The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday upheld preliminary injunctions blocking implementation of a 2019 rule changing the criteria the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can use in making a public charge inadmissibility determination. The rule changed the definition of “likely to become a ‘public charge'” to include anyone likely to participate [...]

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit Wednesday against the Village of Airmont, New York, for religious discrimination against Orthodox Jews. The complaint explains the history of Airmont, which was found by the Second Circuit to have been created partially to “impose unlawful zoning restrictions” to prevent Orthodox Jews from practicing their religion in [...]

The US Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in Edwards v. Vannoy on whether the Supreme Court’s prior decision in Ramos v. Louisiana applies retroactively to cases on federal collateral review. The Supreme Court held in Ramos earlier this year that criminal defendants have a right to a unanimous jury verdict in state criminal trials under [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on Wednesday reversed a lower court injunction that had blocked a North Carolina law requiring voters to present photo identification. In 2018 North Carolina voters approved a state constitutional amendment (Art. VI sec. 2(4)) requiring in-person voters to “present photographic identification before voting.” The same year, [...]

The District Court of The Hague began hearings against Royal Dutch Shell on Tuesday in a case brought by 17,379 co-plaintiffs and seven Dutch climate activist groups. The co-plaintiffs, led by Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie), are demanding that Shell reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, and [...]

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday that New Zealand will extend paid sick leave from five days to 10 days. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood is to bring the bill to extend paid sick leave to the parliament in the coming weeks. Wood cited difficulties arising from COVID-19 sick leave policies as [...]

A panel of the High Court for England and Wales ruled on Monday that children under the age of 16 are probably not capable of providing informed consent when being prescribed puberty-blocking drugs to address gender dysphoria. As such, the high court suspended such clinical treatment for children below 16 unless the parties are able [...]

Three Hong Hong democracy activists were sentenced to prison Wednesday for their involvement in 2019 antigovernment protests. Activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 13 months in prison for his specific role in protests at a Hong Kong police station. Wong’s comrade Agnes Chow was sentenced to 10 months in prison while another associate, Ivan Lam, [...]

The Trump campaign filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, alleging that approximately 221,000 ballots were affected by absentee voting abuse. More than three million ballots were cast in Wisconsin during the general election. Wisconsin finished a partial recount of the votes on Sunday, and Governor Tony Evers formally certified Joe Biden’s victory [...]

The New Zealand Parliament passed new legislation Tuesday to allow drug and substance testing services to operate legally over the summer festival season. The Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill was passed by a majority of 86-33. The bill will amend the existing Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (the 1975 Act) and the Psychoactive Substances Act [...]