Rule

Multnomah County DA Implements New Jury Selection Rule to Combat Racial Bias in Misdemeanor Trials

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PORTLAND, Ore. — In a significant shift in courtroom policy, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has announced plans to eliminate the use of peremptory challenges by prosecutors in misdemeanor trials. Citing concerns over racial and ethnic exclusion in jury selection, Schmidt expressed that this change aims to foster a more equitable legal process. Peremptory challenges allow both prosecutors and defense attorneys to dismiss potential jurors without stating a cause, often used to remove jurors deemed as having implicit biases. Historically, this practice has been critiqued for allowing subjective dismissals that could contribute to racial … Read more

Georgia Election Board Accused of Secretive Meeting to Push Controversial Rule Changes Ahead of November Polls

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ATLanta, GA — A legal battle is unfolding in Georgia as a watchdog group, American Oversight, takes aim at the State Election Board, accusing it of breaching public meeting laws to push through controversial election rule changes. The lawsuit, filed in Fulton County Superior Court, targets actions surrounding a hastily arranged July 12 meeting, calling into question the legitimacy of the proceedings and the adequacy of public notification. The focal point of contention is whether proper notice was given for the meeting, required under the Georgia Open Meetings Act. American Oversight alleges that the board … Read more

Ranchers Challenge New BLM Rule Over Public Land Grazing Rights, Citing Threat to Livelihood and Conservation Efforts

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Cheyenne, WY — A coalition of agricultural and livestock groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, has initiated a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concerning its recent Public Lands Rule. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, the lawsuit argues that the rule introduces unpredictability and could significantly harm the long-standing tradition of grazing on federal lands, which is central to the ranching industry’s sustainability. Gary Heibertshausen, a Montana sheep rancher and vice president of the Montana Farm Bureau, voiced concerns about … Read more

Across the Board: The Battle Intensifies Over Noncompete Clauses as Federal Rule Faces Legal Challenge

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The extensive use of noncompete clauses, once reserved for high-ranking executives with access to sensitive trade secrets, has controversially trickled down to affect nearly every tier of the workforce, including low-wage positions and rank-and-file employees. An academic study estimates that these restrictions impact around 30 million American workers, nearly one-fifth of the nation’s workforce, raising significant concerns about their effects on worker mobility and wage levels. Originally intended to protect businesses by preventing the spread of proprietary knowledge, noncompete clauses are increasingly appearing in the employment contracts of individuals who do not possess confidential information, … Read more