On Friday, October 14, 2016, Florida State Supreme Court ruled that capital sentencing may not be imposed without a unanimous verdict from a panel of jurors. The ruling is in response to a case which involved the sentencing of Timothy L. Hurst to death in 2000. During Hurst’s trial in 2000, a panel of jurors voted 7-5 in favor of capital … [Read more...]
Workers’ Compensation Opt-Out Option Ruled Unconstitutional in Oklahoma
A 7-2 ruling in the Oklahoma Supreme Court found that provisions that would allow employers to opt-out of the state’s Workers’ Compensation were unconstitutional. The case, titled Vasquez v Dillard’s, Inc., started when Jonnie Vasquez injured her neck and shoulder while working for a Dillard’s department store in a work-related injury. Vasquez … [Read more...]
Supreme Justice Vacancy May Have Long Lasting Ramifications
The vacancy of a Supreme Court Justice is certainly no small matter. While plans are currently being discussed within the Senate, it is still uncertain when exactly the seat left by late Supreme Justice Antonin Scalia will be filled. Both Presidential candidates have hinted that they plan to fill the position as soon as possible after their … [Read more...]
Request to Restore North Carolina Voting Law Rejected by Supreme Court
On Wednesday, August 31st, a four-four split vote by the Supreme Court regarding North Carolina’s voting law allowed the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling to stand. Case Background North Carolina’s voting law was created in 2013 shortly after the Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, which allowed states to create their own … [Read more...]
Lawyer Files Suit Against Senate to Take Action on Supreme Court Nominee
New Mexico lawyer Steve Michel has filed a lawsuit naming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, and the Senate as a whole as defendants. This suit was filed by Michel in an attempt to force Senate to take action on Merrick Garland as a Supreme Court nominee. Michel filed the suit in the US District … [Read more...]
DOJ is Advising Supreme Court Not to Allow North Carolina’s Voting Law to Continue
On Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) stated that allowing North Carolina to continue to enforce its voting laws “would inflict irreparable injury to minority voters” which regards to the upcoming election. The law has already been deemed unconstitutional in the 4th Circuit of Appeals in a unanimous verdict. Civil rights groups that … [Read more...]
NJ Supreme Court Strikes Down For-Profit School’s Arbitration Clause
Arbitration clauses are often used by companies to prevent customers and consumers from attempting to resolve their grievances in a court of law. Instead, when a person consents to an agreement which includes an arbitration clause he or she agrees to allow a neutral third party to help resolve any grievances that may arise against the company or … [Read more...]
Supreme Court Ruling Could Lead To Nationwide Change In Abortion Law
After a Supreme Court ruling on June 27, many states have prohibited recently enacted laws from going into effect that restrict the availability of abortions. Texas Ruling The case that involved Texas’ newly written law was struck down on June 27. The law would have required doctors who perform abortions to have admittance privileges with nearby … [Read more...]
Abortion Rights Advocates Prepare to Go on the Offensive
Ever since the historic abortion rights ruling in the case of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, the topic of abortion has been a hot button issue both in political and social circles. Over the years, many states have attempted to block, or at least reduce, abortion access, with varying degrees of success. But after a 2013 Texas law, which subjected abortion … [Read more...]
Supreme Court Activity Debrief
Monday, June 20th Supreme Court Ruling Forgives Some Cases of Unlawful Searches On Monday, June 20th, the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 on a case that will now allow evidence obtained following an illegal stop to be used in court. The case involves an incident in which a police detective found contraband on a driver after conducting an illegal … [Read more...]
