Posted in Justice News

Texas DAs refuse to comply with Abbott order to criminalize care for trans kids

“Republican leadership of this state is trying to turn loving and supportive parents into criminals, and this office will play no part in it,” said Travis County Attorney Delia Garza. by Julia Conley, Common Dreams February…

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Posted in Investigations News

Supreme Court denies Trump bid to conceal records from Jan. 6 panel

One government watchdog group welcomed the decision as “a huge win for transparency.” by Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams Wednesday, January 19, 10:30 PM The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday denied former President Donald Trump’s attempt to…

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Posted in Investigations News

Eric Trump invoked 5th Amendment 500 times during 6-hour deposition

Longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg refused a similar number of questions, citing his right to not self-incriminate. by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Wednesday, January 19, 2022 Former President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump invoked the…

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A worker looks through a bag of marijuana that will be used to make marijuana infused chocolate edibles at Kiva Confections on January 16, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Posted in Cannabis News Politics

South Dakota Supreme Court kills recreational marijuana law approved by voters

The ruling is a win for Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, who directed the state to pay for the legal fight against the voter-backed amendment. by Andrea Germanos, Common Dreams November 25, 2021 The South Dakota Supreme…

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Posted in Arizona Coronavirus News

Ban on school mask mandates was unconstitutionally enacted, judge rules

“The survey data presented in this report reinforces what we already know to be true – masking is an important and effective way to help control the spread of the virus,” said Franco, with Phoenix Union….

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A fire crew battles the Zogg Fire on October 2, 2020. (Photo: California Conservation Corps/Wikimedia Commons)
Posted in News Utilities Wild Fire

PG&E Charged With Manslaughter

11 Felony Counts— 2020 Zogg Fire “PG&E has a history with a repeated pattern of causing wildfires that is not getting better,” said Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett. “It’s only getting worse.” by Brett Wilkens, Common…

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Students, families, and supporters of "March For Our Lives" took to the streets of New York City on March 24, 2018. (Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Posted in Courts Guns News

Comparing AR-15s to Swiss Army knives, federal judge overturns California’s assault weapons ban

“People are going to die because of this ruling,” warned the father of a gun violence victim. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Saturday, June 5, 2021 Gun safety advocates, relatives of gun violence victims, and members…

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Climate activists on Wednesday celebrated a Dutch court's ruling that Royal Dutch Shell must cut its carbon emissions 45% by 2030. (Photo: Friends of the Earth Europe/Twitter)
Posted in Climate change Energy Sustainability

Court Rules Shell must cut CO2 emissions 45% by 2030

‘Landslide Victory for Climate Justice’ “This is a turning point in history,” said an attorney who noted that the ruling “may also have major consequences for other big polluters.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Wednesday, May…

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Posted in Analysis Cannabis

What the United States can learn from Canada’s cannabis clarity

by  Michael J. Armstrong, Brock University and Paul Seaborn, University of Virginia Sunday, May 2 The inherent contradictions of American cannabis laws seem to appear in the news almost every week. At the state level, for…

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Posted in Black Lives Matter News Police Killings

Chauvin guilty on all counts, including murder of George Floyd

One racial justice advocate said that there are “no victories today,” for “justice would mean George Floyd is still with us.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Tuesday, April 20, 2021       After deliberating for…

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Posted in Arizona News SCOTUS Voter suppression

Supreme Court hears Arizona voting law case with national implications

“If you can’t vote because you are a Native American or a non-Hispanic in areas where car ownership rates are very small, where you don’t have mail pickup or mail delivery … or you happen to…

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Posted in Analysis

The government Donald Trump left behind

Trump ultimately fell short on many of his signature promises, but his administration’s successes in cutting taxes, rolling back regulations and reshaping the judiciary will cast a long shadow. by Chris Morran Saturday, January 30, 2021…

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Donald Pols (R), director of Dutch environmental organization Milieudefensie, and Channa Samkalden (L), lawyer for Milieudefensie, react following the court ruling in the case that the organization, along with four Nigerian farmers, filed against Shell over oil leaks that have allegedly polluted their villages, in The Hague, on January 29, 2021. The Nigerian branch of Shell has to pay compensation to some farmers from the African country. The company has been found liable for two oil spills. The amount must be determined later, the court in The Hague ruled. (Photo: Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP via Getty Images)
Posted in Energy Environmental Justice News world

Dutch court orders Shell Oil to pay for harm done to Nigerian farmers

“After 13 Years, Justice!” “Victims of environmental pollution, land grabbing, or exploitation now have a better chance to win a legal battle against the companies involved.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 29, 2021 Global…

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Rioters storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, seeking to intimidate politicians into overturning the presidential election
Posted in Op/Ed Politics Republicans

Death threats and intimidation of public officials signal Trump’s autocratic legacy

by Shelley Inglis, University of Dayton Thursday, January 26, 2021 As the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump approaches, federal officials are investigating threats to attack or kill members of Congress. This comes in the…

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Posted in Abuse of power Accountability SCOTUS

‘That’s insane… He still has the money’: SCOTUS tosses emoluments lawsuits targeting Trump

One watchdog critic angered by the court’s decision said, “Congress must act now to ensure that no future president can profit off the presidency.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Monday, January 25, 2021 The U.S. Supreme…

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Posted in News Politics Restart 2021

McConnell advances another Trump judge as Covid relief bill remains unfinished

‘This Is His Top Priority’ “As a government shutdown looms, and as the pandemic rages on across America, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues to push through Trump’s judges until the very end.” by Jake Johnson,…

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Posted in Common Dreams DACA Immigration News

Federal Judge orders Trump Administration to fully restore DACA, ‘huge victory’ for immigrants,

“It opens the door for more than a million immigrant youth who have been unfairly denied their chance to apply for DACA,” said the director of the Justice Action Center. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer December…

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Posted in Climate change Common Dreams News

Climate movement takes on big oil at the Hague

‘Historic Moment’ Friends of the Earth vs. Shell  “This is actually ‘the People versus Shell,’ a company that has got away with greenwashing for too long.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Tuesday, December 1, 2020 Representing…

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Posted in Analysis Politics Pro Publica

Trump races to weaken environmental and worker protections, and implement other last-minute policies, before Jan. 20

The Trump administration is rushing to approve dozens of eleventh-hour policy changes. Among them: The Justice Department is fast-tracking a rule that could reintroduce firing squads and electrocutions to federal executions. by Isaac Arnsdorf  Six days…

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Posted in Analysis Democracy Race for the White House 2020

On the current status of Trump’s coup attempt—and its future

It may look like this is one frivolity and absurdity after another—and it is. But if this electoral clash reaches the Supreme Court, all bets are off. by Marjorie Cohn Sunday, November 22, 2020 Joe Biden…

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Posted in Black Lives Matter Justice News Reveal

Federal prosecutors hold protesters for months pretrial

Dozens of protesters who took part in the uprisings after George Floyd’s murder have faced prolonged detention despite COVID-19 outbreaks. By Aaron Miguel Cantú, Reveal Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Just after midnight on May 31 in…

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Posted in Common Dreams Deportation Family Separation News

Federal Judge blocks Trump order that has already led to ‘illegal’ expulsion of 13,000 unaccompanied children

“Today’s ruling is a critical step in halting the Trump administration’s unprecedented and illegal attempt to expel children under the thin guise of public health.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer November 18, 2020, Wednesday, A federal…

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Posted in Common Dreams Courts News Politics

McConnell readies Lame Duck push to further pack courts with Trump’s judicial appointees

“That’s His Priority as the Pandemic Rages On” “It is literally sickening to see Mitch McConnell continue to indulge his partisan obsession with confirming far-right judges, instead of taking action on the Covid pandemic that continues…

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Posted in Analysis Elections Pro Publica Race for the White House 2020 Voter suppression

The Trump Campaign can’t find a judge who will ignore facts — but it’s trying

The Trump campaign’s legal strategy has come down to this: Even as judges dismiss lawsuits as baseless, it files nearly identical ones in new courts, hoping for more favorable judges. Failure has not slowed it down….

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