Russian air strikes in Syria have killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed numerous structures in residential areas that may amount to violations of international humanitarian law, according to a new briefing published by Amnesty International (AI) on Wednesday. In six attacks occurring between September and November 2015, over 200 civilians were killed and a mosque, [...]
The US District Court for the District of Columbia denied on Wednesday a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against Ahmed Salim Faraj Abu Khatallah arising from the 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Abu Khatallah was indicted on 18 counts and challenged the statutes he is charged with violating on grounds [...]
JURIST Guest Columnist David Christensen of Christensen Law discusses Michigan’s legislation regarding no-fault regulations, and holding insurance companies to their lawful responsibilities … The legal climate for Michigan medical providers has gotten bleak recently. Auto insurance companies have developed a practice of challenging almost every claim for no-fault benefits, throwing doctors’ fees and hospital charges [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal circuit ruled Tuesday that the government cannot refuse to register trademarks that might be considered disparaging or offensive. The ruling sided with the Asian-American rock band The Slants, who tried to register the name as a trademark. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had refused to [...]
Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang has been released after receiving a suspended sentence on Tuesday. Zhiqiang was indicted in May on charges of fanning ethnic hatred and provoking trouble for comments that he posted online. He stood trial on December 14 after more than 19 months in detention. He was sentenced to three [...]
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday signed a decree fully legalizing medical marijuana in the country. Santos said the new regulations, which make it legal to grow, process, import and export marijuana for medical and scientific use, would put Colombia “at the forefront in the fight against disease.” Santos stressed that the new regulations [...]
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin on Tuesday signed an executive order to no longer require county clerks’ names to appear on marriage licenses. The follows the refusal by county clerk Kim Davis to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, arguing that her Christian faith should exempt her. The order cites the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act, [...]
A judge for the US District Court for the Central District of California ruled Tuesday that sexual orientation discrimination is prohibited under a law that protects gender-based discrimination. The order pertains to the motion to dismiss brought by Pepperdine University challenging two female students’ claims that the school’s basketball coach wanted them removed from the [...]
The Court of Appeals of Quebec on Tuesday overturned a lower court injunction and ruled that Quebec’s physician-assisted death law is not in conflict with any elements of the Quebec Criminal Code . The legislation , which became law on December 10, 2014, lays out how terminally-ill patients may obtain physician assistance in ending their [...]
Burkina Faso’s military court issued an international arrest warrant on Monday for former president Blaise Compaore for the assassination of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. Sankara was killed along with 12 of his supporters during a 1987 coup that brought Compaore to power. Compaore resigned in October 2014 after a military takeover and protests against his [...]
