UN experts condemn Türkiye over charges against Istanbul Bar Association leaders

[Do Congress and the courts have adequate tools to rein in Trump’s scattershot use of executive power?] [This is a guest blog from a friend and colleague, Abner S. Greene, who is the Leonard F. Manning Professor at Fordham Law School and has been following the constitutional separation-of-powers issues at the heart of many of the current cases involving the scope of President Trump's powers for many years.] Donald Trump's aggressive use of executive power in his second term threatens to upset the balance of power between President and Congress, and although courts have pushed back against Trump's excesses,[i] up-front hurdles and back-end limits render courts an imperfect check.  In this essay I will describe an argument I made 30 years ago about the problem of expanded presidential power, explain the hurdles facing my suggestions for a better balance of executive-legislative power, discuss the limits of congressional power to check an unhinged…

“Lawyers for Migrants Press Appeals Court to Stop Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act; It was an opening salvo in what is likely to be the decisive legal battle over the president’s attempts to employ the rarely used wartime law as a centerpiece of his aggressive deportation agenda”: Alan Feuer of The New York Times has this report. You can access the brief for appellants filed yesterday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit via this link.

The Rural Reconciliation Project at the University of Nebraska College of Law, along with the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, will host a workshop this fall for scholars whose work engages with the law and its relation to rural people and places. The workshop will be held via Zoom on Friday, November 14, 2025, from approximately 9 am until 4 pm CST, with the final schedule to be determined after participants are selected.  This workshop provides a forum for scholars of diverse disciplines and career stages to share and receive feedback on in-progress research that addresses or investigates themes of law and rurality, including legal issues viewed through the lens of rural experience, rural geography, or rural-urban difference. We also anticipate at least one incubator session for scholars to receive feedback on more nascent ideas.  In order to be included, participants will be expected to commit to attend the full day of Zoom sessions and read and…

This is a round-up of open access materials produced by authors based in the Global South (GS) and other geographic areas that are less well-represented in the domain of scholarly forced migration literature. Generally, articles are included if either the lead author or at least half of the co-authors are based in the GS. These references are organized by type of open access. Note that the OA items herein were previously referenced on either this blog or the Forced Migration Library blog as of 1 May 2025.Authors of the OA materials listed below are encouraged to deposit their work in the Forced Migration Research Archive (FMRA)! The submission form and guidelines are available on FMRA's website. Bronze OA:"Crisis Migration in the Contexts of Civil Wars: A Study on the Defects of New Humanitarianism," African Social Science Review, vol. 13, no. 1 (2025)- Author = Thailand"Protecting Migrant Children in Thailand: Importance of Social Integration and Roles…

American law recognizes that the protection of trade secrets results in substantial benefits to businesses and society. Kewanee Oil Co. v. Bicron Corp., 416 U.S. 470 (1974). Protecting commercial entities trade secret theft encourages investment in processes and technologies benefiting consumers. Therefore, trade secret laws promote “the efficient operation of industry” by affording those who invested time, capital, or effort into securing or creating the trade secret whatever benefits result therefrom. Brooklyn Life Ins. Co. of New York v. Dutcher, 95 U.S. 269 (1877). Most, if not all, states recognize the importance of trade secrets to commercial development and enacted statutes preventing their theft. These statutes generally require the trade secret owner to do more than merely prove its information is secret. The owner must also prove it took reasonable measures under the circumstances to protect the information’s secrecy and prove the information has…

A tragic hit-and-run collision in San Jose’s South Almaden Avenue area has claimed the life of a 72-year-old man and left his companion injured. The incident occurred in the early morning of Friday, May 30, 2025, highlighting pedestrians’ ongoing dangers, particularly those with mobility challenges. Details of the South Almaden Avenue Collision According to San Jose police, the fatal accident occurred around 2:45 a.m. near the intersection of South Almaden Avenue and West Virginia Street. The elderly victim and his female housemate were walking in the roadway when a speeding vehicle struck both pedestrians. The woman explained to authorities that they were walking in the street rather than on the sidewalk because the man used a motorized wheelchair, and the road surface provided more straightforward navigation than the uneven sidewalk terrain. This detail underscores the accessibility challenges individuals with mobility devices often face in urban environments.…

Ohio Collections Harassment Getting endless calls from debt collectors can be overwhelming and stressful. It’s not just about the debt, but about feeling trapped and losing your peace of mind. No one should have to deal with threats or bullying over unpaid bills.If you’re facing relentless debt collection tactics in Ohio, knowing you have rights and options is necessary. What Constitutes Collections Harassment? Understanding what qualifies as harassment is key to recognizing when a debt collector has crossed the line. Here are some detailed examples of unlawful collection practices:These behaviors are not only unethical but often illegal under laws such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Recognizing them is the first step toward protecting your rights. Repeated or Late-Night Calls: …

A tragic pedestrian accident claimed the life of a man in Clay, Sacramento County, on Thursday evening, May 29, 2025. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers pedestrians face on California roadways and highlights the importance of understanding legal protections available to victims and their families. Details of the Clay Pedestrian Accident According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal collision occurred at approximately 10:20 p.m. on Twin Cities Road near Clay Station Road. The victim, whose age has not been released by authorities, was walking in the area when he was struck by a vehicle. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. No arrests have been reported at this time. The timing and location of this accident highlight several risk factors commonly associated with pedestrian fatalities. The late evening hour when the collision occurred coincides with reduced visibility conditions that make it more…

Every criminal defendant is entitled to a fundamentally fair trial. In North Carolina’s two-tier system, a defendant convicted in District Court (the lower criminal court) can  seek an appeal from district criminal court to Superior Court for a fresh trial. But does this trial de novo appeal truly safeguard the right to a fair trial? This post examines North Carolina’s two-tier criminal court structure and asks whether a trial de novo on appeal fully cures defects in the original proceeding. We explore statutory law (e.g. N.C.G.S. §§ 7A-271, 15A-1431), constitutional due process principles, and key cases – notably Ward v. Monroeville, 409 U.S. 57 (1972) – to assess if a defendant receives meaningful due process in the court of first instance. Legal professionals will recognize the tension between efficiency and fairness inherent in North Carolina’s system, and the question of whether the promise of a new trial compensates for…

July 1 is just around the corner, and with it comes a series of local minimum wage increases across Southern California. For employers operating in multiple jurisdictions, staying compliant can be complex—but it’s essential to avoid costly penalties and maintain employee trust.Below is a breakdown of the new rates, followed by a practical compliance checklist tailored for California employers. While this is usually a Friday’s Five article, we’re stretching a bit into seven key steps to keep you covered. Minimum Wage Increases in Southern California (Effective July 1, 2025) Los Angeles County (Unincorporated Areas): $17.81/hour City of Los Angeles: $17.87/hour (increased from $17.28/hour) Pasadena: $18.04/hour (increased from $17.50/hour) Santa Monica: $17.81/hour (increased from $17.27/hour) West Hollywood (Hotel Workers): $20.22/hour (note: non-hotel employees must be paid $19.65/hour and this rate will be in effect until December 31,…

A very interesting item in the Executive Functions substack newsletter, written by a leading expert on Presidential power: On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) did not authorize President Trump's sprawling tariff policies and permanently enjoined them. On Thursday a federal district court in the District of Columbia reached the same conclusion about IEEPA for different reasons, and issued a preliminary injunction. Before these rulings, I disagreed with most of the commentary on Trump's IEEPA sanctions and thought that the legal issues here were hard and close. Neither ruling convinced me otherwise. In what follows I explain why, though I must be necessarily selective in addressing complicated opinions chock full of technical arguments. As I explain in the end, I think the lawfulness of Trump's IEEPA tariffs depends a lot on the proper…

ICYMI: David Ray Papke, Marquette University Law School, has published The Jurisprudence of Transcendentalism at 60 Idaho L. Rev. 185 (2024). Here is the abstract. This article begins by sketching the evolving legal fabric of Antebellum America, stressing the way law and legal institutions came to play larger and more trusted roles in sociopolitical life during that period. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and the other Transcendentalists reacted negatively to this societal “legalization,” and as the second part of this article indicates, their jurisprudence was a largely negative critique of law and legal institutions. The third part of the article explores the part this jurisprudence played in the Transcendentalists’ critique of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. In conclusion, the article maintains that even in the present the jurisprudence of the Transcendentalism is a valuable demystification of man-made law and a warning against an unreflective…

Sevens Legal is proud to announce that Dan Greene has once again been selected for membership in The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. This prestigious honor is reserved for the most accomplished trial attorneys in the nation, reaffirming Dan Greene’s leadership, legal excellence, and outstanding trial results in criminal defense. Clients facing criminal charges in San Diego and throughout California can trust that they are in capable hands with a nationally recognized attorney who fights relentlessly for their freedom and future. If you or a loved one are facing criminal charges in San Diego, call Sevens Legal today at (619) 430-2355 for a free consultation. Key Takeaways • Sevens Legal’s Dan Greene has been re-selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, a testament to his legal excellence. • The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 is an exclusive organization that highlights the nation’s most skilled attorneys. • Selection to the Top 100 is based on rigorous…

A devastating bicycle accident in Bakersfield has left an 11-year-old child fighting for their life after being struck by a vehicle at an uncontrolled intersection. The incident on Wednesday afternoon, May 28, 2025, highlights the ongoing dangers young cyclists face and raises essential questions about intersection safety and legal accountability. Details of the Bakersfield Bicycle Accident The collision took place around 4:50 p.m. at the intersection of Owens Street and Quincy Street in Bakersfield, where an 11-year-old bicyclist was traveling eastbound on Quincy Street when struck by a silver sedan driven by a woman heading southbound on Owens Street. According to the Bakersfield Police Department, the impact occurred within an intersection that lacks both stop signs and traffic signals, creating what traffic safety experts often refer to as an “uncontrolled intersection.” Emergency responders immediately transported the critically injured child to a local…

The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has filed a third lawsuit against the Gilroy Unified School District (GUSD), intensifying scrutiny over the district’s handling of student safety and supervision. This latest legal action, announced on May 7, 2025, comes in the wake of a $100,000 settlement reached just a day prior in a separate but related case, underscoring a pattern of alleged negligence by district officials in protecting students from campus violence. The new complaint centers on an incident at Christopher High School involving Jane Doe, a minor who was violently assaulted and bullied by another student, Heather Doe, on March 8, 2024. The attack occurred during a passing period, with Heather Doe reportedly pulling Jane’s hoodie over her head, knocking her to the ground, and physically assaulting her for several minutes. The incident was captured on video by students and sent to Jane’s mother. Notably, no staff members were present to intervene…

Shalev Gad Roisman (University of Arizona - James E. Rogers College of Law) & Oren Tamir (University of Arizona - James E. Rogers College of Law) have posted Pictures of a Revolution: Administrative Law in a Time of Change (123 Michigan Law Review 1105 (2025)( in SSRN. Here is the abstract: Change is afoot in administrative law. In a string of recent decisions, the Roberts Court has dramatically departed from the prior administrative law status quo. The field’s formerly established rules and staple frameworks are increasingly and rapidly being overruled, and more such rules seem vulnerable in the near future. In this Book Review, we seek to better understand these profound changes through a particular method: We review the supplements to twelve of the leading administrative law casebooks issued at the end of the Supreme Court 2023 Term, which culminated in blockbuster decisions in Corner Post, Jarkesy, and Loper Bright. We recognize of course that casebooks,…

LEWISBURG, Pa. — Playworld Systems has issued a nationwide recall of its Unity Teeter Tunnels with Lexan Tops. The Unity Teeter Tunnel is a playground structure that allows children to stand, sit, or lie on a moving plank and crawl through an integrated tunnel. The recall comes after two reported incidents where children were seriously injured when the end of the seesaw-style equipment struck them. According to the company, if a child accidentally moves underneath the seesaw plank while others are playing on top, the plank can descend rapidly, creating a dangerous impact force. In one incident, a child suffered a liver laceration after the seesaw plank landed on her abdomen. In a second case, a child sustained fractures to the right tibia and fibula. The recalled units include models with part numbers ZZXX0182, ZZXX0182S, ZZXX0192, and ZZXX0192S. Contact The Ammons Law Firm for Legal Help Involving Defective Products Contact The Ammons Law Firm today for a free…

AI chatbots are transforming how businesses handle consumer inquiries and complaints, offering speed and availability that traditional channels often cannot match.  However, the European Commission’s recent Digital Fairness Act Fitness Check has spotlighted a gap: EU consumers currently lack a cross-sectoral right to demand human contact when interacting with AI chatbots in business-to-consumer settings.  It is still unclear whether and how the European Commission is proposing to address this.  The Digital Fairness Act could do so, but the Commission’s proposal is only planned to be published in the 3rd quarter of 2026.  This post highlights key consumer protection considerations for companies deploying AI chatbots in the EU market. AI Chatbots Cannot Be the Only Contact Channel Under EU law–particularly the Consumer Rights Directive (“CRD”) and the eCommerce Directive–consumers must have access to traditional…