Plaintiff Logan Ruths was banned from school district property for a year. We sued, alleging Ruth’s exclusion had no legitimate basis and was thinly-veiled retaliation for speech the board disagreed with. Faced with a lawsuit, the district immediately lifted its unlawful banishment order and later admitted that the ban was not warranted. The case is part of the ACLU’s ongoing efforts to hold school boards accountable when they threaten civil rights and civil liberties in Colorado.


ACLU PRESS RELEASES:

"ACLU Sues Woodland Park School District Over Unlawful Banishment of Critic from Board Meetings" August 3, 2023

"ACLU Withdraws Lawsuit Against Woodland Park School District After District Rescinds Banishment, Admits it was Not Warranted" October 3, 2023


MEDIA: 

"ACLU Sues Colorado School District After Former Employee was Forced to Leave, Banned Over 'Harmless' Comment", The Colorado Sun, August 3, 2023

"UPDATE: ACLU Sues Woodland Park School Board on Behalf of Citizen Banned From Meetings, Property", Colorado Springs Indy, August 3, 2023

"ACLU Sues Woodland Park School Board, District", The Gazette, October 4, 2023

"Woodland Park School District Lifts Ban Against Former Employee, but ACLU Will Continue its Lawsuit", The Colorado Sun, August 7, 2023

"Woodland Park School District Reverses Ban on Former Employee Following Lawsuit", Fox 21 News, August 7, 2023


 

Attorney(s)

Timothy Macdonald, Sara Neel, Anna I. Kurtz, Lindsey Floyd

Pro Bono Law Firm(s)

Craig R. May, Colleen M. Koch, and Michaela H. Redlingshafer of Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP

Date filed

August 3, 2023

Court

U.S. District of Colorado

Judge

Hon. Daniel D. Domenico

Status

Victory!

Case number

1:23-cv-01971