The pending deportation of British Columbia, Canada climate activist Zain Haq, scheduled for last Sunday, was called off last week, according to his lawyer Randall Cohn. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) contacted Haq to confirm he would not face a removal order. Haq’s upbringing was in Pakistan before he arrived in Canada on a [...]
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Alabama legislature rejects bill allowing for resentencing of death row inmates
The Alabama House of Representatives rejected a bill on Wednesday that would allow the resentencing of death row inmates who were sentenced by a trial judge. The bill was defeated in Alabama’s House Judicial Committee by a 9-4 vote. In 2016, the US Supreme Court issued an opinion on Hursts v. Florida finding, “The Sixth [...]
Germany parliament authorizes the issuance of payment cards for asylum seekers and refugees
The German parliament, the Bundestag, passed contentious legislation on Friday authorizing the issuance of payment cards to asylum seekers and refugees for the distribution of state benefits. The nationwide legal framework was approved following a conference between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the state prime ministers in November last year, during which 14 out of the [...]
US EPA issues new drinking water standards targeting PFAS chemicals
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the finalization of new drinking water standards Wednesday that aim to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals legally allowed in water in the United States. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetical chemicals that have been used in commercial products since the 1950s. The chemicals can be found [...]
Texas appeals court overturns voter fraud conviction of woman who voted despite felony conviction
The Court of Appeals of the Second Appellate District of Texas threw out a voter fraud conviction Thursday that would have put a Texas woman accused of voting while on supervised release after being convicted of a felony behind bars for five years. Texas does not allow those convicted of a felony to vote in [...]
A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Tuesday that a controversial Texas law, Senate Bill (SB) 4, will remain on hold as litigation continues. SB4, the controversial Texas law that is the subject of this continued litigation, was originally signed into law in December 2023. If enforced, it would [...]
The US Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on whether Indian Health Services (IHS) should be reimbursed for “contract support costs” associated with third parties, such as Medicare and Medicaid. In a US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision, the court found that third-party reimbursements could not be excluded under its statute. In contrast, [...]
US Supreme Court allows Texas law criminalizing illegal entry from abroad to go into effect
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted a stay that prohibited the enforcement of a Texas law that criminalizes illegal entry into the state from other countries, allowing the law to go into effect. While Justice Samuel Alito indefinitely extended the stay Monday afternoon, he found himself among the six justices voting to lift the stay [...]
Canada Supreme Court expands scope of judicial review for tribunal decisions
The Supreme Court of Canada clarified on Friday the scope of judicial review for tribunal decisions, holding that judicial review is available even when a statutory right to appeal from tribunal decisions is limited to pure questions of law. The case involved an insurance dispute. The insurer refused to pay accident benefits to the claimant, [...]
South Carolina governor signs bill legalizing permitless concealed carry of firearms
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed a bill Thursday permitting concealed and open carry for firearms throughout the state. The so-called “constitutional carry” bill allows individuals who are 18 and above and legally able to own a firearm to carry that firearm either openly or concealed. The bill does not require any registration or training [...]