Equity

Judge Blocks Repeal, Paves Way for Yakima Committees on Environment and Equity to Reconvene

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Yakima, Washington – In a significant turn of events, a Yakima County Superior Court judge has temporarily halted the dissolution of key civic committees, a move initiated by the local city council last year. The recent court order temporarily suspends the ordinances that had abolished the Sustainable Yakima and Community Integration committees, which focus on environmental health and social equity respectively. Judge James Elliott ruled in favor of the Yakima Citizens for Civic Engagement, an advocacy group that has been striving to have these committees reinstated. This decision opens the door for these groups to … Read more

Surplus Equity and State Laws: Supreme Court Decides in Favor of Property Owners in Groundbreaking Tyler v. Hennepin County Ruling

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Washington, D.C. – In a landmark decision that could reshape property rights, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a ruling in 2023 that clarifies what constitutes “private property” under the Constitution in cases of government action. The case, Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, addressed whether a taxpayer retains a property interest in excess funds after a government tax sale has recovered the owed taxes. The court’s unanimous decision, penned by Chief Justice Roberts, held that if a government entity sells seized property to settle tax debts, any surplus funds generated beyond the tax debt must be … Read more

Rhode Island Lawmakers Champion Equity Impact Statements to Advance Social Justice in Legislation

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Providence, R.I. – As state lawmakers propose new legislation, they are often met with a critical fiscal question: What is the cost? In Rhode Island, representatives are now advocating an additional layer of scrutiny—assessing the social and equity impacts of legislation. Representative David Morales, a Democrat from Providence, is championing a new rule to require “equity impact statements” for proposed laws, aiming to uncover their potential effects on various demographics, including race, ethnicity, gender, and more. This initiative, encapsulated in Bill H5010, would enable such analyses for up to five bills each session, focusing on … Read more

Breaking Barriers: How Private Equity Is Transforming the Legal Landscape

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In recent years, a significant transformation has been taking place in the U.S. legal sector as private equity firms increasingly target law practices for investment. This movement, which could arguably reshape the operations and ownership structures of legal firms, follows changes in regulations in some states that now allow non-lawyers to hold financial stakes in law firms. Arizona and Utah are at the forefront of this legal revolution. In 2020, Arizona eliminated rules that forbade non-lawyers owning law firms, while Utah has implemented a regulatory sandbox that allows non-traditional legal services providers, including those owned … Read more