Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant on Thursday signed legislation that would require voters to show photo identification at all elections. The bill enacts a constitutional amendment that was approved by 62 percent of Mississippi voters in the November election. Upon signing, Bryant said: This legislation is about protecting the integrity of Mississippi’s elections. … This legislation [...]
The US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved legislation Thursday that would suspend foreign aid to countries that host Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on genocide and war crimes charges. The provision is part of the Fiscal Year 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which must [...]
The Brazilian Access to Information Act took effect Wednesday, increasing government transparency. The law will allow citizens to seek access to information that has previously been shrouded in secrecy despite a constitutional provision requiring public access to information. Speaking at a ceremony Wednesday to mark the swearing in of a truth commission that will investigate [...]
JURIST Associate Editor James Craig, University of Pittsburgh School of Law Class of 2014, discusses the history of affirmative action and argues that recent studies and case law have left affirmative action with an uncertain future…(His opinions are not intended to represent those of JURIST)
JURIST Guest Columnist Azadeh Shahshahani, Director of the National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project at of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, says that Georgia HB 87, which requires residents to carry proof of citizenship, has negatively impacted both the state’s economy and reputation since its adoption last year…
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled Thursday that a New York town council beginning its meeting with prayer is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Town board meetings in Greece, NY are led with prayer, typically Christian-based, although the town maintains that any faith is welcome to lead the council in prayer. [...]
Brazil President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday swore in seven members of a truth commission who will investigate alleged human rights violations that occurred under the country’s military dictatorship. On the same day, the commission held its first meeting , which dealt primarily with bureaucratic matters. The commission is authorized to investigate abuses that occurred under [...]
Illegal immigrants face constitutional and human rights violations in Georgia detention centers, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia (ACLUGA) reported Wednesday. The ACLUGA concluded that the suspected illegal immigrants live in squalor conditions, without access to appropriate medical care. It also documented overwhelming reports of due process rights being denied. Violations include coercion by [...]
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law on Thursday a bill outlawing hydraulic fracturing, or fracking , making Vermont the first US state to ban the controversial technique used to extract natural gas from the ground. Fracking is the process of injecting a high pressured mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the ground to [...]
A Egyptian court on Thursday acquitted 14 police officers charged in the deaths of protesters during popular uprisings last year. The men were charged with killing protesters on January 28, 2011, one of the most violent days during the revolution. Nearly 200 police officers and government officials, including former president Hosni Mubarak , have been [...]
