The US Supreme Court Monday ruled that the US government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a doctor knowingly prescribed opioids “in an unauthorized manner” in order to secure a conviction for the illegal distribution of controlled substances. In the case of Ruan v. United States, Doctors Xiulu Ruan and Shakeel Kahnalong were convicted [...]

The US Supreme Court Friday released its opinion in Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, a case relating to Medicare reimbursement. The court held that “calculating the Medicare fraction, individuals ‘entitled to benefits’ are all those qualifying for the program, regardless of whether they receive Medicare payments for part or all of a hospital stay.” In the [...]
The US Supreme Court Thursday held that prisoners on death row may challenge their state’s method of execution under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In Nance v. Ward, the court addressed the issue of whether a death row inmate could bring a case challenging the method of execution they will face. Petitioner Michael Nance received a death [...]

The US Supreme Court Thursday held that a Miranda violation is not basis to bring a claim under 42 USC § 1983 in the case of Vega v. Tekoh. 42 USC § 1983 allows for individuals to sue the government for civil rights violations. The case first arose when a female patient accused Terrence Tekoh of [...]

The US Supreme court ruled in a 7-2 decision Tuesday that attempted robbery under the Hobbs Act does not meet the definition of a “crime of violence” under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3) . In United States v. Taylor, Justin Taylor was charged with “conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and attempted Hobbs Act robbery,” which is [...]
Protests in Ecuador continued Sunday as hundreds of indigenous people went to the capital Quito to demand economic reforms. The protesters want President Guillermo Lasso to lower price gas prices, stop additional oil and mining development, and extend deadlines for small farmers to pay off debts, among other things. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of [...]

A group of 20 students Friday announced that they had filed a federal lawsuit against Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan. The students are seeking for school policy to be changed after a shooting there in 2021. The lawsuit has been filed by the students in response to the school’s denial to allow an independent [...]
The Iowa Supreme Court Friday held in Planned Parenthood v. Reynolds that abortion is not a fundamental right under the state constitution. The decision overturns a 2018 ruling which held there is a fundamental right to abortion in Iowa. Planned Parenthood sued to challenge a 2020 law which requires a 24 hour waiting period before an [...]

The Toronto police chief Wednesday publicly apologized for the department’s use of force which disproportionately impacts communities of color. Police Chief James Ramer apologized for the pain caused by Toronto police using force and strip searches. Ramer said, “As an organization we have not done enough to ensure that every person in our city receives [...]

The US Supreme Court Wednesday broadened federal courts’ abilities to decide whether a child in an international custody dispute has to return to their home country by saying that courts do not need to consider “all possible ameliorative measures” for a child’s return when a child is at risk of grave harm. In the case [...]