Enduring Isolation: The Ongoing Struggles Against Solitary Confinement Despite HALT Legislation

ALBANY, N.Y. — Despite legislative efforts to curtail its use, solitary confinement remains a troubling reality in New York’s correctional facilities. The HALT (Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement) Act was introduced to address this issue, aiming to significantly limit the conditions and duration of isolation for inmates. Nevertheless, reports indicate that the practice continues unabated, raising concerns about the treatment of individuals in the state’s prisons. The HALT Act, enacted in 2021, was a response to extensive advocacy from numerous organizations highlighting the psychological and physical harm inflicted by solitary confinement. This law restricts … Read more

Ten Years On: The Enduring Struggle of Chinese Lawyers Against Crackdown and Repression

BEIJING, China — Ten years have passed since a significant crackdown on lawyers in China, yet the reverberations of that period continue to influence the legal landscape. The government’s stringent measures against legal professionals have led to ongoing persecution, prompting resistance among activists dedicated to justice and human rights. In July 2015, authorities launched a sweeping operation targeting numerous lawyers, civil society activists, and academics who defended clients implicated in politically sensitive cases. This initiative, often referred to as the “709 Crackdown,” resulted in mass detentions and rigorous scrutiny of legal practitioners, instilling fear within … Read more

Exploring the Enduring Legacy of English Law in Israel: Insights from Lord Pannick and Former Supreme Court President Beinisch

Jerusalem, Israel — The influence of English common law on Israel’s legal system was the focus of an engaging dialogue between Lord Pannick KC and Dorit Beinisch, a former president of the Supreme Court of Israel. The discussion took place at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as part of the Lionel Cohen lecture series, which honors the contributions of Lord Cohen of Walmer. The conversation highlighted the substantial impact of English law during the British mandate in Palestine, particularly the reliance on established legal texts and precedents that have shaped Israeli jurisprudence since the country’s … Read more

Cryan Champions ‘Daniel’s Law’ Persistence, Declaring Its Enduring Value in Protecting Privacy

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey state legislators are actively pushing for heightened protections for judges and their families following distressing incidents that have highlighted vulnerabilities in their personal security. This movement seeks to extend “Daniel’s Law,” an existing statute named posthumously to honor Daniel Anderl, the son of a federal judge who tragically lost his life in a violent attack at their family home in 2020. The law initially enacted aimed to shield the personal information of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers from being publicly accessible. However, the proposed expansion, spearheaded by State Sen. … Read more