Federal Court: The Fourth Amendment Does Not Protect Your Home Computer

In a dangerously flawed decision unsealed today, a federal district court in Virginia ruled that a criminal defendant has no “reasonable expectation of privacy” in his personal computer, located inside his home. According to the court, the federal government does not need a warrant to hack into an individual’s computer.

Is America Still a Nation of Laws?

Congress and the White House may have been co-opted by the big lobbyists and Wall Street insiders, but you may assume that at least the third branch of government – the courts – are still following the rule of law and protecting the little guy. Unfortunately, the American system of justice is also under attack.

Iqbal and Twombly transform federal litigation

In a now infamous pair of decisions, Bell Atlantic v. Twombly in 2007 and Ashcroft v. Iqbal in 2009, the Supreme Court announced a new pleading standard that shook the foundations of federal litigation. The decisions allow district court judges to dismiss a complaint if it does not set out a “plausible” claim-a departure from the rule established in the 1957 case Conley v.

‘Ferguson effect’ to blame? DOJ study points to ‘unprecedented’ homicide rise

As the US comes to terms with the Orlando massacre, the Justice Department has revealed “a nearly unprecedented” spike in homicides. Yet, the worrisome surge was not due to mass shootings, but a “Ferguson effect,” the new DOJ study says.

Prosecution tasked against Assange are being criminally investigated themselves

Today on the 15th of June 2016, Wikileaks announced on their Facebook page that the Swedish police have launched a criminal investigation into prosecutor Marrianne Ny over her handling of the Assange case. Marrianne Ny (Swedish Prosecution Authority) heads the investigation against Assange that accuses him of committing rape.

CIA forced to release post-9/11 torture evidence, unclear if arrests will follow

Disturbing details of “illegal” torture techniques used by the US government after the 9/11 attacks were revealed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Zoned out: ACLU sues Cleveland for fencing protesters out of Republican convention

The city of Cleveland has drawn a 3.3 square mile zone around the site of the Republican National Convention, banishing any public gatherings in that area. The American Civil Liberties Union has sued, calling the measure a violation of free speech rights.

Libya sues Goldman Sachs for lost $1.2bn, claims hookers & private jets used as bribes

Libya’s national investment fund is attempting to claw back $1.2 billion from nine trades it carried out with Goldman Sachs in 2008, which supposedly came about after the bank used prostitutes, private jets, and five star hotels to secure contracts.

NYPD’s plausible deniability justified in Muslim spying records request case – court ruled

An appellate court has ruled that the New York Police Department can use the powers of a Cold War-era federal law to “neither confirm nor deny” whether investigative surveillance records exist on two Muslim American men.

‘Mental torture’: Gitmo inmate testifies against guards at US prison camp

A Somali detainee at Guantánamo Bay has accused guards at the high-security Camp 7 of using “mental torture” against inmates. He testified as a witness in a case against inhumane treatment at the US facility in Cuba, backing up claims by another inmate.