England Charities Warn of Rise in Domestic Violence During Christmas

Rising numbers of women in England are experiencing domestic abuse at Christmas, with Refuge, the leading support service in England, saying that calls and contacts to the national domestic abuse helpline in 2023 were still far higher than pre-pandemic, with 171,490 calls in the year ending March 2023, Rachel Hall reports for The Guardian. The charity is warning that Christmas, when there are always more incidents of domestic abuse, presents specific challenges such as social isolation and increased costs Read the rest

Roadmap for Dealing with Emotional Support Animals Matters

This may very well be a week with two blog entries for three reasons. First, there is the blog that will be the subject of this blog entry. Second, if I have this figured right, this is the last week that the Supreme Court has for issuing opinions before their summer recess. I am particularly waiting on the Loper Bright case, which we discussed here. Third, the week of July 1, I will be out of town all week.

 … Read the rest

Justices send expert witness question back to state court

Justices send expert witness question back to state court

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The Supreme Court on Friday sent the case of an Arizona man convicted of drug possession back to the state courts. Jason Smith argued that when an expert witness testified for the prosecution about drug analysis performed by another forensic scientist, it violated his right under the Sixth Amendment “to be confronted with the witnesses against him.”

In an opinion by Justice Elena Kagan, the court agreed with Smith that the requirements of the Sixth Amendment’s confrontation clause normally … Read the rest

Supreme Court allows ex-council member’s retaliatory arrest lawsuit to move forward

Supreme Court allows ex-council member’s retaliatory arrest lawsuit to move forward

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The court handed a win to a former-city council member in Texas on Thursday, clearing the way for her federal civil rights claim to move forward. Sylvia Gonzalez contends that her 2019 arrest on charges that she had tampered with government records came in retaliation for her criticism of the city manager in Castle Hills, Tex. In a brief unsigned opinion, the justices reinstated Gonzalez’s claim after a federal appeals court had thrown it out, holding that the lower … Read the rest

The morning read for Tuesday, June 18

The morning read for Tuesday, June 18

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Each weekday, we select a short list of news articles, commentary, and other noteworthy links related to the Supreme Court. Here’s the Tuesday morning read:

  • How the Supreme Court could decide Trump’s blockbuster fight for immunity (John Fritze, CNN)
  • US Supreme Court declines to hear Florida sports betting case (Alexandra Glorioso, Tampa Bay Times)
  • Immigrants who missed hearing lose deportation battle at Supreme Court (Lauren Villagran, USA Today)
  • Texas court favored by conservatives to pause transferring cases elsewhere (Nate
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Migration Advocates Warn of Surge in Sexual Violence at Major Route Hot Spots

As migration from South America to the US-Mexico border once again surges, advocates warn that sexual violence is likewise expected to rise, particularly among women and girls, Alícia Fàbregas reports for Al Jazeera. In 2023, the humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) treated 397 cases of sexual violence in the Darién Gap, a sliver of land connecting Colombia to Panama and major migration route. In one week alone, the group saw 59 cases. Those numbers, reported last month, mark Read the rest

(UK) The Court Considers the Question of Whether Secured Creditor Consent is Required to an Administration Extension Again. “Too Good” to be True?

No, it isn’t.  We now have two cases where the Court has confirmed that insolvency practitioners do not need the consent of paid secured creditors when extending an administration under para. 78 of Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (the “Act”).

In Boughey & Anor v Toogood International Transport and Agricultural Services Ltd [2024] EWHC 1425 (Ch) (“Toogood”)the judge agreed with the conclusions reached in the recent Pindar case – see our blog on this – concerning the interpretation … Read the rest