Tag: Courts
‘Monumental Victory’: Tribes and climate activists celebrate court-ordered shutdown of Dakota Access Pipeline
“If the events of 2020 have taught us anything, it’s that health and justice must be prioritized early on in any decision-making process if we want to avoid a crisis later on.” by Jessica Corbett, staff…
Senate GOP confirms ‘anti-healthcare’ McConnell protégé Justin Walker to lifetime judgeship instead of vote on Covid-19 Relief
“Another shameful step in the McConnell/Trump takeover of our judiciary.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday, June 18 In spite of public pressure on Congress to prioritize providing more relief to Americans impacted by the ongoing…
Huge victory for LGBTQ Equality: US Supreme Court affirms workplace protections
“The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Monday June 15, 2020 Labor…
Federal court urged to hold ‘rogue’ EPA in contempt for blatant defiance of ban on toxic weed killer
“EPA needs a lesson in separation of powers and we’re asking the court to give it to them.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, June 12 A coalition of farming and conservation groups is calling on…
New York Supreme Court Judge rules protesters can be detained indefinitely
“This is suspension of habeas corpus, it is unconstitutional,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, June 5 A New York State Supreme Court judge on Thursday rejected a petition seeking the immediate…
‘Watershed moment in election law’ as judge rules ‘modern day Poll Tax’ in Florida unconstitutional
Advocates for restoring the voting rights of people with past convictions welcomed the ruling as “a powerful reminder that no one can trump the U.S. Constitution.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Monday, May 25 Civil liberties…
Historic power struggle between Trump and Congress to be reviewed by Supreme Court
by Stanley M. Brand, Pennsylvania State University Saturday, May 9, 2020 On May 12, the Supreme Court will hear argument in two cases concerning congressional demands, known as subpoenas, for materials that President Donald Trump…
McConnell to bring Senate back not to fight Covid-19 but to confirm more judges
‘We Should All Be Alarmed’ “McConnell cares more about ushering his unqualified 38-year-old crony onto one of the country’s highest courts than about ensuring Americans’ health in the middle of a pandemic.” by Jake Johnson, staff…
Drug rehab ‘skirted compliance with the labor laws’ for financial gain, judge rules
By Shoshana Walter April 21, 2020 In a class-action ruling that could affect work-based rehabs across the country, a federal judge has ordered an Arkansas senator’s company and a drug rehab program to pay former participants…
Coconino County Courts modify schedules and procedures
Courts will remain open Meteor Staff report. Monday March 23 State and County Court officials are modifying schedules and accepting motions to continue cases and adjust fine payment schedules in preparation for advancement of COVID-19 into…
DOJ using coronavirus crisis to push for expansive emergency powers
by Eoin Higgins, staff writer The Department of Justice is using the coronavirus outbreak to ask Congress for sweeping emergency powers including suspending habeas corpus during an emergency, a power grab that was denounced by civil…
Immigration Courts are telling employees to come to work — Ignoring health risks and local shelter-in-place orders
Interviews with 10 workers at immigration courts around the country reveal fear, contradictory messages and continuing perils for the employees. by Dara Lind March 20, 3:48 p.m. MST On Tuesday night — over a day after…
Court approves settlement requiring EPA rules on most dangerous chemical spills
Saturday, March 14 The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a consent decree between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a coalition of community and environmental organizations, including the Environmental Justice…
Conservation groups sue the Trump administration to prevent further damage to Arizona’s San Pedro River
By Meteor Staff Saturday, March 14, 2020 Flagstaff Conservation groups sued the Trump administration yesterday to prevent further damage to Arizona’s San Pedro River and its endangered species from excessive groundwater pumping in the Fort…
Appeals court rules Forest Service acted illegally opening Colorado forest to coal mining
“This is a victory for the remarkable wild forests of the North Fork Valley,” said Robin Cooley, the Earthjustice attorney who argued the case on behalf of the conservation groups. “The Court reversed the Forest Service’s…
ACLU challenges new border wall funds transfer
by Meteor staff Feb 28, 2020 The American Civil Liberties Union filed a new lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s transfer of an additional $3.8 billion in military funds for border wall construction. Congress did not…
Ninth Circuit tells Trump Admin to stop denying asylum seekers for crossing at unofficial locations
By Meteor Staff Feb 28, 2020 A federal appeals court (9th Circuit in San Francisco) has upheld a block on the Trump administration’s attempt to restrict asylum applications to ports of entry. The lawsuit, East…
Five ways William Barr Is helping Trump turn US into a dictatorship
What occurred under Nixon is happening again. Trump has usurped the independence of the Department of Justice for his own ends. by Robert Reich CommonDreams.org William Barr was installed as Attorney General specifically to turn the…
A key FBI photo analysis method has serious flaws, study says
After ProPublica’s reporting last year, scientists at UC Berkeley tested one of the FBI Lab’s photo analysis techniques, identifying bluejeans by the pattern on their seams, and found flaws that challenge the method’s reliability. by Ryan…
Students raise $10,000 to get classmate released from Immigrant Detention Center
Students from Crystal Lake Central High school decided to take matters into their own hands when one of their own was facing deportation. Together, the students and staff of Crystal Lake Central High School raised over…
Prosecutor disavows Barr bigfooting of Stone sentencing.
Yesterday the Meteor published a story about Roger Stone being sentenced to 40 months in prison. Below, Rachel Maddow breaks down Justice Department prosecutor John D. Crabb’s declarations to Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Roger Stone…
‘Our institutions are sounding alarms’: Federal Judges call emergency meeting over Trump interference with DOJ
“This is mind-blowing. I’ve never heard of anything like it. We are in full on crisis mode.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer, for CommonDreams.org The head of the 1,100-member Federal Judges Association on Monday called an…
More than 1,100 former US Department of Justice officials tell William Barr: Resign now!
‘Barr’s actions in doing the President’s personal bidding unfortunately speak louder than his words’ by Common Dreams staff More than 1,100 former US Department of Justice officials called on Attorney General William P. Barr on Sunday…
