Rules

Federal Appeals Court Rules Iowa’s “Ag Gag” Laws Constitutional, Clearing the Path for Enforcement

by

DES MOINES, Iowa — A federal appeals court has ruled that two of Iowa’s “ag gag” laws, which impose penalties on individuals who trespass on agricultural property with the intention of causing financial harm, are constitutional. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit announced its rulings on Monday, reversing a lower court decision in both cases. A third lawsuit is still pending. The rulings suggest that these state laws may soon become enforceable. However, an attorney for one of the plaintiffs expressed confidence that opponents would prevail upon appeal to the U.S. Supreme … Read more

Racine Judge Rules Against Mobile Absentee Voting Sites, Partial Win for Republicans

by

MADISON, Wisconsin – In a recent ruling, a Racine County judge has declared that Wisconsin law does not permit the use of mobile absentee voting sites. This decision represents a partial victory for Republicans who had contested the deployment of a mobile voting van during the 2022 elections in Racine. The van had traveled throughout the city, collecting early ballots and meeting voters in their neighborhoods. The complaint lodged with the Wisconsin Elections Commission alleged that the van was disproportionately utilized in heavily Democratic voting wards. The judge, Racine County Circuit Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz, rejected … Read more

US Appeals Court Judge Criticizes President Biden’s Water Efficiency Rules for Appliances as ‘Arbitrary and Capricious’

by

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden faced a major setback in the judiciary when US Appeals Court Judge Andrew Oldham criticized his decision as “arbitrary and capricious.” This comes after 11 Republican-led states challenged alterations to rules aimed at improving the efficiency of dishwashers and washing machines. In a ruling issued on Monday, Judge Oldham questioned whether the Department of Energy (DOE) had the authority to regulate water usage in these appliances. He also raised doubts about the effectiveness of the new rules in reducing water consumption. The DOE had announced plans in March to implement … Read more

Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Government in Controversial Aurora Marijuana Grow Operation Forfeiture Case

by

AURORA, Colo. – A federal judge recently ruled that an Aurora couple who used their home to illegally grow marijuana must surrender the property to the government. The judge concluded that this forfeiture does not violate the constitutional provision against excessive fines. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a petition in 2019 to take possession of the couple’s home, located in the 23000 block of East Wagontrail Avenue in Aurora. Law enforcement had previously discovered 828 marijuana plants being grown at the residence, along with evidence of illegal electricity diversion. Jia Bao Yao, the individual … Read more