Legislation & Lobbying

Alabama governor signs chemical castration law; it’s not the first state to authorize it

On Monday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed into law a bill that requires sex offenders whose victims were younger than age 13 to receive chemical castration as a condition of parole.

Jun 12, 2019 12:21 PM CDT

House passes bill that provides immigrant youths path to citizenship

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday that could provide a path to legal status and citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and other young immigrants who are living in the United States without documentation. The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 is “consistent with American…

Jun 6, 2019 12:06 PM CDT

Abortion law prompts more than 200 ABA members to protest plan to hold 2021 meeting in Atlanta

Updated: On Friday, the ABA Board of Governors will be discussing whether to move the 2021 ABA Midyear Meeting from Orlando, Florida, to Atlanta. In a letter sent on Tuesday, 243 ABA members urged the Board not to select Atlanta as an alternate site “in light of Georgia’s new draconian…

Jun 5, 2019 3:45 PM CDT

Judiciary has no jurisdiction to decide Congress’ suit over border wall funds, federal judge rules

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that he has no jurisdiction to enter the fight between President Donald Trump and the U.S. House of Representatives over the use of unappropriated funds to build a border wall.

Jun 4, 2019 9:10 AM CDT

New Hampshire repeals death penalty; its last execution was in 1939

New Hampshire is the 21st state to abolish the death penalty.

May 30, 2019 3:32 PM CDT

Food truck restrictions, including GPS requirement, can stand, state supreme court rules

A cupcake entrepreneur has lost her constitutional challenge to Chicago’s food truck regulations before the Illinois Supreme Court. The state high court rejected constitutional claims by Laura Pekarik, who operated a food truck called Cupcakes for Courage. Pekarik was represented by the Institute for Justice, according to a press release.…

May 23, 2019 3:51 PM CDT

Homeless veterans bill would ensure legal services are available ‘when they are needed most,’ ABA says

ABA President Bob Carlson urged the Senate’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on Tuesday to support bipartisan legislation that would implement new strategies for removing barriers that prevent homeless veterans from receiving vital benefits, services and treatment. In a letter sent to committee Chair Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Ranking Member Jon…

May 23, 2019 11:50 AM CDT

Federalist Society’s Leonard Leo helped raise $250M to promote judges and causes

Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the Federalist Society, has had a visible role recommending conservative nominees for the federal bench. But his influence extends further, the Washington Post reports. Leo “is the maestro of a network of interlocking nonprofits working on media campaigns and other initiatives to sway lawmakers…

May 23, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Alabama governor signs abortion ban; which cases are headed to the Supreme Court?

Updated: On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union vowed to challenge Alabama’s abortion ban that was signed into law the same day by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

May 16, 2019 9:18 AM CDT

San Francisco supervisors vote to ban facial recognition technology by city agencies

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted 8-1 on Tuesday to ban the use of facial recognition software by police and city agencies. One more vote, considered a formality, will be taken before the ordinance moves to the mayor for a signature. The San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times and…

May 15, 2019 9:20 AM CDT

‘Anti-defense bill’ would put public defenders at risk of jail and hamper their work, critics say

Critics say legislation passed by the Louisiana House of Representatives would put public defenders in an ethical quandary and put them at risk of jail time. Dane Ciolino, a law professor at Loyola University at New Orleans, calls the legislation an “anti-defense bill” that is unnecessary and one-sided, the Appeal…

May 13, 2019 9:31 AM CDT

Under newly introduced federal bill, public defenders would get same pay as prosecutors

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, a former prosecutor and Democratic 2020 presidential contender, has introduced a bill that would eventually require pay parity for public defenders and prosecutors. The legislation, introduced Wednesday, creates a $250 million grant program for public defense that requires entities receiving funds to establish workload…

May 10, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Fight to repeal marital rape exception succeeds in this state because of 1 woman’s efforts

Minnesota has lifted an exception that protected some people accused of raping their spouses, thanks to the lobbying efforts of a woman who learned that her own spouse couldn’t be prosecuted for sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious.

May 6, 2019 12:07 PM CDT

Tribe bans South Dakota governor from reservation over her support for laws targeting Keystone XL pipeline protests

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is no longer welcome on the Pine Ridge Reservation because of her support for anti-rioting laws passed in response to protests of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council told Noem in a Thursday letter that she is no longer welcome on…

May 3, 2019 3:20 PM CDT

New state law allows attorneys to store guns for domestic abusers; this lawyer is ready

A Philadelphia lawyer has shelled out about $3,500 for a gun safe where he can store guns for clients accused of domestic abuse. Joseph Lento told the PA Post that he is willing to provide the service under the state’s new Protection from Abuse Act, which took effect April 10.…

May 2, 2019 7:00 AM CDT