In effect since July 1, the new law [Fla Stat 414.0652 text] was signed by Governor Rick Scott [official website] at the end of May and requires applicants for welfare benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) [official website] program to submit to and fund a urinalysis for substance screening. Individuals who pass receive reimbursement for the cost of the test, and those who fail lose their TANF benefits for one year. The ACLU complaint notes that the Supreme Court has held that suspicionless drug testing by the government is an unreasonable search that violates the Fourth Amendment, the only exceptions being for substantial public safety concerns and students in the public school system. TANF is a federal block grant program passed under 1996 welfare reform legislation aimed at turning welfare into a temporary assistance program. In June, the ACLUFL filed suit [JURIST report] challenging Scott's executive order mandating state agencies to enact pre-employment drug screening for all prospective employees and provide for random drug testing of all current agency employees regardless of classification.

Blagojevich was previously found guilty [JURIST report] last year of making false statements to the FBI, but the jury remained deadlocked on 23 additional charges. The prosecutors dropped some of the charges [JURIST report] to simplify the case for retrial including charges for racketeering. Last September, lawyers for Blagojevich asked the judge to throw out the sole conviction [JURIST report], stating that the government failed to meet its required burden of proof and that cross-examinations by the defense were plagued by "obstructionist" objections [Chicago Tribune report], which the court continuously sustained. In January 2009, the Illinois State Senate voted unanimously [JURIST report] to convict Blagojevich of abuse of power and remove him from office. Blagojevich and his former chief of staff John Harris were initially arrested [JURIST report] in December 2008.

The Rhode Island decision is one of many immigration issues currently pending across the country. In June, the US Supreme Court [official website] denied certiorari [order list, PDF] in Martinez v. Regents of the University of California [docket], thereby rejecting a challenge to California's policy [JURIST report] of granting in-state tuition for state colleges and universities to illegal immigrants who graduated from California high schools. Last year, the California Supreme Court [official website] held [opinion, PDF; JURIST report] that the state's policy did not conflict with federal law because a student's high school graduation, not his or her residency, formed the basis for granting in-state tuition. Most students who take advantage of this rule are enrolled in community colleges [LAT report].

Other courts have also weighed in on the constitutionality of the individual mandate provision. Earlier this month, a judge for the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania [official website] ruled that the individual mandate is unconstitutional [JURIST report]. Also in September, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit [official website] dismissed two lawsuits [JURIST report] challenging the mandate's constitutionality. In Virginia v. Sebelius, the court held that Virginia lacked standing to sue and vacated the judgment of the district court [JURIST report], remanding the case with instructions to dismiss the suit for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. In Liberty University v. Geithner, the court ruled that the suit was filed prematurely, also vacating the lower court ruling [JURIST report], which had declared the act constitutional.

Common Article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions clearly provides that all parties to an armed conflict must apply certain minimum standards in treating all "persons taking no active part in the hostilities". Targeting such persons for attack is prohibited at all times. The insurgents in southern Thailand, through widespread killings of persons taking no active part in hostilities, have violated Common Article 3. They have committed—and are continuing to commit—what amount to acts aimed at spreading terror among the civilian population, and which constitute war crimes.

Thailand has faced other criticism for its human rights record. In August, Thailand received criticism from UN Special Rapporteur on human trafficking Joy Ngozi Ezeilo [official profile], who urged the government of Thailand to improve measures to combat human trafficking [JURIST report], as well as protect the rights of migrant workers. The trafficking trade in Thailand is predominantly used for sexual and labor exploitation, with child trafficking especially rampant. In May, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] urged Thailand's government to investigate crimes [JURIST report] allegedly committed by both government officials and protesters during 2010's violent political protests [JURIST news archive].

Earlier this month, NTC members assured world leaders that Libya will be a society of tolerance and respect for the rule of law [JURIST report]. During a meeting [BBC report] in Paris chaired by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil [BBC profiles] vowed to administer elections and draft a new constitution for Libya within 18 months. Sarkozy said that the airstrikes in Libya would continue until Gaddafi is caught by interim officials

Mubarak's trial began on August 3 [JURIST report] with Mubarak and his sons pleading not guilty to all charges. Rifaat decided last month to end live TV broadcasts [JURIST report] of subsequent proceedings amid protests from the families of victims and praise from several courtroom lawyers who opposed the broadcasts. Officials chose a new location for Mubarak's trial for security reasons after reporting [JURIST reports] that the trial would take place at a convention center in downtown Cairo. In July, an Egyptian criminal court postponed the trial [JURIST report] of former interior minister Habib el-Adly, who also faces murder charges in relation to the pro-democracy demonstrations, so it would coincide with Mubarak's trial. In March, a commission of Arab and Egyptian human rights groups accused Mubarak [JURIST report] and the police of murdering protesters during the demonstrations in Egypt. Mubarak could face the death penalty [JURIST report] if convicted of ordering attacks on protesters. Amnesty International [advocacy website] reported that at least 840 people were killed [JURIST report] and more than 6,000 injured during the Egyptian protests.