Criminal Law Reform

Ending Indefinite Solitary Confinement for the Vast Majority of People with Death Sentences in Oklahoma

After years of working collaboratively with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, we are proud to announce the end of indefinite solitary confinement for the vast majority of people incarcerated with death sentences in Oklahoma.

By Travis Handler

Latest Event


Kendrick Simpson's Clemency Hearing

Kendrick Simpson Clemency Hearing with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 9:00 am. Mr. Simpson is scheduled for execution on February 12, 2026.

The clemency hearing is open to the public. You can attend in person or watch online via zoom. We highly encourage attendance in person as a show of support for Kendrick and his loved ones.

Attendance Information and Guidelines:

  • Clemency hearings typically run a bit over two hours. Each side's counsel has 40 minutes, the victim's family has 20 minutes, and the person who is incarcerated has 20 minutes. The Pardon and Parole Board can ask questions and discuss before voting.
  • Arrive early (15 minutes or more) to go through security and get a seat before the hearing begins.
  • You should bring your ID with you to sign in.
  • Cell phones are prohibited. You should not be on your phone or take any pictures during the hearing.

Zoom Information:
Web Address: https://doc-ok.zoomgov.com/j/1605301615
Webinar ID: 160 530 1615
Call: 1 669 254 5252 or +1 669 216 1590

For more info click here.

Childhood photos of Kendrick Simpson

More from the Press


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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Trump's Attempt to Deride NLRB Won't Stop Power of Collective Actions

While the NLRB’s reopening is encouraging, workers must rely on each other to fulfill the promise of collective action.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) logo.

Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? It’s Complicated.

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about when border agents can legally conduct searches of travelers’ electronic devices at international airports and other ports of entry. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple.

Security Check at the Airport

2025 Legislative Mid-session Review

As we reach the halfway point of this year’s legislative session, we continue to see the same relentless attacks on civil rights and liberties that have defined past years.

By Cindy Nguyen

mid-session review

Trump’s Attack on the Department of Education, Explained

The Trump administration just put millions of students’ education and civil rights at risk by closing key Department of Education offices and firing half of its workforce.

The exterior of the the Education Department (ED) headquarters in Washington, DC.

Reflecting Back on Over 60 Years as the ACLU of Oklahoma

For over six decades, the ACLU of Oklahoma has been a steadfast guardian of civil liberties, championing the rights of individuals against discrimination and injustice.

By Tamya Cox-Touré

American Civil Liberties Union

Singled Out for Speaking Up: How UCSC Seized My Digital Life After I Joined a Lawsuit Against Them

A student is suing UC Santa Cruz to challenge the unconstitutional search and seizure of her phone in retaliation for her participation in a pro-Palestine, anti-war protest last spring.

A photo of a someone scrolling on a smartphone.

DEI and Accessibility, Explained

Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies…

Protesters in front of the Supreme Court hold signs that read, "Diversity, Opportunity, Justice", "ACLU, WE THE PEOPLE", "Affirmative Action YES!" and "Asians for Affirmative Action".

'We Have to Reclaim Race and Racism'

As a former teacher, the ACLU’s Leah Watson has seen first-hand how beneficial an inclusive education can be. Today, she’s fighting attempts to deprive students of their right to learn.

A smiling Leah Watson (a black woman wearing glasses, black business attire and a pin on her left shoulder stands next to a woman wearing a white flower dress wearing glasses and black) gathers for a picture with colleagues.

'I Won’t Abandon My Country'

Maria is a third-generation Latina American who loves her country as much as she loves her husband, Miguel, who is undocumented. In a moment when Donald Trump has threatened to unlawfully deport millions, for Miguel and Maria, the American dream is finding a way to stay together.

Illustration of a person with long hair sitting up in bed at night and facing a window with blinds half drawn that hide the top half of the moon.