Civil Liberties Definition: Natural rights which appertain and are inherent to each person as a human being, and which are protected. Related Terms: Civil Rights, Human Right In Sowers, Ohio Justice WINTER of the Common Pleas Court of Trumbull County (Ohio), suggested:"Civil rights ... are economic rights functioning as legally enforceable claims which are structured in legislation."On the other hand civil liberties are natural rights which appertain originally and essentially to each person as a human being and are inherent in his nature; such rights, which are constitutionally protected, are not actually rights but are immunities, or restraints on government." REFERENCES:Sowers v. Ohio Civil Rights Commission, 252 N.E. (2d) 463 Categories & Topics: Constitutional, Human Rights and Administrative Law Dictionary Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!