The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in McDonnell v. United States . The court is being asked to decide the meaning of “official action” under the fraud statutes used to convict former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell for taking official action to benefit a benefactor. The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit [...]
A judge for Arizona’s Superior Court of Maricopa County on Wednesdaydismissed a lawsuit alleging fraud and other grievances from the primary elections in Arizona for failure to state a claim for which relief can be granted. The plaintiff, John Brakey, alleged that the primary voting in Arizona was hampered with problems including a limited number [...]
More than 700 citizens and residents of Japan filed lawsuits against the government Tuesday over new security laws that would allow the deployment of troops abroad to defend allies. The measure, backed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , would allow for Japan to work with other international government entities in the fight against terrorism. Of [...]
Following an earlier court decision, Belgiam authorities on Wednesday completed the extradition of a terror suspect to France. Salah Abdeslam who is thought to be the criminal mastermind of the Paris terror attacks last year was extradited into French custody. Abdeslam is still facing charges in Belgium in connection with a terror attack in Brussels [...]
The US Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in Heffernan v. City of Paterson that when an employer demotes an employee based on participation in a protected political activity, the employee is entitled to challenge the demotion under Section 1983 and the First Amendment, even when the employer demoted the employee based on an incorrect factual understanding [...]
The Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) on Monday filed a petition with the US Supreme Court asking it to review a ruling that upheld the cancellation of the Redskins trademark. The Redskins requested that the court not consider the case unless it also takes up a similar disparaging trademark case involving a [...]
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases Tuesday. In Mathis v. United States the court heard arguments on “whether a court can consider a statute or subsection, outside of the convicting statute, that defines a term in the convicting statute.” Richard Mathis was convicted as a felon in possession of a firearm [...]
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Monday that states should make it easier for convicted felons to obtain state-issued identification cards upon their release from prison. Lynch’s remarks were delivered at the start of National Reentry Week, during which the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the “Roadmap to Reentry” , the DOJ’s comprehensive vision to [...]
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Australia’s detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island in northern Papua New Guinea is illegal. The court found that the detention center violates article 42 of Papua New Guinea’s constitution , which guarantees personal liberty. The court ordered both governments to take steps to end the [...]
Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice (STJ) on Monday rejected an attempt by the opposition-led National Assembly to shorten President Nicolas Maduro’s term from six years to four. The opposition, which won control of the National Assembly last year, has been attempting to oust Maduro. The STJ held that the proposed constitutional amendment would be viable [...]
