USA Archive - Law Commentary

A group of people holding a "Welcome to New York" sign promoting the Green Light NY law, which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

Appeals court rejected a lawsuit seeking to nullify a NY law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently affirmed a 2019 lower court decision that continued to grant undocumented immigrants the right to obtain a standard driver’s license in New York. The plaintiff, Michael Kearns, sued the state by arguing that he had the "impossible task of choosing... Read More about Appeals court rejected a lawsuit seeking to nullify a NY law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses

Man speaking at a podium with a microphone, wearing a suit and tie, with an American flag in the background.

Kentucky: Religious Schools Battle Governor to Re-open In-person

The Kentucky governor ordered schools in his state to close due to the explosion of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the US. Some Kentucky schools remain open even while the virus rages, ignoring the orders and fighting them in the Supreme Court. In a series of press briefings, Democratic Governor Andy... Read More about Kentucky: Religious Schools Battle Governor to Re-open In-person

TSA employee wearing a mask while holding a coffee cup at an airport information desk.

TSA Employee Files a Class Action Against the Federal Government for Hazard Pay During Pandemic

On November 30, a Transportation Security Administration employee filed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. federal government. The lawsuit alleges that the government has deprived TSA workers of required hazard pay and environmental discharge pay for work done at airports during the pandemic. The TSA employee who filed the lawsuit... Read More about TSA Employee Files a Class Action Against the Federal Government for Hazard Pay During Pandemic

An oil drilling pumpjack standing in a barren landscape under a cloudy sky.

Federal Judge Blocks Oil Drilling Efforts in Wyoming for Failure to Assess Climate Impact

On November 13, 2020, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia blocked drilling on more than 300,000 acres in Wyoming for the second time in two years. In his decision, the judge took the Trump administration to task for failing to properly... Read More about Federal Judge Blocks Oil Drilling Efforts in Wyoming for Failure to Assess Climate Impact

Under Threat of Death, Petitioner & Former Police Officer has Appeal Approved for US Asylum

When the US Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) rejected former Columbian police officer Edier de Jesus Rodriguez Bedoya’s application for asylum, the ominous death threats kept coming. Bedoya and his family had arrived in the US legally in 2013 and applied for asylum. The now-retired Colombian law officer had spent... Read More about Under Threat of Death, Petitioner & Former Police Officer has Appeal Approved for US Asylum

Image of a man smiling in a suit, with a blurred background.

Former Tesla employee to pay $400,000 to end lawsuit over tips to reporters

Judge Miranda Du approved and revealed a settlement between Tesla and Martin Tripp on Monday, November 30, 2020. The settlement stipulates that Tripp will pay $400,000 to Tesla. He was accused of leaking information to reporters. He admitted the charges of stealing trade secrets. Tripp was a process technician at... Read More about Former Tesla employee to pay $400,000 to end lawsuit over tips to reporters

A group of masked individuals of various ages stands in a church pew, observing their surroundings. Stained glass windows are visible in the background.

Supreme Court Blocks Cuomo From Reinstituting Capacity Limits on Religious Congregations After Rise in COVID Cases

Late last Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court voted in a narrow decision of 5-4 blocking the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, from strictly limiting the number of people congregating in areas of worship, including churches and synagogues. The governor of New York implemented these restrictive measures after the state... Read More about Supreme Court Blocks Cuomo From Reinstituting Capacity Limits on Religious Congregations After Rise in COVID Cases

Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua Kaul speaking at a public event, holding a microphone and addressing a crowd.

Wisconsin Attorney General challenges Republican-made laws limiting his power

Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua Kaul and Governor Tony Evers are petitioning the state supreme court to assume original action in a case against the state legislature. The suit not only involves all three branches of government but pits two of them against each other. Kaul and Evers seek to have... Read More about Wisconsin Attorney General challenges Republican-made laws limiting his power

Aerial view of the Del Puerto Canyon area, showing rivers and agricultural land.

Sierra Club and Other California Environmental Groups File a Lawsuit To Stop Construction of the Del Puerto Canyon Dam

Several groups of nonprofit environmental advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against California. The lawsuit is in opposition to a new dam that is set to be built in the Del Puerto Canyon. The lawsuit was filed by the Sierra Club, the California Native Plant Society, Friends of the River,... Read More about Sierra Club and Other California Environmental Groups File a Lawsuit To Stop Construction of the Del Puerto Canyon Dam

A man in a court setting, appearing serious and focused, wearing a white shirt.

Florida Supreme Court won’t reinstate the death penalty for killers previously sentenced to execution

On Wednesday, November 25, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court refused to reinstate death penalty sentences for two men whose death sentences were vacated pursuant to a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The men, Bessman Okafor and Michael James Jackson, had been convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed prior... Read More about Florida Supreme Court won’t reinstate the death penalty for killers previously sentenced to execution

Portrait of John Durham, the special counsel appointed to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, with an American flag in the background.

AG Barr Appoints Special Counsel to Investigate Illegality in Probe of Russian Election Influence

On October 19, 2020, Attorney General William Barr appointed Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham as special counsel under the same federal regulations that covered special counsel Robert Mueller in the original Russia probe undertaken in May 2017. The order authorizes Mr. Durham “to investigate whether any federal official, employee or any... Read More about AG Barr Appoints Special Counsel to Investigate Illegality in Probe of Russian Election Influence

Bill Cosby walking under an umbrella, appearing serious during a legal proceeding.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Homes in on ‘Prior Bad Act’ Witnesses in Bill Cosby’s Appeal, as His Attorneys Claim Unfair Conviction for Celeb

In a virtual hearing on November 20, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices homed in on a specific area of interest concerning an appeal of Bill Cosby’s prior conviction: what is the permissible legal scope of using ‘prior bad acts’ witnesses? The use of ‘prior bad act’ refers to witnesses who... Read More about Pennsylvania Supreme Court Homes in on ‘Prior Bad Act’ Witnesses in Bill Cosby’s Appeal, as His Attorneys Claim Unfair Conviction for Celeb

Ivanka Trump attending an event, looking serious, with a man beside her.

Ivanka Trump is Deposed in Inauguration Lawsuit Against Trump Hotel & Presidential Inaugural Committee

Ivanka Trump was deposed Tuesday in the Washington, DC attorney general’s lawsuit late Tuesday concerning her father’s inauguration. President Trump’s daughter, who is also said to be under consideration by the president for a preemptive pardon, sat for her deposition in the offices of the attorney general. The lawsuit concerns... Read More about Ivanka Trump is Deposed in Inauguration Lawsuit Against Trump Hotel & Presidential Inaugural Committee

Exterior view of a Planned Parenthood facility with signage.

Federal Appeals Court Allows Texas, Louisiana to Exclude Planned Parenthood Medicaid Plans

On November 23, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned a 2017 district court decision that granted the right of individual plaintiffs to challenge a Texas state decision to disqualify Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program. The overruling decision now allows Texas and Louisiana to exclude... Read More about Federal Appeals Court Allows Texas, Louisiana to Exclude Planned Parenthood Medicaid Plans

Bottles of pentobarbital and sodium thiopental, drugs used in lethal injection executions.

New DOJ Execution Amendment Expands U.S. Execution Methods

The Department of Justice has quietly amended current execution protocols. The amended rule was published Friday, November, 27th and will go into effect on December 24. Different states currently allow different types of executions, and with the amendment, lethal injections will no longer have to be the primary method of... Read More about New DOJ Execution Amendment Expands U.S. Execution Methods