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24 Mar 2011 15:02

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Politics: Prop. 8: Plea to lift stay on California gay marriage rejected

  • It is decidedly unjust and unreasonable to expect California’s gay and lesbian couples to put their lives on hold and suffer daily discrimination as second-class citizens while their U.S. District Court victory comes to its final conclusion.
  • Chad Griffin, chairman of The American Foundation For Civil Rights • Speaking on the rejected plea to lift the stay on the Proposition 8 ruling. The proposition, which was approved by voters in the 2008 election, was ruled unconstitutional by Judge Vaughn Walker last year, but a stay was put on his ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This was broadly thought to be a delay on the resumption of gay marriage in the state so that if/when a higher court examined the issue, the marriages wouldn’t again have to be halted if Walker’s verdict was overturned. Gay rights advocates are understandably unhappy, as the stay could conceivably last a year, and if civil rights are infringed, we suspect that’s not the expedient remedy most people would feel entitled to. source

19 Aug 2009 21:49

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U.S.: A judge who blocked a death-row appeal shows no remorse

  • Sharon Keller closed her office early, stood by her decision. The Texas judge, currently on trial for misconduct, prevented lawyers from appealing the execution of Michael Richard. She closed her office at 5 p.m., refusing to let the lawyers, fighting against a 6 p.m. execution deadline (and computer problems), have more time. Richard died as a result. Her argument: Another judge was on duty that night and they could have handed the appeal to them. Keller could be removed from the bench for the five counts of judicial misconduct. source

08 Jun 2009 17:03

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Biz, U.S.: The Supreme Court blocks the Chrysler/Fiat sale. Whoa!

  • Wow. That was unexpected. The one thing that could stop the Chrysler/Fiat sale just happened. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg delayed the sale “pending further order.” Three Indiana state pension and construction funds were among the foremost opponents of the sale, which they felt left them financially out of the loop. The final sale, which the bankrupt company was counting on, could be delayed for weeks while the court makes a decision. Stay tuned to this Spidey-station. source

07 Jun 2009 10:20

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Biz, U.S.: People are playing pile-up with Chrysler to stop the Fiat sale

  • “Issue a stay … please!” The Indiana pension fund group that holds a minority stake in Chrysler appealed to the high court to prevent the sale, on grounds that the sale is unconstitutional in that the rights of junior creditors are being placed above senior lenders. They also say the U.S. Treasury Department has overstepped its bounds with the sale. source
  • “Issue a stay … please!” The Indiana pension fund group that holds a minority stake in Chrysler appealed to the high court to prevent the sale, on grounds that the sale is unconstitutional in that the rights of junior creditors are being placed above senior lenders. They also say the U.S. Treasury Department has overstepped its bounds with the sale.
  • Other pitfalls Beyond that, consumer groups also attempted to block the deal, moving through the judicial system so quickly that it hasn’t been committed to paper, because it would shield the new company from lawsuits and other problems with current Chrysler vehicles. The Supreme Court has the ball in their hands now. source