The US District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday that accuses President Joe Biden of being complicit in genocide in Gaza because of the president’s support for Israel’s military operation. The decision, written by Judge Jeffrey S. White, hinged on jurisdictional questions and did not speak to the substantive claims [...]
Search Results for: judicial independence
The Sri Lankan Parliament passed a controversial bill Wednesday, which has been condemned by opposition politicians and several human rights groups for curtailing free speech in the country. The Online Safety Bill aims to tackle cybercrimes such as child abuse, data theft and online fraud. However, human rights organizations warned that the bill poses a [...]
UN experts commend lawyers in Iran for their commitment to rule of law
United Nations human rights experts Monday hailed lawyers in Iran for their unwavering and courageous commitment to the rule of law ahead of the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, which is observed January 24. The Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human [...]
No sooner had the dust of 2023 settled than the leader of the executive arm of Kenya’s government launched missiles of subliminal jibes aimed at what he termed “a tyrannical and corrupt judiciary.” President William Ruto—a product of the Kenyan Supreme Court’s ruling on the 2022 Presidential Petition—averred that some judges were bent on sabotaging [...]
Hong Kong appellate court expunges partial evidence of police non-compliance with insignia policies
The Hong Kong Court of Appeal expunged on Tuesday applicants’ new evidence that sought to demonstrate the regularity and widespread of frontline police officers’ non-compliance with the insignia policies. The court reasoned that large-scale non-compliance of a constant or definite pattern was a new allegation that went beyond the scope of the applicants’ original case. [...]
Trump's Wrongful Pardons for Crimes Against International Law
“So far from it being unjust to punish him, it would be unjust if his wrongs were allowed to go unpunished.” Nuremberg Tribunal (1946) At the beginning of 2024, former President Donald J. Trump’s most conspicuously unsupportable legal claim has been his personal immunity from criminal prosecution. With this claim, Mr. Trump and his lead [...]
Trial of Jimmy Lai: 'It's About Freedom and Democracy,' Says Hong Kong Freedom Committee Director
The Hong Kong trial of prominent pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai has garnered widespread attention globally. Lai, a 76-year-old British citizen and high-profile critic of Beijing, faces national security charges, and his trial is expected to take months. Lai is a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. His detention and subsequent trial exemplify [...]
US enacts new labor law designed to prevent worker misclassification
The US Department of Labor enacted a final rule Tuesday designed to safeguard workers from misclassification as “independent contractors” rather than “employees.” The new labor rule provides greater clarity for classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Generally, the FLSA guarantees employees minimum wage compensation, time-and-a-half for any overtime hours worked, and protections against [...]
India apex court rejects plea to dismiss minister from state cabinet on money laundering charges
The Supreme Court of India (SC) on Friday dismissed a plea against the Madras High Court’s September 2023 judgment that left it to the chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu to decide if Minister V. Senthil Balaji, who was arrested due to his alleged involvement in money laundering linked to a jobs-for-cash scam [...]
Kenya judicial commission and NGOs urge Ruto to uphold rule of law amid criticism
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) expressed discontent on Wednesday over Kenyan President William Ruto’s comments concerning the judiciary’s functioning. Chairperson of the JSC Chief Justice Martha Koome issued a statement highlighting concerns about criticism faced by judges for perceived opposition to state programs. According to the statement: The Commission wishes to draw the attention of [...]