Civil Law

Business and Human Rights – could the UK adopt mandatory human rights due diligence?

On 28 November 2023, Baroness Young of Hornsey introduced the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill (the “Bill”) to the House of Lords.  If passed, the Bill would introduce mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (“HREDD”) into UK law.

The description of “reasonable” HREDD set out in the Bill is consistent with the standards set out in the UN Guiding Principles and existing and draft legislation in other jurisdictions (including … Read the rest

Criminal Law

New York Cannabis Store Rollout for Formerly Convicted Business Owners Could Be in Jeopardy

New York’s program placing the first 150 retail cannabis dispensary licenses into the hands of entrepreneurs with past marijuana convictions is now on pause as a lawsuit into the legitimacy of the program leaves New York Cannabis social equity in limbo.

The state’s Office of Cannabis Management which operates the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program (CAURD) was sued last month by three veterans who alleged the program’s requirements are unconstitutional.

The Conditional Adult Use program was designed to give individuals … Read the rest

Criminal Law

Could New Compassionate Guidelines Release Enhance Opportunities for Federal Inmates?

Under federal law, 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1)(A), a federal prisoner may file a motion for reduction of sentence seeking a “compassionate release” from penal custody. 

Prior to filing such a motion, the prisoner must exhaust available administrative remedies—a process that involves four stages:

  • Stage 1: A written request to the warden of incarcerating facility outlining the “extraordinary or compelling” reasons for release with specific information about prisoner’s place of panned residence, prisoner’s ability to support themselves, prisoner’s medical treatment information (if
… Read the rest
Criminal Law

Advocates: Maine’s New Prostitution Law Could Push Sex Workers Into a Black Market

in June, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed a bill into law that is supposed to partially decriminalize sex work throughout the state. The new law, LD 1435, would institute what’s known as the “Nordic Model” of prostitution laws, which seeks to criminalize people who pay for sex while eliminating criminal charges for sex workers, ostensibly giving sex workers and victims of sex trafficking who report abuse and/or exploitation immunity from prosecution.

The law was passed alongside an act sealing survivors’ … Read the rest