October marks LGBT History Month, so we turn to Thomson Reuters Westlaw for historical perspective on key U.S. Supreme Court rulings and legislation related to LGBT civil rights. The landmark civil rights case Lawrence v. Texas marks its 15th anniversary this year. In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled a Texas statute criminalizing consensual same-sex acts violated …
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New York Fashion Week: Fashion law and fakes
Against the backdrop of New York Fashion Week, where designers are showcasing their upcoming collections at runway shows, Thomson Reuters Westlaw considers the fake fashion market: designer knockoffs and counterfeits. Recent investigations into counterfeiting luxury goods and intellectual property rights crimes reveal how large and small scale operations bring in millions of dollars. According to …
Back to school: Legislating students’ screen time
School is back in session, and for most students, more classroom time means less screen time. In France, a law recently took effect prohibiting students up to age 15 from using cell phones – as well as tablets and smart watches – during school hours. (High schools can enforce the ban at their discretion.) According …
A Week’s Worth of Westlaw Edge in the News
During the AALL Annual Meeting & Conference in Baltimore this week, we had the opportunity to introduce even more people to Westlaw Edge – and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Since last week’s launch, Westlaw Edge has been featured in 37 articles in leading industry outlets and blogs. Coverage from the legal industry’s top journalists, bloggers and …
JFK Files: 25 Years of Legislative History and Executive Orders
More than 50 years after President John F. Kennedy was killed, the National Archives has released some of the records – believed to be mainly FBI, CIA and Justice Department files – related to his assassination. The release was mandated by the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, and Legal Current is looking at the legislative …
Real-Life Bad Santas
The long-anticipated return of Willie Soke – Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of a thief disguised as a department store Santa Claus – happens Thanksgiving weekend with the release of Bad Santa 2. The sequel to the holiday cult classic centers on Willie’s attempt to rob a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. Willie isn’t the only …
Regulating the commercial space industry
Space tourism and mining asteroids are no longer the stuff of science fiction. As private companies across the U.S. and around the world prepare for space missions and moon landings, lawmakers are trying to keep up. According to Thomson Reuters Westlaw, about 60 pieces of legislation related to space law have been proposed or enacted …
The showdown over voter ID laws
Voter ID laws in five states – North Carolina, North Dakota, Kansas, Texas and Wisconsin – have been softened or overturned in recent weeks. But with some states contesting the rulings, the battle over voter ID laws continue as voter registration deadlines loom in many states. In addition to the recent rulings and appeals, according …
As November elections loom, at least 12 states are fighting court battles over redistricting
Several states face court battles over election issues, ranging from voter identification to redistricting, that could affect how voters cast ballots in November. According to Thomson Reuters Westlaw, at least 12 states have pending litigation regarding redistricting: Alabama, California, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. The districts for …
Few lawmakers support designating Election Day as a national holiday
Low voter turnout has plagued the U.S. for decades, and voting rights advocates are concerned new voter ID laws as well as the effects of the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision to overturn a key provision of the Voting Rights Act will drive participation in the 2016 election even lower. Some voting rights advocates support establishing …
