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Judge won't halt Pa. voter identification law
Law & Politics |
2012/08/17 18:17
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A tough new voter identification law championed by Republicans can take effect in Pennsylvania for November's presidential election, a judge ruled Wednesday, despite a torrent of criticism that it will suppress votes among President Barack Obama's supporters and make it harder for the elderly, disabled, poor and young adults to vote.
Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson said he would not grant an injunction that would have halted the law, which requires each voter to show a valid photo ID. Opponents are expected to file an appeal within a day or two to the state Supreme Court as the Nov. 6 election looms.
"We're not done, it's not over," said Witold J. Walczak, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who helped argue the case for the plaintiffs. "It's why they make appeals courts."
The Republican-penned law — which passed over the objections of Democrats — has ignited a furious debate over voting rights as Pennsylvania is poised to play a key role in deciding the presidential contest. Plaintiffs, including a 93-year-old woman who recalled marching with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1960, had asked Simpson to block the law from taking effect in this year's election as part of a wider challenge to its constitutionality.
Republicans defend the law as necessary to protect the integrity of the election. But Democrats say the law will make it harder for people who lack ID for valid reasons to vote. |
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NC regulators hire law firm to probe Duke Energy
Business Law Info |
2012/08/15 18:16
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North Carolina utilities regulators said Wednesday they have hired a former federal prosecutor with experience digging into corporate affairs to reveal whether regulators were misled ahead of a takeover that created America's largest electric company.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission said it has hired Anton Valukas and the Jenner & Block law firm, which he heads in Chicago. The ex-prosecutor and his firm are tasked with investigating what happened before regulators approved Charlotte-based Duke Energy Corp. taking over Raleigh-based Progress Energy Inc.
State law allows the costs associated with the utilities commission's investigation to be charged to Duke Energy and its shareholders rather than allowing the company to pass them along to its 3.2 million North Carolina customers.
A Duke Energy spokesman said the company was cooperating with regulators in their investigation.
The company on Wednesday separately sought to begin passing along to Carolinas energy consumers the first $89 million of $650 million in merger-related savings promised over the next five years. If that is approved, the average residential customer in North Carolina and South Carolina could save between 80 cents and 92 cents a month beginning in September. |
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Pa. high court fast tracks juvenile lifer appeals
Headline News |
2012/08/10 19:54
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Pennsylvania's highest court is moving quickly to determine how to respond to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles aren't constitutional.
The Sentencing Project, an advocacy group based in Washington, has said Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of juvenile lifers.
The state Supreme Court scheduled oral argument for Sept. 13 in a pair of cases that will determine what to do about the hundreds of people serving such sentences, as well as how to handle the issue going forward.
The 5-to-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision issued June 25 still makes it possible for juveniles to get life, but it can't be automatic.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections says 373 lifers were under age 18 at the time they were sentenced. |
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Court overturns $1M award against U of M, Smith
U.S. Legal News |
2012/08/08 19:54
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The Minnesota Supreme Court has overturned a $1 million award against the University of Minnesota and men's basketball coach Tubby Smith over the hiring of an assistant coach.
Jimmy Williams quit his job as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State in 2007 because he believed Smith had hiring authority when he offered him an assistant coaching job. Minnesota later withdrew the offer because Williams had NCAA rules violations during a previous stint as an assistant for the Golden Gophers more than 20 years ago.
Williams sued, and a Hennepin County jury and the state appeals court sided with him. But the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed those decisions, saying Williams was not entitled to protection against negligent misrepresentations from Smith about his hiring authority. |
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MJM Law Office - Eugene Criminal Lawyer
Law Firm News |
2012/08/07 18:52
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Mr. Mizejewski of MJM Law Office, P.C. is a Eugene Criminal Lawyer focusing his practice on criminal defense and family law. Representing clients from all over Eugene, he covers all cases involving anything from DUI offenses, assault and battery, drug crimes to custody disputes and child support. Mr. Mizejewski is also known for quality representation in the Juvenile courts cases at the John Serbu Juvenile Justice Center.
Criminal defense is a serious matter and Mr. Mizejewski understands it is not an easy time for those who are charged with a crime. His experience helps him navigate through the legal system effectively during this challenging time and promises to work hand in hand with clients. Each client situation is unique and requires time and having several options is the key in resolving the issues in an efficient manner.
With an office located in the heart of downtown Eugene, Oregon, MJM Law Office, P.C. mainly represents clients from Lane County, Oregon. Frequenting the Lane County Circuit Court has helped us familiarize with the individual judges, district attorneys, and court staff. In addition, our time is spent in Juvenile Court and the other courts surrounding, including Springfield Municipal Court, Eugene Municipal Court, Cottage Grove Municipal Court, and Florence Municipal Court.
When it comes to family, it is important to hire an experience attorney to help deal with your legal concerns. These issues are life-changing and with our close network of relationships in the Lane County district, we have what it takes to serve our clients to the best of abilities. Our Eugene criminal lawyer has proudly represented for clients in the Eugene, Springfield, Coburg, Creswell, Cottage Grove, Junction City and Florence communities. |
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Court spurns religious claim to name change
U.S. Legal News |
2012/08/05 00:05
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An appeals court has rejected a Kansas man's claim that the federal justice system's refusal to recognize his new Muslim name violates his constitutional religious rights.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Michael White failed to show it was unreasonable to deny his request to amend all records in his criminal case.
A lower court held that replacing the name Michael White with Abdul Hakeem Kareem Mujahid in all federal court records would create confusion.
Mujahid is serving 10 years at a prison in Colorado for killing another inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth. A Kansas court granted his petition to change his name in December 2010. |
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