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Court hears case alleging unconstitutional 6th District gerrymander
Court and Trial |
2018/03/30 12:22
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U.S. Supreme Court justices expressed frustration with partisan gerrymandering on Wednesday as they heard arguments in a case challenging Maryland’s 6th Congressional District.
The case, which alleges a Democratic gerrymander in Maryland at the same time justices are considering the constitutionality of an alleged Republican gerrymander in Wisconsin, has some legal experts wondering whether the justices might be on the verge of establishing a standard that would allow judicial intervention in partisan gerrymandering cases for the first time in the court’s history.
The 6th District challenge was brought by seven Maryland residents, including three from Frederick County, who argue that the district — which includes southwestern parts of Frederick County and the city of Frederick — was unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor Democrats and punish Republicans during the reapportionment process after the 2010 census.
The justices heard arguments in the Wisconsin political gerrymandering case in October, but have not yet released an opinion.
The Maryland and Wisconsin cases both focus on unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering, but there are some important differences. The Maryland case challenges the redrawing of a single federal district to favor Democrats, while the Wisconsin case is based on the statewide redrawing of Wisconsin State Assembly districts to favor Republicans.
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California court body has paid $500K to settle sex claims
Court and Trial |
2018/03/26 12:23
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California court body has paid $500K to settle sex claims
The policymaking body for California's courts says it has paid more than $500,000 in taxpayer funds since 2011 to settle five complaints of sexual harassment against judges and court employees.
The Judicial Council released the figures on Friday. They were first reported by the legal publication, the Recorder.
The council said three of the complaints were against judges and two were against court employees.
The council said it has paid another roughly $80,000 since 2010 to investigate sexual harassment allegations against five judicial officers.
It did not disclose any names or details of the individual cases.
The Judicial Council's figures come as California's Legislature has been embroiled in sexual misconduct scandals that have brought down several lawmakers.
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Lohan fails to convince court her image is in video game
Court and Trial |
2018/03/26 12:22
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It looks like "Game Over" for actress Lindsay Lohan in her state court fight against a software company for using what she claims is a likeness of her in a video game.
Lohan's lawyer argued before New York's top court that Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. violated her right to privacy by incorporating "look-a-like" images of her in the game "Grand Theft Auto V."
But the state Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the satirical representations of "a modern, beach-going" young woman are not identifiable as Lohan. The court affirmed a ruling from a lower state appeals court dismissing her lawsuit.
Similar claims against Take-Two by "Mob Wives" television star Karen Gravano also were dismissed in a separate ruling.
A message left with Lohan's lawyer wasn't immediately returned.
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Kosovo special court issues lawyers' list, no cases yet
Court and Trial |
2018/03/15 21:00
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A court established to prosecute crimes committed during and immediately after Kosovo's war for independence has issued the list of lawyers who will represent suspects, victims and others appearing before the tribunal.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers on Wednesday said the 40 lawyers included on its list would ensure "effective and professional legal representation" before the KSC.
The Hague, Netherlands-based court, created by a 2015 law passed after U.S. and European pressure, has jurisdiction in Kosovo over alleged war crimes suspects from the 1998-1999 war and its immediate aftermath.
Kosovo detached from Serbia following a three-month NATO air war in 1999 to stop a bloody Serbian crackdown against ethnic Albanian separatists. Kosovo's 2008 independence is recognized by 117 states but not by Serbia. |
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Groups: Duterte can't evade accountability by quitting court
Court and Trial |
2018/03/15 20:52
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Human rights groups say Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his officials could still be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court for killings in his anti-drug war until his decision to withdraw from the tribunal takes effect after a year.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Thursday that Duterte's decision was not meant to escape from any accountability but to protest an ICC prosecutor's decision to start examining a complaint against Duterte.
Duterte announced Wednesday that he was withdrawing the Philippine ratification of the Rome Statute "effective immediately." The statute established the tribunal.
Human Rights Watch says the ICC can still prosecute heinous crimes in the Philippines until its withdrawal takes effect a year after Duterte notifies the U.N. secretary-general. |
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