In a 4-3 decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday reversed a lower court decision to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the families of victims from the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting to sue firearms manufacturers. The plaintiffs allege that gun manufacturer Remington marketed its Bushmaster AR-15-style weapon for illegal and offensive purposes that [...]
The Utah legislature passed a bill late Wednesday banning abortions after 18 weeks into pregnancy with a vote of 23-6 in the state Senate. Supporters of the bill have argued that advancement in science and technology would allow for a fetus to survive birth at earlier stages. The bill now proceeds to Governor Gary Herbert’s [...]
The US Department of State released its annual human rights country reports for 2018 Wednesday. In an attempt to hold other countries accountable for their human rights records, the State Department publishes annual reports on countries around the world. The goal is to guarantee basic human rights including “freedoms of religion or belief, expression, peaceful [...]
Two American students filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a score of elite universities and who the suit refers to as “California con-man, William “Rick” Singer.” The plaintiffs allege fraudulent admissions practices on part of Singer, and negligent oversight on part of the universities. Both of the students were denied admissions to these universities. The complaint [...]
The European Union adopted a non-binding resolution Wednesday against Turkey’s accession as a member of the EU. The resolution passed in the European Parliament by 370 votes in favor, 109 against with 143 abstentions. The assembly noted past and ongoing human, civil, and due process rights violations committed by Turkey. The body expressed concern over Turkey’s [...]
The US Senate voted 59-41 Thursday to reject President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to appropriate an additional $3.6 billion in funding to build a wall along the border of Mexico. Trump had used authority granted to him under the National Emergencies Act to direct funding from other military projects to address the alleged national emergency [...]
The UK House of Commons voted on Wednesday to reject exiting the EU without a deal in place. The vote had a margin of 43, with 321 voting in favor of the measure and 278 voting against the measure. The vote is not legally binding. The measure was amended by a vote of 312-308 to [...]
Much needed legislation, which reins-in use of algorithms to determine who stays in jail pending trial and who gets out, recently passed in the Idaho legislature. House Bill 118, sponsored by Representative Greg Chaney (R-Caldwell), is first-of-its-kind legislation that addresses inherent flaws in the criminal justice system. The bill calls for the algorithms to be [...]
Toledo, Ohio residents last month overwhelmingly voted in favor of the innovative Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR), an amendment to the city charter which declares Lake Erie has enforceable legal rights. What that vote signals may turn out to be more important to Lake Erie than the well-intentioned but legally flawed LEBOR itself. LEBOR [...]
The US Senate approved SJ Res 7 on Wednesday that calls for the removal of US military from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen. The resolution states that only Congress has the authority to declare war and that Congress has not declared war against the Houthis in the Republic of Yemen. The hostilities in Yemen [...]
