Archives for Legal

Strauss-Kahn before the judges: former president of the IMF accusated of procuring

Strauss-Kahn before the judges: former president of the IMF accusated of procuring

February 2, 2015 | | No Comments

Four years after the case regarding alleged sexual crimes committed at the Sofitel Hotel in New York City, Dominique Strauss-Kahn appeared again today in the opening of another trial — this one on charges of aggravated procuring alleged to have taken place at the Carlton Hotel. The former director of IMF, who is accused of having participated in naughty parties in Lille, Paris and Washington between 2008 and 2011 denied knowledge of the professional status of the girls. The hearing began today at 2 p.m. local

France’s Glavany Amendment: animals now considered “living beings gifted sentience”

France’s Glavany Amendment: animals now considered “living beings gifted sentience”

January 31, 2015 | | No Comments

While the French Civil Code considered animals to be “movable property” for 200 years, Parliament voted this Wednesday, Jan. 28 that a change in legal status was in order (even if the Senate rejected the Glavany amendment last week). Animals are now considered to be “living beings gifted sentience.” In this way, an animal is no longer defined by its market value but its intrinsic value. The Civil Code has been harmonized with Rural Code and Criminal Code on this

Retrial of a misjudged case 19 years after the man’s execution in China

Retrial of a misjudged case 19 years after the man’s execution in China

January 3, 2015 | | No Comments

The fourth plenary session of the 14th central committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) that took place between Oct. 20-23, 2014, has paved the path for a series of retrials of former misjudged cases, including the case of Huge Jiletu. Huge was sentenced to death and immediately executed after a violent inquisition process in 1996. The sentence came only 62 days after the rape and murder incident, of which, as it turned out, Huge was falsely accused.

Ukraine begins lawsuit against Russia for terrorism

Ukraine begins lawsuit against Russia for terrorism

December 9, 2014 | | No Comments

Ukraine has begun legal proceedings against Russia for alleged violations of the United Nations convention on terrorism, according to the Ukrainian government. “National security is protected not only with weapons, but also in the courts,“ said Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk Tuesday. “We have begun a lawsuit against the Russian Federation in the International Court of Justice concerning the violation by Russia of the [UN] Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. Russia is financing terrorism, and it must

Vigilante justice spikes in Chile

Vigilante justice spikes in Chile

December 8, 2014 | | No Comments

Tweet Chile has been experiencing a nationwide surge in what has commonly become referred to as “detención ciudadana” or “civilian detention,” otherwise characterized as vigilante justice. The phenomenon has been captured on personal and security cameras throughout the country and uploaded to YouTube and other social media in growing numbers. These events span the gamut between pickpockets being caught in the act to groups of citizens disarming assailants and subduing them until authorities arrive. The result is

Argentina switches from inquisitorial to adversarial legal system

Argentina switches from inquisitorial to adversarial legal system

December 6, 2014 | | No Comments

Buenos Aires – the Chamber of Deputies in Argentina approved with 130 votes in favor – 99 against and 22 abstentions the new Criminal Procedural Code. This new code replaces the old inquisitor system with an accusatory system and establishes a limit of three years for the resolution of legal cases, imposing penalties for judges and prosecutors who exceed that period. Others key points about the new code, passed Dec. 4: the prosecutor will now be in charge of the investigation rather than the judge, and

Russia: “West will recognize Crimea after Obama,” US unanimously passes “Non-Recognition Act”

Russia: “West will recognize Crimea after Obama,” US unanimously passes “Non-Recognition Act”

November 22, 2014 | | 1 Comment

Although the head of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea has stated that the international community would recognize Crimea when US President Barack Obama left office, the US Committee on Foreign Affairs passed the “Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act” Friday with a unanimous vote. The act is modeled on a similar non-recognition policy that was enacted to deal with the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, and is based on the Stimson Doctrine, which holds that the US