The US Supreme Court has made it increasingly challenging for Black and minority voters to argue that legislators have an unfair racial bias when drawing new voting maps, according to civil rights advocates. The 6-3 ruling has specifically stated that South Carolina voters have not conclusively proven that racial prejudice, rather than political partisanship, motivated…
Former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby was sentenced last Thursday to ‘time served’, to be followed by three years of supervised release, including 12 months of home confinement. According to Bloomberg Law, these sentences come as a result of separate trials for perjury and loan fraud, of which Mosby has been found guilty. Mosby will…
Since being appointed as general counsel for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in October last year, Karla Gilbride has been using amicus briefs in high-profile employment law cases to reinforce the agency’s expanding litigation efforts. Apart from enforcing regulations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and workplace harassment guidance, these “friend of the…
The Seventh Circuit is set to become the latest federal appeals court to examine the relationship between mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and workplace civil rights laws. The case in focus involves a white employee who alleges his termination from Honeywell International Inc. resulted from his opposition to mandatory DEI training. The ex-Honeywell…
In a multi-faceted approach to support the rebuilding of Ukraine, the law firm Dentons has announced the establishment of a global task force. The group comprises of partners based in various locations such as Kyiv, London, Amsterdam, and Washington. The team will direct their expertise in energy, tech, and infrastructure to provide a strong client-facing…
The U.S. Senate’s recent bipartisan policy blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (AI) is triggering concerns among societal groups who fear the tech industry might be dominating Capitol Hill’s policy decisions. The outline put forward by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and colleagues directs congressional committees to contemplate legislation that counters potential threats posed by AI. However,…
On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court issued a stay order, effectively blocking a lower court decision that would have prevented the use of a newly drawn Louisiana congressional district map, comprising two majority black districts in a six-district state. This order ensures that this version of the map will be employed for the 2024 election,…
Lawmakers in New York are gearing up for the end of the legislative session in the first half of June, with a focused examination looming over the potential implications and risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI). A legislative package, consisting of four critical bills, has been earmarked for discussion, with much of the legislative groundwork…
The Supreme Court has recently approved a new congressional map for the state of Louisiana, containing two majority-Black districts to be implemented in the 2024 elections. The decision to move forward with this map comes after the justices blocked a ruling from a federal court that had initially prohibited the state from using the new…
Recent developments at the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit could result in changes to civil rights claims proceedings. The full Fifth Circuit is reportedly deliberating over a potential rework of a precedent for bringing civil rights claims. The challenge is centered around the court’s decision on how to effectively execute this process….
On May 15, 2024, preeminent law firm Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP made a noteworthy announcement that signals its increasing commitment to efforts in championing civil rights and curbing the escalation of hate-driven violence and intimidation. The firm has established the Center to Combat Hate, an organization aimed at forging collaborations with civil…
In a notable development, a straight white woman has managed to obtain green light from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to sue well-known law firm, King & Spalding. She alleges discrimination, as she was dissuaded from applying for a summer associate program that she says, was specifically aimed at “diverse” applicants. The complaint…
Prominent law firm Paul Weiss has launched a fresh initiative to combat hate-driven violence. The firm is establishing a new litigation center, purposed with catalyzing significant legal actions to stem the tide of violence fueled by hate. The new center is seeking to employ the substantial litigation expertise of Paul Weiss. However, the firm’s efforts…
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that conditions in Nebraska are in violation of the civil rights of residents with serious mental illnesses, due to these individuals being unnecessarily segregated into institutional settings. This case has its origins in grievances voiced by Nebraskans who felt the state was improperly segregating mental health patients…
As rare en banc arguments arise, legal professionals across the globe have their eyes set on one prominent institution. The University of Virginia School of Law’s En Banc Institute offers a unique experience for lawyers to ‘stress-test’ their cases before they appear in court. In a recent example, Joaquin Gonzalez, a representative of the Texas…
In an escalating conflict over the interpretation of workplace discrimination laws, eighteen Republican-leaning states have filed a law suit against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The plaintiffs assert that the commission has overly widened its definition of gender-identity-based harassment in the workplace, thereby overstepping the boundaries set by federal laws. At the heart…
During her commencement speech at Columbia Law School, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphatically condemned the prevalence of hate crimes across the nation. Clarke, who leads the Justice Department’s civil rights division, expressed her intransigent stance against those who propagate such damaging ideologies. “Justice is working tirelessly to prosecute hate crimes. White supremacy, antisemitism, Islamophobia,…
Kristen Clarke, the Assistant U.S. Attorney General for civil rights, in her commencement speech at Columbia Law School, sternly denounced hate-based violence. This avowal was made amid the recent wave of pro-Palestine protests that have unsettled campus life at Columbia, along with several other universities nationwide. In her remarks, Clarke emphasized her commitment to prosecuting…
Jack Quinn, a prominent figure in the DC legal sector, passed away on May 8 at the age of 74. Quinn had an illustrious career, working for Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in recent years, and serving as President Bill Clinton’s White House counsel. “The consummate Washington insider,” Quinn spent roughly two decades with Arnold &…
Civil rights groups led by national and state chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Immigration Council filed a complaint on Thursday against state officials in Iowa. The complaint seeks to prevent a recently signed immigration law from being enforced from its planned commencement date of July 1. The law in…
The National Law Journal and Law.com have announced the finalists for the 2024 Elite Trial Lawyers Awards. From countless entries, plaintiff law firms across the United States are progressing to the competition’s final round. The winners across 23 award categories will be announced on July 11 at the ETL award ceremony at Lotte New York…
Stephen Miller’s legal group has filed a lawsuit against Red Hat, a subsidiary of IBM Corp. The lawsuit alleges that the company’s diversity goals resulted in discriminatory practices and led to the termination of a former white male employee. The lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the District of Idaho, claims…
President Joe Biden is set to nominate Judge Embry Kidd, a former prosecutor and US magistrate judge, for the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The nominee, Judge Kidd, has been serving at the magistrate level for the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida since 2019. Prior to his judgeship,…
States opposing federal regulations allowing leave for abortions under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) are likely to face significant challenges. The reason is that these regulations echo longstanding practices under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This perspective was communicated by employment attorneys this past Monday. The inclusion of the terms “pregnancy,…
Recently, a coalition of rights groups led by the Alabama State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a lawsuit challenging four provisions of Alabama Senate Bill 1, Act No. 2024-33, informally known as “SB 1”. The legislation, which criminalizes aid in absentee ballot submission, has sparked significant controversy…