A Michigan judge has ruled that Flint residents can sue state officials over the recent water crisis. In a 50-page opinion dated Wednesday and made public Thursday, Judge Mark Boonstra of the Michigan Court of Appeals , found that citizens had provided sufficient facts against the state that, if proven, would show actions by the [...]
UN human rights expert Karima Bennoune on Wednesday urged the international community to help end the destruction of cultural heritage. Referencing a 24-page report , Bennoune explained how destruction of culture often goes unnoticed and unpunished though it is “most often irreversible” and utilized as a weapon of warfare for cultural cleansing. The report then [...]
The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a contentious bill that allows public officials to be charged with a crime for identifying a police officer who used force against someone. The new statutory requirements would bar any public officials or employees from identifying police officers until 30 days after the use of force incident or after [...]
The Venezuelan Parliament on Tuesday voted to open criminal impeachment proceedings against sitting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alleging that he manipulated the constitution to remain in power. Arguing that Maduro staged a coup, the congress attempted to have Maduro accept a recall vote by listening to the testimony of accusers, some of whom claim that [...]
Government officials gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly meeting on Wednesday considered a report on the growing problem of violence and severe discrimination against people with albinism. The report, written by human rights expert Ikponwosa Ero, called for action to end the discrimination that she asserted was founded on traditional and culturally [...]
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court dismissed an application on Thursday by more than 300 detained asylum-seekers requesting transfer to Australia. The judge dismissed the case because the lawyer signed the application instead of the complainants. Any migrants who are intercepted before reaching Australia are sent by officials to either Manus Island in Papua New [...]
A Spanish court ordered automobile manufacturer Volkswagen (VW) and its subsidiary in Valladolid to pay €5,006 in a lawsuit regarding its emissions scandal. VW has been accused of implementing software in its vehicles that could cheat emissions tests. The plaintiff was an owner of an Audi Q5 purchased in 2013 for about €50,000. Although the [...]
The UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR) on Wednesday called 2016 the worst year for refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea as the death toll reached its highest point. The agency expressed concern because the current death tolls are on track to supersede the already high numbers from 2015. The agency believes the death rates are due to [...]
The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) , along with the Urban Peace Institute and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP filed a lawsuit on Thursday alleging gang injunctions conducted by the Los Angeles officials violate due process rights of community members. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Central [...]
JURIST Guest Columnist Robert Gyenes discusses the UNCITRAL Working Group II (Dispute Resolution) in Vienna, which aims to negotiate an international mediation treaty or law… The 65th meeting of the UN Commission on International Trade Law’s Working Group II recently closed its 12-23 September session in Vienna, Austria. It was the latest in a series [...]
