Harmful Repercussions of Corporate Court’s Wal-Mart Ruling Just Getting Started

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Last week the Michigan Messenger reported that a Michigan judge cited Wal-Mart v. Dukes...

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Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Over Votes on Five Nominees, Indefinitely Delays Vote on One

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); This morning, at the request of committee Republicans, the Senate Judiciary Committee held...

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The Affordable Care Act Reaches the Supreme Court ... Again

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); The Thomas More Law Center – a tax-exempt, right-wing litigation group notable for its assaults...

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Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Five District Court Nominees

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); This afternoon the Senate Judiciary committee held a hearing on the nominations of Edgardo...

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Representative King Holds Yet Another Muslim Radicalization Hearing

- Lauren Hvar _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); - Lauren HumphreyToday Congressman Pete King (R-NY) held his third hearing on Islamic radicalization...

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Waterview Tower - a Phoenix?

Happy to see that Related Cos. has bought the shell of a building called Waterview Tower and hopefully has the money to complete it, albeit as a shorter building and all residential. It is also hopefully a sign of some movement on the development side. I never would have thought it would or could stay partially done for so long, which is why I should stay out of the crystal ball business, I suppose. Here's a story on the acquisitio...

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A proposed constitutional amendment

Again, I have taken some time away from writing here, and today I must venture back into politics again, my previous controversial comments on Sarah Palin notwithstanding.I am sick and tired of the government - Republicans and Democrats alike - playing political games for the benefit of no one but themselves. Every fight is a game of chicken and we are the cars. The most recent is the deficit and debt ceiling debate. You want to balance the budget or come reasonably close? Warren Buffett had a good idea. These people in DC are coming off like a pack of petulant children, and it has to come...

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Senate Confirms 2 District Court Judges, Dozens of Nominees Still Await Votes

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Today the Senate confirmed Paul Engelmayer to the Southern District of New York on a vote of 98-0,...

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The Wal-Mart v. Dukes Decision: The Gift That Keeps On Giving... To Corporations

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();When the Supreme Court ruled in Wal-Mart v. Dukes that female employees of the retail giant couldn't...

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House Committee Passes Corporate Pardon Bill

Today the House Committee on Education and the Workforce marked up and passed H.R. 2587, which Republicans are calling the "Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act." It might be more accurate to call it the "Corporate Pardon Bill."Written less than 48 hours before the committee meeting, the bill specifically targets the National Labor Relations Board's ability to sanction corporations that retaliate against workers who have exercised their right to organize.If passed into law, the bill would prevent the NLRB from regulating the relocation of corporate operations—a crucial regulatory...

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Senate Judiciary Committee Reports Out Five Nominees

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();This morning the Senate Judiciary Committee reported out five nominees in a unanimous, en banc voice...

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Judicial vacancies higher than at beginning of the year

The judicial vacancy crisis is worsening, and Republican obstruction is returning.There are more current and future vacancies today (115) than there were at the beginning of the year (114). That's more than 1 in 7 seats on the federal bench.After a few months of incremental progress, the Senate’s confirmation rate has dropped precipitously, and new vacancies have outpaced confirmations.Fortunately, the Senate Judiciary Committee has continued to efficiently process nominees, resulting in a huge batch of nominees awaiting confirmation votes. 26 nominees are awaiting final votes on the Senate floor,...

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J. Paul Oetken is the First Openly Gay Man Confirmed for Federal Judgeship

PRESS RELEASEWashington, D.C., July 18, 2011—Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement in the wake of the vote by the United States Senate to confirm J. Paul Oetken as judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York: Today marked an historic moment for the federal judiciary as, for the first time, an openly gay man was confirmed as a federal district court judge. The nomination and confirmation of J. Paul Oetken removes one of the final barriers to full and active participation of LGBT individuals in public life. Although gay men...

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BP Tries to Limit “Future Loss” Payouts to Gulf Residents

- By Dan FligstenBP has decided that it does not feel that those harmed by the Gulf Oil Spill deserve “future losses.” In its view, the environmental recovery efforts have been so successful that claimants are not likely to suffer any future harm from this catastrophe. In papers recently filed with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, BP asserted that "There is no basis to assume that claimants, with very limited exceptions, will incur a future loss related to the oil spill."Gulf Coast residents whose livelihoods depend upon the vitality of the environment might disagree.While it may be true that...

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This week: Activity on judicial nominations, but still no new confirmations

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();WednesdayThe Senate Judiciary held a confirmation hearing for five nominees: Morgan Christen, to the...

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Human Rights Watch to the Obama Administration: Don’t Let Torturers Get a Free Pass

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();- Peter LaumannIn a powerful Washington Post op-ed today, Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth...

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In Making Noise Over Kagan, Republicans Gloss Over More Serious Ethical Problems

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); On June 24, 49 Republican representatives sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman...

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House Takes Action Against So-Called “Abusive Lawsuits"

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();In yet another conservative attack on everyday Americans' rights to seek justice in the courtroom,...

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Commentators Agree: The Corporate Court Comes Through for Big Business

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();The Corporate Court concluded its 2010-11 term last week and the reviews are in. Supreme Court observers...

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Panel Discusses Pro-Business Bias in Supreme Court

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();The American Constitution Society held its 2010-2011 Supreme Court Review panel yesterday. Quinn...

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Senate Confirms Territorial Court Nominee, Fails to Vote on 17 Other Judicial Nominees

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Last night the Senate confirmed, by unanimous consent, Wilma Antoinette Lewis to the District Court...

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New York Times Addresses Supreme Court Ethics

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2327420-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Today's New York Times carries an editorial on judicial ethics that begins:The court cannot maintain...

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