The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution on Friday to send an independent investigation commission to examine alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that occurred in response to mass protests by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and surrounding territory. A press release stated: The Council condemned the disproportionate and [...]
The US Supreme Court added an additional four new cases to its docket on Monday, ranging from preemption of a state ban on uranium mining to allowing for attorney’s fees in social security claimants’ cases. In Virginia Uranium v. Warren , the court agreed to decide when federal law trumps state law in terms of [...]
The Trump administration announced its support on Friday to move forward with the proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would ban Planned Parenthood and similar organizations from receiving federal family planning funds that they currently receive through Title X . The statement provides that, This important proposal would ensure [...]
The US Supreme Court ruled Monday in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis that arbitration clauses in employment contracts prohibiting class action lawsuits are legally enforceable. The plaintiff employees argued that the Federal Arbitration Act contains a provision that arbitration clauses cannot be enforced it they violate some other federal law, and this particular arbitration clause [...]
A group of non-profit corporations including New Jersey Coalition of Diverse and Inclusive Schools (NJCDIS), along with New Jersey students, sued the state of New Jersey Thursday for having racially segregated schools. In addition to relying on Brown v. Board of Education, the plaintiffs also cited the New Jersey Constitution, which expressly prohibits segregation by [...]
Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced a bill on Thursday “to protect transportation personnel and passengers from sexual assault and harassment.” The bill, known as the Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act, would require that commercial airlines, railroads, ships, certain bus lines and other forms of “covered entities” have formal sexual assault and harassment [...]
Human Rights Watch reported on Friday that members of Burundi’s security forces and ruling party youth league “killed, raped, abducted, beat, and intimidated suspected opponents in the months leading up to a constitutional referendum.” The referendum on whether Burundi’s president, Pierre Nkurunziza, can hold office past the two-term limit (potentially allowing him to stay in [...]
California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 785 into law on Thursday, placing limitations on when a person’s immigration status can be disclosed in an open court. The law adds two new sections to the Evidence Code—one that addresses civil cases and one for criminal cases. In both types of cases, the law will require a [...]
The US Department of the Treasury issued new sanctions against Iran on Thursday. The new sanctions target two individuals, Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi and Abdallah Safi-Al-Din. Both of them have been identified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). Bazzi has been identified as a financier for Hezbollah, and Safi-Al-Din has been identified as Hezbollah’s representative to [...]
A Louisiana bill that would ban abortions after 15 weeks was given final legislative approval Wednesday. The act makes it illegal for a physician to perform an abortion after 15 weeks gestational age. Any physician who does so would face up to 10 years in prison and be subject to fines up to $100,000. The [...]
