News & Commentary

On October 10th, 2025, a coalition of advocate organizations including the ACLU of Kansas sent a letter to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett concerning pretrial detention. This practice, which should be used only when neccessary, has become the default, subverting the presumption of innoncence at the heart of our criminal legal system and creating a two-tiered system where those who have money can buy their freedom, while those who cannot are left in jail—and often face life-altering consequences as a result. This letter asked DA Bennett to use his discretion to reduce the number of people detained pretrial to help reduce the harm of our broken bail system.

Groups including AIRR and ACLU Kansas rallied in 2024 to get Spanish language ballot materials in Wyandotte County.

In 2023, Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson issued a temporary injunction blocking such changes. KDOR and the American Civil Liberties Union appealed, and the Kansas Court of Appeals overturned Watson’s injunction in June.

"We know that accurate gender markers are a matter of safety and well-being for transgender Kansans," ACLU attorney Julie Murray said last week after the high court denied Kobach's petition for review. "The Kansas Supreme Court's decision this week will finally bring an end to nearly two years of government intrusion on trans Kansans' privacy and put a stop to the attorney general's efforts to forcibly out people in their daily lives."

“We look forward to KDOR resuming gender marker changes on driver’s licenses at the earliest possible time,” said Monica Bennett, legal director of the ACLU of Kansas, in a news release.

Human Rights Watch stands with civil society and signed this letter, alongside more than 3700 other organizations, condemning the Trump administration’s attacks. It is a testament to our community’s solidarity.

The ability to now change gender markers on driver’s licenses comes largely from the ACLU of Kansas’ intervention.

ACLU of Kansas Executive Director Micah Kubic speaks at the Hutchinson NAACP monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Kubic encouraged the audience to focus on local issues first.

“I want every transgender Kansan to be able to live their lives authentically,” said Kathryn Redman, a 65-year-old resident and a plaintiff in the case, Kansas v. Harper, brought on by the ACLU and Stinson LLP.