Constitutional

Advocacy Groups Sue Alabama Officials Over Restrictive Voting Bill, Citing Constitutional Violations and Disproportionate Impact

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Birmingham, Alabama – Several advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against Alabama state officials, challenging a recently enacted law that restricts access to voting. The groups argue that Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), which criminalizes certain engagement measures related to absentee ballots, directly targets and penalizes activities that enable broader voting rights. Signed into law last month, SB 1 makes it illegal to request or collect absentee ballots for anyone other than close relatives. It also criminalizes filling out or mailing an application or ballot on behalf of someone else. The bill specifically targets Alabamians … Read more

Uganda’s Constitutional Court Upholds Controversial Anti-Gay Law, Sparking Outrage from LGBT Activists

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Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s constitutional court has made a ruling regarding the country’s controversial anti-gay law. On Wednesday, the court declined to annul or grant a permanent injunction against the enforcement of the law, which has been met with fierce opposition from the LGBT community and human rights activists. The judges acknowledged that the law does infringe on certain fundamental human rights, but ultimately decided against nullifying it. The case before the court involved petitioners who were questioning the law’s violation of equal protection for all Ugandans. However, the panel of five judges, led by … Read more

Publisher of Marion County Record Sues City Officials for Constitutional Rights Violation in Raid, Seeking Over $4.5 Million in Damages

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WICHITA, Kan. – A lawsuit has been filed by Eric Meyer, publisher and editor of the Marion County Record, against the City of Marion and various officials. Last August, the newspaper’s offices underwent a police raid where electronics were seized. Meyer claims this violated his constitutional rights and attributes the subsequent death of his mother to the stress caused by the raid. Meyer’s lawsuit targets the City of Marion, former mayor David Mayfield, then-Police Chief Gideon Cody, acting chief Zach Hudlin, the Marion County Board of Commissioners, Sheriff Jeff Soyez, and detective Aaron Christner. Seeking … Read more

Family Files Federal Lawsuit Against St. Louis County SWAT Team for Violating Constitutional Rights in Ferguson Raid

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FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – A Ferguson family has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a St. Louis County SWAT team of violating their rights during a search warrant raid last May. The lawsuit, filed by Lindell Briscoe and Brittany Shamily, alleges damages over the use of excessive force, unjust detention, the deployment of SWAT without constitutional justification, Monell liability, and violation of the Sunshine Act. Represented by attorneys Bevis Schock and Erich Veith, Briscoe, Shamily, and their five minor children are seeking legal action against St. Louis County and the detective who ordered the raid. To … Read more