Latest Courts News
He spoke no English, had no lawyer. An Afghan man's case offers a glimpse into US immigration court
The Afghan man speaks only Farsi, but he wasn't worried about representing himself in U.S. immigration court. He believed the details of his asylum claim spoke for themselves. Mohammad was a university professor, teaching human rights courses in Afghanistan before he fled for the...
The Supreme Court will hear a case with a lot of 'buts' & 'ifs' over the meaning of 'and'
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's hard to imagine a less contentious or more innocent word than “and.” But how to interpret that simple conjunction has prompted a complicated legal fight that lands in the Supreme Court on Oct. 2, the first day of its new term. What the justices decide...
Six young activists devote years to climate fight with 32 governments. Now comes their day in court
COSTA DA CAPARICA, Portugal (AP) — Sofia Oliveira was 12 years old when catastrophic wildfires in central Portugal killed more than 100 people in 2017. She “felt it was now or never to raise our voices” as her country appeared to be in the grip of deadly human-caused climate change. ...
California governor vetoes bill requiring custody courts to weigh affirmation of gender identity
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have required judges to consider whether a parent affirms their child’s gender identity when making custody and visitation decisions. In announcing his veto Friday night, Newsom released a...
A Black student was suspended for his hairstyle. Now his family is suing Texas officials
HOUSTON (AP) — The family of a Black high school student in Texas who was suspended over his dreadlocks filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Saturday against the state's governor and attorney general, alleging they failed to enforce a new law outlawing discrimination based on hairstyles. ...
A court in China sentences a famed Uyghur scholar to life in prison, foundation says
BEIJING (AP) — A prominent Uyghur scholar specializing in the study of her people’s folklore and traditions has been sentenced to life in prison, according to a U.S.-based foundation that works on human rights cases in China. Rahile Dawut was convicted on charges of endangering...
Federal judge again strikes down California law banning gun magazines of more than 10 rounds
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California cannot ban gun owners from having detachable magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, a federal judge ruled Friday. The decision from U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez won't take effect immediately. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a...
California bishop acquitted in first United Methodist court trial of its kind in nearly a century
A United Methodist Church court acquitted a California bishop Friday of all charges in the first trial of one of the church’s bishops in nearly a century. Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the first Latina bishop in the denomination and a prominent voice on behalf of immigrants, faced four...
Judge sides with ACLU, orders Albuquerque to pause removal of homeless people's belongings
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The city of Albuquerque will be banned under a court order from seizing or destroying property of people who are homeless. A Bernalillo County District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction Thursday that Albuquerque will have to follow starting Nov....
New Mexico's largest utility to return $115 million to customers who paid after coal plant closed
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico utility regulators have again approved a settlement calling for monthly credits averaging about $9.28 per customer from the state's largest electricity utility over the course of a year. The agreement announced Thursday by the state Public...
