The Supreme Court of Arkansas struck down a section of its death penalty statute on Thursday, holding that it violated appellant Bruce Ward’s right to due process and equal protection under the US and Arkansas constitutions. Ward was tried and convicted of capital murder in 1990 and sentenced to death. He was scheduled to be [...]
Robert Bowers pleaded not guilty during a preliminary hearing on Thursday to the 44 federal charges he faces for the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The shooting left 11 people dead and six people wounded, including four police officers responding to the scene. Local coverage reported that Bowers’ federal public defenders [...]
The South Korean Supreme Court ruled 9-4 Thursday that males could reject compulsory military service on conscientious or religious reasons, and that they could choose instead to complete “alternative” service. Yonhap, South Korea’s news agency, reported that the ruling stated “punishing (conscientious objectors) for refusing the conscription on grounds of religious faith, in others words, [...]
Austria announced Wednesday that it will not sign the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, following suit with the US and Hungary. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that Austria fears the compact will lead to “a human right to migration.” The Compact’s human rights purpose states: “we ensure effective respect, protection and fulfillment of the [...]
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Tuesday condemning attacks by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Resolution 2439 documents particular concern for the plight of Ebola-stricken areas in the African nation. Citing concerns for government and independent armed groups in the region, the resolution calls for a cessation of violence in the region [...]
A judge for the US District Court for the District of Wyoming on Monday struck down Wyoming’s “ag-gag” laws—laws that criminalize the collection of research data on public and private land—as unconstitutional. The two laws, categorized as trespass laws, were originally passed in 2015. They prohibited an individual from entering onto land “for the purpose of [...]
A federal grand jury on Wednesday charged Robert Bowers in a 44-count indictment for the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that killed 11 people and injured six others including four police officers responding on scene. The indictment alleges that Bowers drove to the Tree of Life Synagogue early on the [...]
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in two cases—one a question of class action payments to charities and the second whether sovereign immunity of foreign governments extends to international organizations. In the first, Frank v. Gaos, petitioners contend that the application of a cy pres award, or the distribution of money from a class [...]
The Spirit Lake Sioux tribe on Tuesday filed suit against the state of North Dakota to ensure that eligible Native American voters residing on reservations in North Dakota will be able to cast a ballot in the 2018 midterm elections and in all future elections. Under current law, North Dakotans cannot vote unless they have [...]
A judge for the US District Court Southern District of Ohio ruled Tuesday that a judge could not be sued for denying name changes for transgender minors. Stephanie and Kylen Whitaker sued Judge Joseph Kirby when he refused to approve a name change for their transgender child. Ohio law requires that name changes be approved by [...]
