Special US terrorism courts would threaten Constitution: report

[JURIST] Special national security courts to try terrorism suspects are "unnecessary" and "dangerous to traditional constitutional protections," according to a report [text, PDF; advocacy press release] issued Monday by the Constitution Project [advocacy website]. The report was endorsed by a panel of national security experts and legal scholars including General Wesley Clark, Yale Law School
2008-06-23T15:07:00-04:00

Federal appeals court overturns enemy combatant status of Guantanamo detainee

[JURIST] A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Monday ordered [PDF text] the US government to release or transfer a Chinese Uighur Muslim [JURIST news archive] detained at Guantanamo Bay, ruling that Huzaifa Parhat had been improperly designated as an enemy combatant by a US Combatant Status Review Tribunal [DOD materials]. Barring release or transfer, the order
2008-06-23T15:07:00-04:00

Abuses of the Takings Clause - Your Home Could Be Next

A look at the abuses of the takings clause by the government which has left citizens destitute and homeless. The work gives special attention to the famous case: Kelo vs. New London. A short read will give you the info you need to protect your rights as a homeowner.
Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:55:30 -0500

Virginia upholds Vermont grant of same-sex ex-partner child visitation rights

[JURIST] The Supreme Court of Virginia [official website] has upheld [ruling, PDF] the visitation rights of a woman seeking visitation rights to a child born to her former lesbian partner while the two were engaged in a same-sex union under Vermont law [Vermont Act 91 text]. Without reaching the merits of the case [press release], the court ruled Friday for Janet Jenkins against Lisa Miller,
2008-06-09T12:53:00-04:00

American Indian trust mismanagement case goes to trial

[JURIST] The US District Court for the District of Columbia [court website] began hearings Monday in Cobell v. Kempthorne [plaintiff's website; DOJ materials], a class-action suit brought in 1996 alleging US government mismanagement of trust funds for a group of some 500,000 Native Americans and their heirs. Judge James Robertson [official profile] will decide how much the government owes the
2008-06-09T12:53:00-04:00

Executing a Power of Attorney to Help Prevent Foreclosure

One of the most serious decisions homeowners facing foreclosure may be asked to make is to sign over the deed to their home. Transferring ownership of the property diminishes their ability to keep control over the house, and may just reward a scammer with an easy target. Just as serious and potentially dangerous, though, is the decision to sign over a power of attorney to a third party to represent the homeowners.
Wed, 14 May 2008 13:47:19 -0500