The Taiwan Judicial Yuan President Lai Hau-min announced Tuesday a new law to remove judges, but critics argue the measure could destroy judicial independence. The new law requires that judges be evaluated every three years by a committee that will include two academics and two impartial people from the community to be selected by the [...]
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday initiated a grand jury investigation into the torture and death of a detainee at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad. Manadel Al-Jamadi was captured by US Navy SEALs on November 4, 2003 and held in Abu Ghraib prison as a “ghost detainee,” or unregistered prisoner, for his suspected [...]
The Oklahoma Supreme Court Tuesday upheld a state immigration law as constitutional except for a section denying bail to illegal immigrants charged with crimes. The court ruled 8-1 that HB 1804’s denial of bail to illegal immigrants charged with felonies or for driving under the influence was unconstitutional because it infringed on the authority of [...]
A judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Tuesday rejected a motion by Proposition 8 supporters to vacate Judge Vaughn Walker’s holding that the same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional . Proposition 8 supporters had sought to have Walker recused for a conflict of interest after he revealed that he [...]
The US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California on Monday ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) , a federal law barring
A court in Moscow acquitted human rights activist Oleg Orlov of a libel suit brought by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov over an allegation that he was responsible for the killing of a Chechen rights activist. The court found that the allegations were hypothetical and thus, did not constitute libel. Kadryov brought the charges against Orlov, [...]
Two South African rights groups on Tuesday filed suit against the government of South Africa to revoke the refugee status of former Rwandan army chief of staff General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa. The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrant Rights (CoRMSA) argue that South Africa is violating national and international [...]
The French National Assembly on Tuesday voted 293-222 to reject a bill seeking to legalize same-sex marriage . The Union for Popular Movement (UMP) , a conservative political party lead by France’s President Nicolas Sarkosy , opposed the bill while the Socialist Party (PS) supported the proposal. Same-sex couples can form civil unions in France, [...]
The Philippines Supreme Court said Tuesday that it would allow the live broadcast of the November 2009 Maguindanao Massacre trial subject to guidelines set by the court. The court decided to allow broadcast coverage in this particular situation involving the trial of several members of a clan accused of killing 57 people, including 31 journalists, [...]
Finnish telecommunications company Nokia announced Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement with Apple , settling all patent disputes between the parties and directing Apple to pay royalties to Nokia for the term of the agreement. Both companies agreed to withdraw all complaints filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and end 46 [...]
