Law

D.C. Federal Judge Upholds Law Allowing Noncitizens to Vote in Local Elections, Ruling Lawsuit Lacks Evidence of Rights Violations

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WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has dismissed a lawsuit that challenged a local law allowing noncitizens to vote in municipal elections. In her ruling, Judge Amy Berman Jackson stated that the plaintiffs did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that the law violated their constitutional rights. The lawsuit was filed by a group of seven U.S. citizens who are registered to vote in the District of Columbia. They argued that the city’s “Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022” infringed upon their Fifth Amendment rights. However, Judge Jackson determined that … Read more

New York Appeals Court Upholds Red-Flag Law, Rejects Constitutional Challenge

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ALBANY, N.Y. – In a groundbreaking decision on Wednesday, a New York appeals court upheld the state’s red-flag law, dismissing claims that the law violated the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This marks the first time a New York appeals court has addressed the constitutionality of the red-flag law. The Second Department of the Appellate Division, in its ruling, stated that the red-flag law, which allows law enforcement officials to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals considered a danger to themselves or others, is in line with the nation’s historical tradition of regulating access to … Read more

Appeals Court Blocks Texas from Enforcing SB4 Immigration Law After Supreme Court’s Initial Approval

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Brownsville, Texas – The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked Texas from enforcing its controversial immigration law, known as SB4, just hours after the Supreme Court gave officials permission to prosecute migrants suspected of unauthorized border crossings. The appeals court panel dissolved the temporary suspension that had been put in place to halt a lower court ruling declaring SB4 unconstitutional. This reinstated a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra, who determined that the law conflicted with federal immigration laws and the Constitution. Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied the Justice Department’s … Read more

Appeals-Court Judges Engage in In-Depth Discussion on Texas Immigration Law, Leaving Both Sides Questioning the Outcome

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EL PASO, Texas – Appeals-court judges in Texas expressed skepticism towards both sides of a legal dispute over the state’s immigration law. The state is appealing a lower court ruling that blocked a law penalizing cities and counties that don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities. During a hearing on Wednesday, the judges questioned whether the law properly balances federal immigration enforcement and the rights of local governments. They appeared to be struggling with finding a clear resolution to the complex issue at hand. The Texas law, known as Senate Bill 4, allows police officers to … Read more