For many, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to remember and honor the iconic civil rights leader. The history and context surrounding King’s legacy, however, have a tendency to often be whitewashed, leading to the often out-of-context usage of his quotes. The unfortunate trend involves invoking MLK’s words to support positions that might…
The US Supreme Court agreed recently that it would look into if a plaintiff has to exhaust all available state administrative remedies before taking up a federal civil rights claim before a court. The court will base its decision on the case, Williams v. Washington. This case springs from a verdict in the Supreme Court…
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether an Oregon city can enforce a public camping ban on homeless individuals. This decision was part of a series of orders that were revealed following the justices’ closed-door conference earlier in the day, adding five new cases to the court’s merits docket. In the case City…
High-profile law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres has initiated a litigation process against Harvard College. This contentious action came on the back of allegations made by six Jewish students. These students argue that their experience at the ostensibly prestigious institution has been marred by an alleged failure to shield them from antisemitic behavior, a perceived defiance…
Harvard University is currently facing a federal civil rights complaint alleging the institution’s inadequacy in addressing antisemitism on campus. The complainants claim an atmosphere of “rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment” persists at the educational institute, which they allege escalated notably in the wake of recent Hamas terrorist attacks. The specifics of the filed complaint remain…
Lambda Legal, a leading LGBTQ rights group, revealed on Monday a lawsuit aimed at halting the enforcement of a Louisiana ban on gender affirming procedures for transgender youth. The lawsuit was consolidated by the civil rights organization in conjunction with the Center for Health Law & Policy Innovation of Harvard Law and a local Louisiana…
Today’s challenging financial environment, characterized by high interest rates and historically low housing availability, proves particularly difficult for residential mortgage lenders, especially non-bank lenders. The conditions might push such institutions to consider strategic transactions in order to raise capital, seek out strategic buyers, or acquire struggling competitors. When considering such opportunities, lenders must be mindful…
In a recent interview, Berkeley Law professor Dylan Penningroth emphasizes the importance of recognizing the Black community as a diverse group with varying perspectives, and utilizing law as a tool for both oppression and change. His comments were part of a wider discussion about Black history, law, and the civil rights movement. Penningroth, the author…
Massachusetts voters have filed an objection against former US President Donald Trump, seeking to remove him from the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot. This step mirrors similar actions in other states—namely, Maine and Colorado, where efforts to exclude Trump from their 2024 ballots have already been successful. The objection was made to the Massachusetts Ballot…
In a recent verdict, the Israeli Supreme Court delayed the applicability of Amendment No. 12 to the Basic Law, an enactment that has been seen by many as an amendment for personal motives and an abuse of the Knesset. In the case of Movement for Quality Government in Israel v Knesset, a majority of six…
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman’s Manhattan offices became the site of a protest led by recognizable civil rights activist Al Sharpton this past Thursday. Noted for his controversial and sometimes divisive stance, Ackman’s recent campaign to oust the president of Harvard University has spurred widespread conversation and backlash among industry insiders and public figures alike. Those…
A federal judge issued an opinion on Wednesday allowing the United States Military Academy at West Point to continue using race as a factor in their admissions process. This ruling delivers a sharp contrast to the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that essentially ended the use of race-based affirmative action at most colleges and universities in…
The National Law Journal announces the commencement of nominations for the 2024 Elite Trial Lawyers awards. The program recognises the exemplary work done by US-based law firms for plaintiffs. Awardees are typically those who have set new standards or introduced novel approaches in their field. In its 2024 installment, the Elite Trial Lawyers awards shall…
A federal judge on Sunday decided that Mississippi officials have the authority to establish the projected state-run court in Jackson, the state capital, where most inhabitants are African Americans. This ruling was made in spite of the objections raised by the NAACP and was part of a broader legal struggle concerning Mississippi’s enhancement of state…
In a recent legal development, a former bankruptcy judge from Houston, who had resigned following undisclosed romantic involvement with a lawyer, is now claiming judicial immunity. The ex-judge has sought to dismiss a lawsuit which alleges that he violated a shareholder’s civil rights. The ex-judge was previously brought into the limelight for failing to disclose…
The Supreme Court of Israel has struck down a significant element of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial reform law this week. This disputed reform sought to prevent judges from nullifying government decisions that they considered to be unreasonable. In July 2023, after seven months of arduous debate and widespread unrest, Netanyahu’s government passed a…
The protection guaranteed to pure speech — words that are spoken or written — under the First Amendment, particularly as they pertain to legal observers at protests, is the subject of current petitions before the Supreme Court. The contentious issue raises questions about the perceived impunity of law enforcement during protests and the rights of…
Last Thursday, the Thai House of Representatives passed four bills that propose amendments to the country’s Civil and Commercial Code, thus seeking to legalize same-sex marriage. The bills aim to alter phrases like “men and women” and “husband and wife” in the Civil and Commercial Code to “individuals” and “marriage partners,” respectively, thus enabling same-sex…
Civil rights organizations, led chiefly by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), initiated a legal battle on Tuesday, taking aim at a new Texas law that equips state officials with expanded powers to arrest, prosecute, and deport individuals who cross into the U.S. from Mexico unlawfully. The act, known as SB4, was signed into law…
A notable development has recently marked the legal case revolving around OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, and tech behemoth, Microsoft. Pulitzer Prize winning authors and nonfiction writers, in a collective effort, have amended their copyright infringement lawsuit against the two tech conglomerates. This action was led by author Julian Sancton and included eminent personalities such…
A coalition of Jewish organizations has expressed “strong support” for a White House nominee who could become the first Muslim federal appellate judge. The statement comes after the nominee, Adeel Abdullah Mangi, faced aggressive Republican questioning over the Israel-Hamas war during his confirmation hearing. The nominee is being assessed by US senators for a New Jersey seat on…
WilmerHale’s investigation into Sam Altman’s dismissal from OpenAI serves double purposes—to assist the company in regaining trust, as well clarify the law firm’s position following a controversial congressional hearing during which it guided two university presidents. The investigation aims to shed light on the reasons behind Altman’s termination at the Microsoft-supported startup. This information will…
Law clerks and federal public defenders are often left with little to no legal recourse when subjected to mistreatment by members of the judiciary, due to the federal judiciary’s exemption from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such employees are unable to pursue legal action and claim damages caused by such misconduct….
The unfolding legal tale surrounding U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently took a new turn. As reported, Clarence appears to have used his position to seek additional financial gain, expanding the saga’s complexity and raising further questions. Legal professionals worldwide are closely watching the developments and implications this story might have on judicial conduct…
In the 2023 Pro Bono Innovators issue, Bloomberg Law recognized Fenwick & West for reaching a groundbreaking settlement against San Mateo Superior Court’s civil assessments program. Fenwick achieved this settlement in partnership with Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, ACLU Foundation of Northern California, and Bay Area Legal Aid. The…