and Proposition 22 Legal Defense and Education Fund that claimed the law violated a California law that bans recognition of marriages by same-sex couples from other states.

"While we are grateful for today's decision, it only underscores the fact that the law still comes up far short of full marriage rights," added Sun. "Lesbian and gay Californians who make the same types of commitments that married couples make shouldn't be denied the right to marry."

Equality California, as well as 12 California couples who are registered domestic partners, petitioned the court and were allowed to participate in the lawsuits brought by the anti-gay groups. The legal team representing Equality California and the 12 couples includes the Law Office of David C. Codell, the ACLU and its affiliates in Northern California, Southern California and San Diego, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal.

AB 205, which went into effect on January 1, 2005, provides registered domestic partners with many important protections and significant responsibilities. Protections for families headed by same-sex couples include: community property, mutual responsibility for debt, parenting rights and obligations such as custody and support, and the ability to claim a partner's body after death. The law does not allow for joint tax filing and certain other protections under state law, and does not provide access to over 1,000 federal protections that married couples enjoy.

We would like to express our sadness at the passing of Johnnie Cochran. Johnnie's remarkable skill, intellect and commitment made him a giant in the legal and civil rights community. The ACLU was proud to work with Johnnie many times on the pressing need for police reform, police respect for communities of color and civil liberties for all.

As a prosecutor and a defense attorney Johnnie was a tireless and principled advocate for justice, even for the unpopular. Nowhere was this more evident than in the case of Geronimo Pratt, a Black activist unjustly convicted of murder in 1972. Johnnie worked for Pratt's release for close to thirty years. The ACLU was honored to join him in that work and we were all proud that Mr. Pratt's eventual release vindicated Johnnie's belief that lawyers committed to fairness and justice can give voice to the voiceless.

Even before he rose to national prominence with the O.J. Simpson case, Johnnie had established himself as gifted advocate for the dispossessed. His increased profile after that case allowed him to extend the reach of his service across the nation.

Johnnie's integrity and ability won him the praise and respect of attorneys, judges, lawyers and the everyday people in the community whose struggles and concerns he made his own.

Our condolences go out to Johnnie's family. We hope they know of the undying gratitude Johnnie has earned from his colleagues in the civil rights community and from the city and people for whom he did so much. We have all lost a friend today.

LOS ANGELES - Citing concerns that military recruiters target low-income students and students of color on the campuses of public schools in Los Angeles County, a group of teachers, parents, students and the American Civil Liberties Union joined together to demand more information about how the military recruits public school students

A group of Los Angeles public school teachers, students, and parents filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the armed services to determine the criteria by which recruiters target students, the tactics and methods recruiters use, and the information they give to students about military careers.

"We are concerned our students are being targeted and are enlisting without getting accurate and complete information on military service and alternatives," said Arlene Inouye a teacher at Roosevelt High School and member of the Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools. "We want kids to make the choices they want, but we want them to have information about many future opportunities like college, scholarships and jobs."

The ACLU is concerned by the legal issues relating to military recruiters on school campuses. "First, the public has a right to know how and why recruiters are talking to certain kids at certain schools. Second, parents who want to give balanced information to students getting biased, pro-military information should be able to do so," said Ranjana Natarajan, an ACLU attorney.

The ACLU also sent a strongly-worded letter Tuesday to the Whittier Union High School District on behalf of parent Orlando Terrazas after the district denied Terrazas' request to place flyers titled "Do you Know Enough to Enlist?" alongside military recruitment posters in the hallways of Whittier High School.

"I wanted to get accurate information to students who are swarmed with pro-military messages. Whether or not students enlist, they need to have all the facts, not half the facts, so they can make the right choice," Terrazas said.

Freedom of Information Act requests were also sent to the Air Force, Department of Defense, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Navy.