The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that upon denial of class certification, a member of a class action suit may not commence a new class action on behalf of others beyond the time allowed by the applicable statute of limitations. In China Agritech, Inc., v. Resh , the court determined that a series of [...]
The US Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Monday that a Minnesota revocation-on-divorce law—which automatically redirects life-insurance payments to secondary beneficiaries, such as children, if the primary is an ex-spouse—is not a violation of the constitution’s contracts clause. Sveen v. Melin questioned whether a man’s ex-wife or his adult children were the rightful beneficiaries of the proceeds [...]
In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court ruled Monday that an Ohio law that uses voter inactivity as a reason to remove names from the voter registration list is not unconstitutional. Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute challenged the state’s voter registration maintenance policy, which permits the government to remove individuals from the voter [...]
Prosecutors added new obstruction of justice charges Friday against President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort, his third indictment since Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to probe into possible Russian influence in US political affairs. The charges also include the addition of a new defendant—Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian partner of Manafort’s—for trying to [...]
The Canadian Senate passed a bill Friday to legalize the recreational use of marijuana with a vote of 56 to 30 (with one abstaining). The bill, known as the Cannabis Act, outlines measures to control and regulate how cannabis is grown, distributed, and sold, while prohibiting any promotion, packaging, and labeling that could be “appealing [...]
The Trump administration said Thursday that it will not defend portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a challenge by 20 states. The administration filed a response Thursday to the complaint along with a letter from Attorney General Jeff Sessions agreeing with the plaintiffs and calling for a declaratory judgment by the court to [...]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber acquitted former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and military leader Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo Friday on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In 2016, Bemba was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for two counts of crimes against humanity (murder and [...]
New Jersey’s legislature approved a bill to legalize sports gambling on Thursday, approximately three weeks after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state to allow the practice. Assembly Bill 1441 passed first, then identical Senate Bill 2602 was passed. According to the bill, casinos with horse racing and sports betting will be taxed [...]
Two transgender women represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) won a challenge Wednesday against Iowa’s Department of Human Services in the Iowa District Court for Polk County over its ban on Medicaid coverage for transition-related surgeries. The court found that the regulation banning Medicaid coverage for transition-related surgeries violates the Iowa Civil Rights [...]
The Arizona Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a Phoenix anti-discrimination law that makes it illegal for businesses to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation. The suit was brought by the two owners of a business that specializes in designing wedding and special event products. They are “devout Christians and believe their work [...]
