Granting

Florida House Unanimously Passes Bill Granting Excusal from Jury Duty for New Mothers

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers unanimously passed a bill in the state House that would grant new mothers the ability to be excused from jury duty. The measure, known as HB 461 and sponsored by Rep. Carolina Amesty of Windermere, aims to provide relief to women who have given birth within six months prior to their scheduled jury service. Currently, mothers are not automatically exempt from jury duty based on recent childbirth, prompting concerns about the difficulties and burdens they may face while trying to fulfill their civic duty. The proposed legislation would allow eligible … Read more

Judge Orders Partial Release of DNA Records in Idaho Murder Trial, Granting Small Victory to Defense Attorneys

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MOSCOW, Idaho – A judge in Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District has issued a late filing regarding the disclosure of information related to the use of advanced DNA technology. The technology in question is investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), which involves using DNA from a crime scene to build a family tree through online genealogy services. This allows investigators to potentially identify suspects connected to crimes. The judge’s order, posted on a repository of court records, grants the defense attorneys representing the accused, Kohberger, access to some of the requested DNA records. The defense team had been … Read more

Federal Appeals Court Lifts Injunctions on Iowa’s Animal Welfare Laws, Granting Victory to Farmers

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Des Moines, Iowa – In a recent decision, a federal appeals court lifted two injunctions that had prevented the enforcement of Iowa laws designed to prevent undercover filming of animal confinements. These laws criminalize gaining entry to agricultural production facilities through deception and recording with a camera while trespassing. The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that these laws do not violate the free speech rights of groups that challenged them. The laws have been a subject of contention between animal welfare organizations and agricultural production facilities. Those in favor of the laws argue … Read more

Justice Department Challenges Texas Law Granting Local Authorities Power to Arrest Undocumented Immigrants

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Dallas, Texas – The Biden administration is engaged in a legal battle with Texas over a new state law that empowers local law enforcement and judges to detain and remove undocumented immigrants. The law, known as SB 4, is set to take effect in a few months. According to the Justice Department, it violates the Constitution by granting powers that are reserved for the federal government to local officials. Texas was given until Wednesday to respond to the Justice Department’s concerns. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta stated that SB 4 is “clearly unconstitutional,” citing Supreme … Read more