Governments

Decentralizing Abortion Law: Unpacking the True Impact of Shifting the Decision to State Governments

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Washington, D.C. — The phrase “leave it to the states” has taken on profound implications following the Supreme Court’s recent decision, which effectively transfers the governance of abortion rights back to individual state legislatures. This shift marks a significant departure from the federal protections that were previously upheld, leading to a diverse and sometimes contradictory patchwork of state laws. With this transition, the ability for states to set their own rules regarding abortion has introduced a scenario where women in America could face vastly different reproductive rights based solely on their geographic location. For instance, … Read more

Iranian Lawyer Detained After Challenging Government’s Response to Protests Sparked by Mahsa Amini’s Death

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Tehran, Iran — Mohsen Borhani, a well-known Iranian lawyer and academic, has been arrested following his public critique of the government’s handling of widespread protests in 2022, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini died in police custody after being detained for purportedly not adhering to the country’s strict hijab regulations, igniting calls for reform against Iran’s longstanding clerical regime. These events led to a global outcry, with a United Nations fact-finding mission determining Amini’s death to be unwarranted and violent, further noting her passing led to significant human rights abuses during the … Read more

Landmark Case: Ohio Supreme Court to Determine Governments’ Power to Challenge Temporary Orders on Laws

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COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to decide whether governments have the right to challenge temporary orders that block the implementation of laws. This decision comes as the city of Columbus requested the court’s intervention regarding a preliminary injunction that was imposed by a Delaware County Common Pleas judge. The injunction, which is still in effect, halted the enforcement of two city ordinances related to firearms. One ordinance requires safe storage of guns, while the other prohibits the possession of certain high-capacity magazines. The Buckeye Institute, a conservative think tank, has filed a … Read more

Government’s Attempt to Strip Climate Protesters of Legal Defence Sparks Outcry Over Jury Rights

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London, United Kingdom – A high-profile climate activist, who was acquitted last year of criminal damage in a climate trial, is speaking out against the attorney general’s attempt to remove one of the last remaining legal defenses for climate protesters. The case is heading to the court of appeal on Wednesday, where the attorney general, Victoria Prentis, will argue that the defense used by the activist should no longer be available to climate activists. The defense in question, known as “lawful excuse,” allows defendants to argue that they had a lawful excuse for their actions … Read more