Citing

New York Governor Vetoes Bill Permitting Felons to Serve on Juries, Citing Implementation Challenges

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ALBANY, N.Y. — In a move that has stirred controversy and disappointment among criminal justice reform advocates, New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed legislation on Saturday that would have permitted individuals with felony convictions to serve on juries after completing their sentences. This bill, lauded by its proponents as a step toward inclusivity and balance in the judicial system, sought to overturn the enduring statewide prohibition affecting these individuals. The proposed legislation had cleared both houses of the state legislature earlier in the year, signaling a potential end to the lifelong exclusion of felons from … Read more

President Biden Blocks Legislation to Expand Federal Judiciary, Citing Other Priorities

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WASHINGTON — President Biden has vetoed a legislative proposal that would have significantly expanded the number of federal judgeships across the United States, preventing the creation of dozens of new positions within the federal judiciary. This decision marks one of his administration’s clear stances on judicial appointments, reflecting broader debates about the balance of power and judicial capacity. The bill, which found partial support across party lines, aimed to alleviate the expanding case backlog in federal courts by adding new judges to districts that have not seen increases in decades, despite growing populations and escalating … Read more

Missouri Judge Temporarily Halts Near-Total Abortion Ban, Citing New Constitutional Rights Amendment

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A recent judicial ruling has rendered Missouri’s near-total abortion prohibition unenforceable, following the enactment of a new constitutional amendment that legalized abortion in the state. On Friday, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang blocked the stringent abortion law, temporarily lifting restrictions until further court deliberations determine the law’s constitutionality. Missouri joins four other states that added abortion rights to their state constitutions through 2024 ballot initiatives. The amendment in Missouri, while not directly annulling existing laws, provides a framework for challenging abortion bans in court that are deemed unconstitutional under … Read more

Dubuque Archdiocese Seeks Dismissal of Florida Lawsuit Against Priest, Citing Jurisdiction Issues

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SARASOTA, Fla. — Legal action continues to unfold as the Archdiocese of Dubuque seeks dismissal of a lawsuit in Charlotte County, asserting Florida lacks jurisdiction over the Iowa-based nonprofit organization. The motion follows an earlier plea by Father Leo Riley, a priest associated with multiple parishes, to dismiss a similar case alleging he abused minors in the 1980s. Father Riley, who previously served at the Resurrection Church in Dubuque and later at Saint Charles Borromeo in Port Charlotte during the early 2000s, is currently assigned to San Antonio Catholic Church in the same town. The … Read more