The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a driver’s refusal of a breathalyzer test cannot be used as evidence against them in a criminal trial. In Elliot v. State the court unanimously found that a person’s right against self-incrimination under Article I, Section I, Paragraph XVI of the Georgia Constitution prohibits admission in a [...]
Legal advocacy group Public Citizen filed the first legal challenge to US President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration seeking declaratory and injunctive relief on behalf of three Texas landowners and a non-profit environmental group. The complaint alleges that the necessary seizures of property from the Texas landowners would constitute an “imminent invasion of their privacy and [...]
The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday upheld a previous decision preventing the state from enforcing two regulations that limit Medicaid coverage of abortion services. Brought by Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, the lawsuit argued that the regulations violated the equal protection clause of Alaska’s constitution by discriminating against women choosing to have an abortion. [...]
Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a gag order on Friday prohibiting Roger Stone, attorneys on both sides, and all witnesses and interested parties from making statements to the media or the public regarding Stone’s criminal case. All listed persons are further prohibited from making any [...]
A federal appeals court on Friday held that the Trump Administration cannot deny funds to Philadelphia because of its status as a “sanctuary city.” In September 2017 Philadelphia was denied funds from Byrn JAG, a federal grant used to fund criminal justice programs. The fund distributes over $80 million in awards each year, and since [...]
The US Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a challenge to the Trump Administration’s citizenship question on the 2020 census. Arguments are set for the second week of April. A district court previously enjoined the Secretary of Commerce from including the question due to a violation of Administrative Procedure Act §701. The lower court said that, [...]
The US Senate passed the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019 on a voice vote Thursday, which would make lynching a federal hate crime. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced the bill the same day it was passed. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) co-sponsored the bill. The Senate had unanimously passed a similar bill in December, but [...]
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday published an action plan to reduce manmade Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from drinking water. The action plan lays out various short term and long term actions and proposals, including increased research and efforts to clean-up and prevent future contamination. One of the priorities for the EPA [...]
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) brought a lawsuit on Thursday against US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on behalf of two women who were detained in Montana after a Border Patrol officer heard them speaking Spanish. Ana Suda and Martha Hernandez, both US citizens, were in line to buy groceries at a convenience store [...]
The US Senate on Thursday confirmed William Barr as Attorney General, replacing acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. Barr previously served as Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993 and has since practiced in the private sector. Barr’s confirmation fills a position that has been vacant since President Donald Trump’s first Attorney [...]
