The Washington State Supreme Court is considering changes to court rules that provide standards for public defense. Under the Washington State and United States Constitutions, those accused in criminal prosecutions have a right to an attorney at public expense for their defense. The new standards propose: Lowering the maximum caseloads for public defense attorneys. Currently, […]
In a special lawmaking session focused on tax policy, Louisiana lawmakers are also quietly moving legislation that could lead to more underage youth being sent to adult prisons. The Louisiana Senate’s Judiciary C committee voted 4-1 Thursday in favor of a state constitutional amendment to remove limitations on the number of crimes for which youth under the […]
A federal judge in East St. Louis found Illinois’ gun and magazine ban is unconstitutional and enjoined the state from enforcement, but stayed the ruling for 30 days for the state to appeal. “[The Protect Illinois Communities Act] is an unconstitutional affront to the Second Amendment and must be enjoined,†federal Judge Stephen McGlynn wrote […]
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Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder gambled in Texas by pouring millions of dollars of outside money into the state to pick off three Republican Texas Supreme Court justices. He lost. Texas voters rejected his message at the ballot box, resoundingly reelecting all three justices he targeted. With the support of former President Barack Obama […]
The results of the election are in: Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. Trump’s win comes after a campaign in which he consistently targeted immigrants, transgender youth, and other vulnerable communities with hateful rhetoric. He also threatened retribution against dissidents and political opponents. I know that many of us fear […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that students eligible for free or reduced price school meals cannot be charged processing fees beginning in 2027. School districts currently work with processing companies to offer cashless payment systems for families. But the companies can charge “processing fees†for each transaction. By law, students who are eligible for […]
In a significant ruling, U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone determined that the Philadelphia Police Department did not violate the First Amendment rights of officers who were fired or disciplined for posting racist, violent, or offensive content on social media. The decision, issued on Monday, came just days before the case was set to go to […]
All nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to uphold a ruling by Pennsylvania’s high court regarding provisional ballots cast by voters whose mail-in ballots are found to be defective. The order on Friday follows a ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on October 23, which struck down a challenge from the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Butler County […]