New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced at a press conference Friday morning that all non-essential workers throughout New York State are required to stay home in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This state-wide ban comes a day after California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, ordered a statewide shelter in place for all California [...]
The US Supreme Court on Thursday extended the deadline to file a petition for writ of certiorari in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The new rule allows petitioners to file within 150 days of the lower court’s decision, an increase from the 90-day requirement ordinarily used. The order submitted also clarifies that subsequent time extensions [...]
A US Naval officer in Massachusetts filed suit against the Department of Defense for discrimination under the current administration’s transgender military ban Tuesday. The plaintiff is going by the name James Doe in the interest of privacy. Doe came out as transgender after the ban went into effect in 2019, so she was not protected [...]
Two bills restricting the rights of transgender people in Idaho were sent to Governor Brad Little for signature this week. HB 509 prevents transgender people from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates. HB 500 bans transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams. Idaho’s government has been warned that both bills will [...]
Six former US officials with esteemed careers in diplomacy and prosecuting war crimes issued a brief but forceful statement Wednesday criticizing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s response to recent actions at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Earlier this month, ICC prosecutors won an appeal allowing them to continue an investigation into war crimes during the [...]
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Wednesday that they will halt enforcement efforts in the US, excluding attempts to deport foreign nationals who pose a public safety risk. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, ICE has suspended immigration enforcement in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. ICE said that they will [...]
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday signed a bill passed by the state assembly the same day, providing paid sick leave and family leave benefits to New York citizens who are ill or quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic. The benefits of the new law apply both to those who are sick and those in [...]
Two migrants rights groups sued the US on Tuesday in an effort to stop the deportation of three children to El Salvador. The Capital Area Immigrants Rights Coalition and the Justice Action Center filed suit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of three minor children who are facing deportation to [...]
US President Donald Trump signed into law the COVID-19 bipartisan relief package on Wednesday. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides sick leave and expanded safety net spending. Another key feature of the bill is providing free testing for COVID-19. The Act provides paid sick leave for any employees asked to self-quarantine, diagnosed with COVID-19, [...]
US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration would be suspending all evictions and foreclosures through the end of April to ease people’s concerns during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, he activated the Defense Production Act, which was established in the 1950s and used during wartime. It allows the president to force American businesses [...]