Federal judge rules Florida violated Everglades cleanup agreement News
Federal judge rules Florida violated Everglades cleanup agreement

[JURIST] A Miami federal judge has ruled [opinion, PDF] that Florida violated the terms of a 1991 agreement to reduce phosphorus levels in the Everglades. The US Supreme Court previously remanded [JURIST report] the case after hearing an appeal [JURIST report]. The decision by the 11th Circuit [text] resulted from a lawsuit [advocacy website press release] by the Miccosukee Indian tribe [official website] that claimed their reservation in the Everglades suffered damage from polluted runoff. In his ruling Wednesday US District Court Judge Federico Moreno ordered a special master to hold a hearing within 90 days to recommend the next course of action. The St. Petersburg Times has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.