supreme court

Suspects, ’ request for change of murder trial location denied

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Suspects, ’ request for change of murder trial location denied

The defendants in the murder case of Thanasis Kalogeropoulos requested to be tried at the Nicosia Criminal Court instead of Limassol, but their request was denied. The hearing will continue on February 8 at the Limassol court. The four defendants previously appeared in court wearing bulletproof vests and reported harassment by Kalogeropoulos’ family members. They are being held in custody and face charges including premeditated murder. The 41-year-old and the 21-year-old are alleged to be the killers, while the 44-year-old is believed to have organized the plan at his mansion. Kalogeropoulos was murdered in Limassol, and Alexis Mavromichalis, who was also believed to have gangland connections, was murdered in Nicosia, but no one has been arrested for his murder.

US court will not revisit ruling limiting voting rights lawsuits

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Civil rights activists failed to persuade the full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a ruling that could limit lawsuits enforcing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act’s protections against racial discrimination. The court maintained that only the government, not private plaintiffs, can pursue such cases. This decision, originating from a November 2-1 panel ruling, is the first of its kind from a federal appeals court and affects seven states within the 8th Circuit’s jurisdiction. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas State House of Representatives redistricting plan, which was alleged to diminish the voting power of Black residents. The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, are considering further legal actions, potentially appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022, U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky ruled that only the U.S. attorney general can file lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racially discriminatory voting rules. Three judges dissented from the decision not to rehear the case, with U.S. Circuit Judge Steven Colloton criticizing the November ruling as “flawed.”

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley targeted in swatting incident

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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley targeted in swatting incident

Authorities responded to a fake emergency at the South Carolina home of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley last month. A man claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home, but it was determined to be a hoax. This incident is part of a wave of violent threats, bomb scares, and other acts of intimidation against government officials, members of the judiciary, and election administrators since the 2020 election. Swatting cases have increased in the past two months, targeting both allies and rivals of former President Donald Trump. The targets include figures who have publicly opposed Trump, as well as Trump supporters. Swatting is seen as a form of intimidation or harassment that is increasingly being used to target political figures.

US: Supreme Court to consider appeal of death row inmate, who is defended by famous personalities

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US: Supreme Court to consider appeal of death row inmate, who is defended by famous personalities

The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to review the appeal of a death row inmate who has been on death row for 25 years. The inmate, Richard Glossip, had his execution suspended in May due to issues with the testimony that led to his conviction. Glossip's lawyers argue that his conviction was based solely on the testimony of a witness who later confessed to the crime. The case has garnered support from various celebrities and even the Pope.