Missouri Legislator Proposes Letting Juries Solely Decide Death Penalty for Convicted Murderers

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – A proposed bill in Missouri is seeking to change the way the death penalty is implemented in the state. Currently, if a jury cannot come to a unanimous decision on a prison sentence for someone convicted of first-degree murder, the trial judge has the authority to decide whether the person should be sentenced to death. However, Representative Bishop Davidson, a Republican from Republic, is sponsoring a bill that would only allow juries to make this decision, excluding the role of the judge. The bill aims to address concerns about the fairness … Read more

University of Maryland Law Professor Maxwell L. Stearns Proposes Revolutionary Plan to Strengthen American Democracy

Baltimore, Maryland – Maxwell L. Stearns, the Venable, Baetjer & Howard Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, has proposed a radical solution to repair America’s broken democracy in his latest book, “Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy.” Drawing on his extensive research and travels to different democracies around the world, Stearns advocates for transforming the U.S. government into a parliamentary system. Stearns recently discussed his ideas at a Zócalo and Los Angeles Times event titled “Would Parliamentary America Have More Fun?” … Read more

San Diego City Attorney Proposes New Legislation to Safeguard Access to Healthcare and Religious Services

San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliot plans to introduce updated legislation in March that aims to protect residents’ access to healthcare, religious services, and school meetings. The legislation will have a broad impact, but it is specifically framed around women’s reproductive rights in honor of Women’s History Month. According to Elliot, the proposed laws will provide safeguards for individuals seeking vaccines, gender-affirming care, or any other healthcare services they deem necessary for their own well-being. The legislation seeks to update San Diego’s existing laws, some of which are over two decades old, and include an … Read more

Quebec Government Proposes Stricter French Signage Regulations to Preserve Cultural Identity

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – The government of Quebec recently proposed draft regulations that would enforce a “French first and predominant” policy for outdoor commercial signs in the province. Spearheaded by Minister of the French Language Jean-François Roberge, the regulations specifically target signs containing non-French trademarks, such as Canadian Tire or Second Cup. Under the current law, non-French trademarks are allowed as long as they are accompanied by a generic term or description of the products or services offered. However, the proposed regulations aim to replace this rule with a requirement for French to have a “markedly … Read more