The US Supreme Court handed down unanimous decisions in two cases Tuesday, including Logan v. US where the Court held a defendant's misdemeanor convictions that did not result in him losing civil rights nonetheless allow a longer sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) . Under the ACCA, so-called "career criminals" may be subjected [...]
The New Jersey Senate Budget Committee Monday voted 8-4 to pass a bill designed to replace capital punishment with life in prison, paving the way for New Jersey to abolish the death penalty all together. The New Jersey Assembly is scheduled to vote on the bill next week , and proponents of the legislation hope [...]
US House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) has asked US Attorney General Michael Mukasey to help the committee obtain transcripts of interviews with US President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and five White House aides from the criminal investigation into the Valerie Plame leak scandal , according to Monday [...]
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Monday encouraged all nations involved in the International Criminal Court (ICC) to help arrest Sudanese and Ugandan crimes against humanity suspects . The ICC has executed arrest warrants for seven men who have not yet been taken into custody – two Sudanese men accused of crimes against humanity for actions [...]
The Catholic Diocese of Davenport has agreed to settle 156 clergy sex abuse claims for $37 million , paving the way for the diocese to emerge from bankruptcy. The Davenport, Iowa diocese filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year, and a settlement agreement became a requirement of filing for reorganization in the US Bankruptcy Court for [...]
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State et al. v. Prison Fellowship Ministries Inc. et al., United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, December 3, 2007 . Read the full text of the opinion . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia will recommence participation in the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) if western nations ratify the treaty. NATO is currently discussing the possibility of ratifying an adapted CFE, according to a spokesperson. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also demanded in a statement that NATO be allowed [...]
Over thirty military officers and supporters involved in an aborted coup attempt against Philippine President Gloria Arroyo last week were formally charged with rebellion Monday. Last Thursday, about a dozen officers on trial in the Philippines in connection with a failed 2003 mutiny walked out of court, took control of a Manila hotel, and demanded [...]
A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that included retired US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor ruled Monday that using taxpayer money to fund a faith-based treatment program in a state jail is unconstitutional. The voluntary program, the InnerChange Freedom Initiative , immerses prisoners in evangelical Christianity by [...]
The military government of Myanmar reported Monday that it has released 8,585 detainees since the middle of November to celebrate progress toward drafting a national constitution , but opposition party National League for Democracy said that number only includes 10 political prisoners. International groups believe that Myanmar is still detaining 1,800 political prisoners, including 700 [...]
