The US Department of Justice Wednesday reached a $144.5 million settlement with families of those injured and killed in the 2017 mass shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas. In 2017 Devin Kelley opened fire during a church service, killing 26 and injuring 22 others. Kelley later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. [...]
A French court Monday began hearing the criminal trial of Lebanese-Canadian Hassan Diab, who is accused of committing the 1980 bombing of the Copernic synagogue. The trial is expected to last three weeks and will be conducted in abstentia, meaning Diab will not be present for the trial. The bombing, which took place on October [...]
A US federal judge in Texas Thursday ruled that private health insurance companies are not required to cover contraceptives, STD screenings or HIV prevention treatment (pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP). The court held that the preventative care minimum of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) violated the claimant’s rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This [...]
Malaysia’s Parliament Monday began its consideration of two bills introduced to abolish mandatory death penalties for certain sentences. The Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Bill of 2023 would reverse prior laws that require a mandatory death sentence for 33 different offenses. While the bill would not completely abolish the use of the death penalty, it [...]
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) Wednesday held its first hearing in Beatriz v. El Salvador, a case addressing abortion access in El Salvador. Beatriz, whose real name is witheld for privacy, was denied an abortion in El Salvador despite risks to her health. In early 2013, Beatriz was informed by doctors that her [...]
In a Wednesday article for the National Review, US Fifth Circuit Judge James Ho and US Eleventh Circuit Judge Elizabeth Branch called for law schools to “crackdown” on punishments for law student protestors. Ho and Branch argued that universities that allow their students to “disrupt without consequences” promote intolerance. While many universities have policies in [...]
The Australian Disability Royal Commission Tuesday published their final progress report for 2022, detailing findings on the challenges people with disabilities face in public spaces, including sexual abuse, assault and discrimination. The report details the findings of seven public hearings conducted between July and December of 2022. Public Hearing 28 focused on the violence and [...]
College students across Florida staged walkouts this week in protest of Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposal to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs and associated “belief systems” on college campuses. House Bill 999 targets diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and the study of critical race theory at public Florida universities. The bill includes a ban [...]
The US Supreme Court Monday agreed to hear a Great Lakes Insurance SE v. Raiders Retreat Realty Co., LLC, which asks the court to determine whether a choice of law clause in a maritime contract can be deemed unenforceable due to “strong public policy.” While this case looks at choice of law in maritime contracts [...]
