Recent issues facing public defenders, such as overburdening caseloads and low salaries, have been explored in a new study, released by the RAND Corporation, American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense, National Center for State Courts, and St. Louis lawyer Stephen Hanlon. Public defenders have voted to strike over their salaries,…
A legal dispute has emerged from the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law, as detailed in a recent lawsuit filed by one of its professors. The suit, which primarily names the school, Provost Michael Bruno, and Dean Camille Nelson as defendants, levies charges of First and Fourteenth Amendment rights violations….
Amendments to retirement plans for Pennsylvania judges did not infringe upon the state’s constitution. This judgment, based on a set of precedents that are well over three decades old, was ruled by a state appellate court this Wednesday. The basis of this judgment lies in the uncertainty over whether these new retirement plans will ultimately…
In a historic move, the Supreme Court has issued rulings on the constitutionality of affirmative action in the context of Harvard College and the University of North Carolina’s admissions programs. As discussed in the recent practice update by Akerman LLP, both institutions’ admissions policies were found to be in contravention of the 14th Amendment’s Equal…
A recent court decision in Texas could have implications for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) scope of authority and the manner in which it enforces anti-discrimination guidelines. In a twist of events, the District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled against the CFPB’s March 2022 updates to its examination manual. The manual…
In a ruling that provides further grounds for discussion on the discord between environmental policy and legal interpretation, the Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, recently handed down its Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law in the case of Held v. State of Montana, et al., effectively striking down certain provisions…
A federal grand jury has recently indicted five Memphis Police Department officers for their involvement in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. The officers, who have also been charged under Tennessee state law, have pleaded not guilty to these state charges. The officers indicted by the federal grand jury include Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt…
The news cycle on Wednesday, September 13, brought some noteworthy legal developments, providing plenty of discussions for legal professionals. Events encompassed everything from notable Supreme Court case proceedings to states seeking federal court attention. In one prominent story, the Supreme Court has begun hearing its first cases relating to the Capitol Riot which occurred on…
In a significant development, Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX, faced denial of his pre-trial release after defending allegations of witness tampering, comparing it to the fluctuating nature of cryptocurrency values. His appeal that the incident wasn’t as it seemed on paperwork was unsuccessful. More on this can be found on Reuters. In an era of…
John Yoo, a law school professor at University of California, Berkeley and former attorney under the Bush administration, recently testified on behalf of his peer, John Eastman, in regard to a disbarment trial. The main argument of the trial revolves around Eastman’s claim that former Vice President Mike Pence had unilateral authority, as detailed by…
Tanzanian opposition leader and former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu was released on bail following his arrest by Karatu District Police. His arrest, made in his hotel room, was allegedly due to holding an illegal gathering and obstructing police duties, according to the police. Lissu, who has been a vocal advocate for democratic progress and against…
In a recent decision that has garnered much legal interest, New York Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle ruled the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (NYSCOELIG) as unconstitutional. Marcelle’s decision was in response to the case, Cuomo v. NYSCOELIG, and centered around the grounds that the commission’s statutorily mandated independence breached…
The City of Atlanta recently opted not to confirm a multitude of signatures gathered by protestors against the construction of a police and fire training center, known colloquially as “Cop City”. This decision unfolded after the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a judicial stay earlier this month. Activists, combined under the banner of the…
In a recent decision that continues to shape the landscape of property rights in the United States, the Sixth Circuit has applied the findings of a Supreme Court case, Tyler v. Hennepin County, to affirm the right of a property owner to net tax lien foreclosure proceeds. This is another key development for property owners…
In a key recent development in the legal landscape pertaining to consumer financial protection, a federal court in the Eastern District of Texas has ruled in favor of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several other trade associations in a case against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The court’s ruling, which was delivered on…
In a bold move, Trump’s legal team has called for Judge Chutkan to be removed from their case. During a sentencing hearing of a lower-level participant in the January 6th riots, Judge Chutkan remarked that the organizers of the events had not been charged. Despite her not making specific mention of Trump as being involved…
In a notable victory for former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a New York state judge ruled on Monday that the ethics commission tasked with probing Cuomo’s alleged self-dealing related to his $5 million pandemic book deal, infringes on the constitutional principle of separation of powers. The allegation came into prominence as part of an…
The Biden administration, along with drug manufacturer Danco, have asked the Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court decision that could significantly limit access to medication abortions. Notably, these make up over half of all abortions in the United States. This comes as a response to an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals…
Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik has commanded the police force to arrest and deport High Representative Christian Schmidt should he enter RS territory, a decision detailed in a press conference Dodik held with Bosnia and Herzegovina Security Minister Nenad Nešić, who backs such measures against Schmidt. Reuters reported this development, emphasizing the longstanding political…
The Supreme Court of Ohio dismissed two challenges to the state’s congressional maps on Thursday, maintaining the use of maps that had previously been criticized as unconstitutional. The petitions, which contended the maps were unfairly partisan, had been submitted earlier that week. The court granted one dismissal in Neiman v. LaRose, and another dismissal in…
The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal denied leave to appeal for four pro-democracy protesters convicted for violating public gathering limits during a Labor Day protest in 2020. The denied appeal was for Kwok Wing-kin, Mak Tak-ching, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Stanley Ho Wai-hong. The original conviction was linked to a violation of Section 6 of…
On a recent Friday, Justice Samuel Alito dismissed demands by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee for his withdrawal from a tax dispute owing to his connections with an attorney involved in the case. In a statement inserted into a list of normal summer orders issued on Friday morning, Alito argued that “there is no…
Customized vanity license plates, an expression of personal sentiment, often highlight the delicate balance between free speech and public decency regulation. While many view these personal messages on state-issued plates as the purchaser’s statement, governments frequently argue they have an obligation to “protect” other drivers from potentially offensive expressions. For their part, state entities tend…
In notable news, Alabama’s open defiance of the Supreme Court’s election law ruling marks a potential return trip to DC. Speculations regarding Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s changing stance on the issue are rising, as Republicans seem to be hopeful they can sway his vote. A recent leak intimates that Kavanaugh’s initial vote might have been a…
As climate change continues to pose persistent challenges globally, there is an ongoing debate about the role local laws, such as state constitutions, can play in combatting environmental concerns. Take, for instance, the Massachusetts Constitution, which is presently under scrutiny for possibly being a tool in the fight against climate change. The discussion was ignited…