Upholds

Judge Upholds Century-Plus Prison Terms for Serial Rapist and Jail Escapee

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San Jose, California – A Santa Clara County judge has upheld the lengthy prison sentences of Eric Patrick Martin, a serial rapist and jail escapee from the 1970s and 1980s. Martin, who has been in prison since 1987 and currently serves a total of 136 years, sought resentencing through a series of state actions and court rulings. However, Superior Court Judge Benjamin Williams denied the request, stating that there was no evidence to demonstrate a change in Martin’s circumstances and that he still posed a significant risk to safety. The ruling was praised by the … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds $3.5 Million Award to Inmate Mistreated by Colorado Prisons

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Denver, Colorado – The Colorado Department of Corrections’ bid to reduce a $3.5 million jury award to an incarcerated man with disabilities has been rejected by a federal judge. The inmate, Jason Brooks, sued the department for violating his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Judge S. Kato Crews denied the government’s motion to reduce the jury’s verdict, stating that there was sufficient evidence to support the award. Brooks, who suffered from ulcerative colitis, a condition that caused him to use the bathroom frequently, sought reasonable accommodation from the prison officials. He requested … Read more

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