On February 9th, a federal court in North Carolina struck down a redistricting map, agreeing with the Plaintiffs’ that it was an example of unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering. A three-judge panel rendered the unanimous decision and, in doing so, made history, as this was the first-ever federal court decision to strike down a map due to … [Read more...]
As Florida Considers Felons’ Right to Vote, Private Prisons Raise 13th Amendment Questions
For the first time in Florida history, voters will decide whether to restore the right to vote for 1.5 million ex-convicts—predominantly black and Hispanic non-violent, drug offenders-- who have been stripped of their voting rights for a lifetime after serving their prison time and parole. It is noteworthy that the proposed right to vote excludes … [Read more...]
High School Football Player in California May Kneel in Protest
Ever since professional football player Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem, the entire country has been knee deep in a debate about the meaning of such a gesture. Some have decried it as unpatriotic and disrespectful of soldiers; others have applauded the quarterback, who follows in the footsteps of Muhammed Ali, another … [Read more...]
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to Mississippi’s anti-LGBT Law
The Constitution, we have come to find, is subject to interminable readings and re-readings; to contradictory impulses; to opportunisms of all persuasions (both liberal and conservative); and finally, to seemingly overt attempts to radically redefine the document’s intent. In our so-called “post-truth” age, this all seems par for the course. … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Gerrymander Victory May Supersede High Court’s Jurisdiction, Legal Analysts Say
On Monday, The U.S. Supreme Court succeeded in blocking a panel of North Carolina Federal judges from striking down 13 congressional districts as Republican partisan gerrymanders until an appeal can be prepared. However, the Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court’s decision this week to redraw all of the state’s 18 congressional districts in a major … [Read more...]
Who Gets to Appoint the New Florida Justices?
In Florida, a debate has been simmering around the question of Supreme Court Justice appointments. In a strange turn of events, three Justices – Peggy Quince, Barbara Pariente and R. Fred Lewis – are due to retire on the last day of Governor Rick Scott’s tenure in office – January 8th, 2019. This is due to a retirement policy in that state, which … [Read more...]
The GOP Strikes Down Financial Protection Rule
After the Equifax debacle and the Wells Fargo scandal, Republican Senators were still able to scrape by last week, voting to repeal the contentious arbitration rule, recently introduced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Vice President Mike Pence was brought to Capitol Hill to cast the tie-breaking vote, making for a 51-50 victory … [Read more...]
US District Judge Partially Enjoins Trump’s Transgender Military Ban
Late last month, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly partially enjoined President Trump’s ban on transgender military personnel, while allowing the ban on sex-reassignment surgery to remain intact. In July, the President tweeted his intention to prohibit the inclusion of transgender people in the US Armed Forces, arguing that “[the] military … [Read more...]
Eighth Circuit Grants Immunity to Guard Accused of Excessive Force
The US Prison system stands as an abhorrent example of degraded human rights. The UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) has urged the US to radically alter its system, specifically targeting the widespread practice of solitary confinement. According to a UN report, “physical and social isolation of individuals who are confined to their cells for 22 to … [Read more...]
The Fate of the Travel Ban
In September, President Trump issued a new and (not so) improved version of the executive order, informally known as the Muslim travel ban. The new order expands the former travel ban, which expired not long before the updated version was signed last month, adding Chad, Venezuela and North Korea to the list of restricted countries, while … [Read more...]
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