courthousenews--2020-06-28--Courts Straining to Balance Public Health With Public Access

( AP ) — After her son was arrested for allegedly throwing rocks at police during a protest over racial injustice , Tanisha Brown headed to the courthouse in her California hometown to watch her son ’ s arraignment .
She was turned away , told the courthouse was closed to the public because of coronavirus precautions .
A day later , the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield posted a notice on its website explaining how the public could request special permission from judicial officers to attend court proceedings .
But problems with public access have persisted , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behalf of Brown and several others who have been unable to watch court sessions .
The situation in Kern County highlights the challenges courts across the U.S. are facing as they try to balance public health protections with public access to their proceedings amid the Covid-19 outbreak .
The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a public trial , but some courts have held arraignments and other pretrial hearings without the public watching or listening .
In some cases , the public had no means of participating .
In other cases , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or other interested residents weren ’ t aware how to gain access to special video feeds .
“ The courtrooms are supposed to be fully public , anybody who ’ s interested is supposed to be able to watch , and they have not been doing that , ” said Sergio De La Pava , legal director of New York County Defender Services , a nonprofit public defenders office in Manhattan .
In California , a coalition of civil liberties and open-government organizations sent a letter this month to the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts where the public was shut out of proceedings , including the one involving Brown ’ s son on June 10 .
“ We ’ ve found widespread instances , to put it most bluntly , of court secrecy , ” said David Snyder , executive director of the First Amendment Coalition , based in the San Francisco Bay area .
Brown said she was surprised to be turned away when her 24-year-old-son , Avion Hunter , was arraigned on a felony charge of assaulting a police officer and misdemeanors of rioting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 1 protest over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
“ I can understand you don ’ t want a lot of people in , ” Brown told The Associated Press .
“ But why couldn ’ t I go in , just one person , as his mom ?
” Members of two media outlets were allowed in to the courtroom for Hunter ’ s arraignment because they filled out requests , said Kern County Superior Court spokeswoman Kristin Davis .
When cases of Covid-19 started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down because of concerns about staff , attorneys , defendants , jurors , witnesses , media and members of the public all crowding together in courtrooms .
Many courts later began conducting some proceedings remotely , using video feeds of defendants from jail and attorneys from their homes or offices .
It ’ s unclear exactly how many people have been denied the ability to observe court proceedings , because it ’ s difficult to track the thousands of local courts across the U.S. , said Bill Raftery , a senior analyst at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Has it happened ?
Yes , ” Raftery said .
But he said court officials are trying to balance “ the idea that the courts have to be open as much as possible consistent with not spreading a mass contagion.
” In Chicago ’ s home of Cook County , Illinois , the circuit court includes a link on its website to a YouTube channel allowing anyone to watch its proceedings .
The video feed includes a warning that people recording or photographing the live-streamed sessions could be penalized for contempt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be working .
But volunteer court observers experienced some technical difficulties during a coordinated initiative to monitor proceedings last month , said Sharlyn Grace , executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund , a nonprofit group involved in the monitoring project .
Remote court proceedings also have been used in civil cases in some states , with mixed results .
The Missouri Supreme Court has offered an audio livestream of its remote proceedings while excluding the public , the attorneys and most of the judges from its courtroom .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a challenge to the state ’ s absentee voting requirements to be used during the coronavirus outbreak .
The court posted an audio recording online about an hour later .
Some courts , like those in New York City , have declined to post live video feeds on their websites .
Instead , as they gradually ramp up proceedings , the city ’ s courts are allowing a limited number of people to enter courtrooms where they can listen to audio of remote hearings or get a one-time video link to watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Regan Williams , senior clerk in Manhattan ’ s criminal court .
New York ’ s arrangement “ may in fact be reasonable under the circumstances ” as a way of ensuring that the defendants ’ interests aren ’ t harmed by people recording the hearings , said Douglas Keith , a counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice ’ s Democracy Program at New York University Law School .
But holding hearings in which the judge , defendant , attorneys and the public are in separate places can weaken judicial accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present in a courtroom , judges and attorneys may be more aware of “ the sheer weight of their responsibility , ” Keith said .
In New Orleans , another city that was hit hard by the coronavirus , courts that had been shuttered to the public began holding Zoom proceedings in June .
The court ’ s website directed the public to contact a judge ’ s office to get the access code to watch particular proceedings .
But few people actually have done so , said Chief Judge Karen Herman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herman said the courts plan to reopen to the public on July 6 , with limited seating because of social distancing .
Her courtroom will have a capacity of just 14 people , with half the spots filled by court personnel , attorneys and the defendant .
Although onlookers could attempt to attend court in person , “ we ’ re going to ask members of the public to call in and view from Zoom if they wish , ” Herman said .

Courts across the U.S. are facing challenges as they try to balance public health protections with public access to their proceedings amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
(AP) — After her son was arrested for allegedly throwing rocks at police during a protest over racial injustice, Tanisha Brown headed to the courthouse in her California hometown to watch her son's arraignment.
She was turned away, told the courthouse was closed to the public because of coronavirus precautions. A day later, the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield posted a notice on its website explaining how the public could request special permission from judicial officers to attend court proceedings.
But problems with public access have persisted, according to a federal lawsuit filed Friday on behalf of Brown and several others who have been unable to watch court sessions.
The situation in Kern County highlights the challenges courts across the U.S. are facing as they try to balance public health protections with public access to their proceedings amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a public trial, but some courts have held arraignments and other pretrial hearings without the public watching or listening. In some cases, the public had no means of participating. In other cases, the defendant's family members, friends or other interested residents weren't aware how to gain access to special video feeds.
"The courtrooms are supposed to be fully public, anybody who's interested is supposed to be able to watch, and they have not been doing that," said Sergio De La Pava, legal director of New York County Defender Services, a nonprofit public defenders office in Manhattan.
In California, a coalition of civil liberties and open-government organizations sent a letter this month to the state's chief justice documenting numerous instances in multiple courts where the public was shut out of proceedings, including the one involving Brown's son on June 10.
"We've found widespread instances, to put it most bluntly, of court secrecy," said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, based in the San Francisco Bay area.
Brown said she was surprised to be turned away when her 24-year-old-son, Avion Hunter, was arraigned on a felony charge of assaulting a police officer and misdemeanors of rioting, unlawful assembly and resisting arrest during a June 1 protest over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
"I can understand you don't want a lot of people in," Brown told The Associated Press. "But why couldn't I go in, just one person, as his mom?"
Members of two media outlets were allowed in to the courtroom for Hunter's arraignment because they filled out requests, said Kern County Superior Court spokeswoman Kristin Davis.
When cases of Covid-19 started mounting in March, many courts shut down because of concerns about staff, attorneys, defendants, jurors, witnesses, media and members of the public all crowding together in courtrooms. Many courts later began conducting some proceedings remotely, using video feeds of defendants from jail and attorneys from their homes or offices.
It's unclear exactly how many people have been denied the ability to observe court proceedings, because it's difficult to track the thousands of local courts across the U.S., said Bill Raftery, a senior analyst at the National Center for State Courts.
"Has it happened? Yes," Raftery said. But he said court officials are trying to balance "the idea that the courts have to be open as much as possible consistent with not spreading a mass contagion."
In Chicago's home of Cook County, Illinois, the circuit court includes a link on its website to a YouTube channel allowing anyone to watch its proceedings. The video feed includes a warning that people recording or photographing the live-streamed sessions could be penalized for contempt of court.
The remote hearings generally seem to be working. But volunteer court observers experienced some technical difficulties during a coordinated initiative to monitor proceedings last month, said Sharlyn Grace, executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund, a nonprofit group involved in the monitoring project.
Remote court proceedings also have been used in civil cases in some states, with mixed results.
The Missouri Supreme Court has offered an audio livestream of its remote proceedings while excluding the public, the attorneys and most of the judges from its courtroom. But the livestream failed during a June 15 hearing on a challenge to the state's absentee voting requirements to be used during the coronavirus outbreak. The court posted an audio recording online about an hour later.
Some courts, like those in New York City, have declined to post live video feeds on their websites. Instead, as they gradually ramp up proceedings, the city's courts are allowing a limited number of people to enter courtrooms where they can listen to audio of remote hearings or get a one-time video link to watch on their personal computers or smartphones, said Regan Williams, senior clerk in Manhattan's criminal court.
New York's arrangement "may in fact be reasonable under the circumstances" as a way of ensuring that the defendants' interests aren't harmed by people recording the hearings, said Douglas Keith, a counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice's Democracy Program at New York University Law School.
But holding hearings in which the judge, defendant, attorneys and the public are in separate places can weaken judicial accountability, he said. When people are present in a courtroom, judges and attorneys may be more aware of "the sheer weight of their responsibility," Keith said.
In New Orleans, another city that was hit hard by the coronavirus, courts that had been shuttered to the public began holding Zoom proceedings in June.
The court's website directed the public to contact a judge's office to get the access code to watch particular proceedings. But few people actually have done so, said Chief Judge Karen Herman of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
Herman said the courts plan to reopen to the public on July 6, with limited seating because of social distancing. Her courtroom will have a capacity of just 14 people, with half the spots filled by court personnel, attorneys and the defendant.
Although onlookers could attempt to attend court in person, "we're going to ask members of the public to call in and view from Zoom if they wish," Herman said.
By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press


Judging Facebook

Here ’ s a sentence you don ’ t expect to see in an appellate ruling : “ Judges are people too.
” Who knew ?
Actually , they might not be people since the sentence is from a dissent in 4-3 ruling from the Supreme Court of Wisconsin on whether a judge ’ s ruling in a custody dispute should be reconsidered because the judge got friended on Facebook by the mother in the case .
Was the judge just being a polite person ( that is , people like the rest of us ) or was he programmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The facts , as described in the ruling , are a tad suspicious .
It seems the judge accepted a Facebook friend request from the mother after the custody hearing but before he ruled .
The mom then liked a bunch of the judge ’ s posts and shared other people ’ s posts about domestic violence — one of the issues at her hearing .
Hmm .
Seems like someone got microtargeted .
I don ’ t know whether it worked or not — but the mother won and then posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ be bouncing off ” the forum now .
Three years later , the judge ’ s friendship becomes the subject of a very-divided state supreme court arguing over whether the judge noticed his friend , whether it mattered , and/or whether it looked bad .
The 77-page document included separate opinions from five judges .
Social media does weird things to people .
It ’ s hard to get people to agree on anything .
I won ’ t take sides here but there are some things to think about in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes on Facebook at all .
Criminals get caught there .
Insurance claims get thwarted .
Judges and lawyers get into trouble .
Spouses find out where you really were .
And on top of all that you have to wade through photos of other people ’ s gardens and food and animals and vacations .
And who are all these “ friends ” and how did I get them ?
To my astonishment , I discovered I have 90 so-called friends on Facebook .
I don ’ t know that many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and counted 23 people that I ’ m sure I ’ ve never met or even heard of .
About two-thirds of the rest I barely know .
Why are they telling me things and why do some of them seem insane ?
They may be Russians .
I don ’ t know .
And then there ’ s the political stuff and the death of democracy on Facebook .
Most of you already know about that so I don ’ t need to explain .
What we do need an explanation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while this stuff is going on .
One explanation may be that Facebook is not only a microtargeting vehicle but also a signaling vehicle .
It may be that all five of the authoring Wisconsin Supreme Court justices in the Facebook judge case got this wrong .
It may be that it was the trial judge — one Michael Bitney — who was the one doing the messaging .
Check out the currently public portion of his Facebook page .
We can ’ t see his messages ( since we ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photos — a solid-looking hunk of a man lifting what looks like a heavy weight .
This is not a judge I ’ m going to mess with .
There will be order is his court — whether we ’ re friends or not .
TV Review .
I have now seen the first episode of the new Perry Mason series .
It ’ s in color , there ’ s sex and violence , and no one confessed in court at the end of the episode .
Della Street works for someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem ( along with much of the rest of the cast ) .

Here’s a sentence you don’t expect to see in an appellate ruling: “Judges are people too.” Who knew?
Courthouse News columnist; racehorse owner and breeder; one of those guys who always got picked last.
Here’s a sentence you don’t expect to see in an appellate ruling: “Judges are people too.” Who knew?
Actually, they might not be people since the sentence is from a dissent in 4-3 ruling from the Supreme Court of Wisconsin on whether a judge’s ruling in a custody dispute should be reconsidered because the judge got friended on Facebook by the mother in the case.
Was the judge just being a polite person (that is, people like the rest of us) or was he programmed by his new “friend?”
The facts, as described in the ruling, are a tad suspicious. It seems the judge accepted a Facebook friend request from the mother after the custody hearing but before he ruled. The mom then liked a bunch of the judge’s posts and shared other people’s posts about domestic violence — one of the issues at her hearing.
Hmm. Seems like someone got microtargeted. I don’t know whether it worked or not — but the mother won and then posted a message on Facebook saying she’d “be bouncing off” the forum now.
Mission accomplished.
Judge Bitner
Three years later, the judge’s friendship becomes the subject of a very-divided state supreme court arguing over whether the judge noticed his friend, whether it mattered, and/or whether it looked bad. The 77-page document included separate opinions from five judges.
Social media does weird things to people. It’s hard to get people to agree on anything.
I won’t take sides here but there are some things to think about in all this.
The first is why anyone goes on Facebook at all. Criminals get caught there. Insurance claims get thwarted. Judges and lawyers get into trouble. Spouses find out where you really were. And on top of all that you have to wade through photos of other people’s gardens and food and animals and vacations.
Arrgh!
And who are all these “friends” and how did I get them? To my astonishment, I discovered I have 90 so-called friends on Facebook. I don’t know that many people.
I went over my friends list and counted 23 people that I’m sure I’ve never met or even heard of. About two-thirds of the rest I barely know. Why are they telling me things and why do some of them seem insane? They may be Russians. I don’t know.
And then there’s the political stuff and the death of democracy on Facebook. Most of you already know about that so I don’t need to explain. What we do need an explanation for is why people keep looking at Facebook while this stuff is going on.
One explanation may be that Facebook is not only a microtargeting vehicle but also a signaling vehicle. It may be that all five of the authoring Wisconsin Supreme Court justices in the Facebook judge case got this wrong. It may be that it was the trial judge — one Michael Bitney — who was the one doing the messaging.
Check out the currently public portion of his Facebook page. We can’t see his messages (since we’re not friends) but we can see his photos — a solid-looking hunk of a man lifting what looks like a heavy weight. This is not a judge I’m going to mess with.
There will be order is his court — whether we’re friends or not.
TV Review. I have now seen the first episode of the new "Perry Mason" series.
It’s terrible.
It’s in color, there’s sex and violence, and no one confessed in court at the end of the episode. Della Street works for someone else and seems to have a drinking problem (along with much of the rest of the cast).
I’m very disappointed.


courthousenews--2020-07-01--It All Adds Up

It All Adds Up

One coronavirus-related lawsuit in courts covered by Courthouse News was filed in February .
Since then there have been 101 @ @ @ @ @ in April , 1,061 in May and 794 in June , for a total of @ @

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


Mining

TACOMA , Wash. — Twelve residents of Belfair , Wash. , sued Mason County in a federal class action , @ @ @ @ @ a private company , Grump Ventures , LLC … with a valuable right to operate @ @ @ @ @ a residential zone where mining is prohibited .


Private Immigration Prison

BAKERSFIELD , Calif. — The Immigrant Legal Resources Center sued McFarland , Calif , and the GEO Group in Kern @ @ @ @ @ city violated due process by issuing conditional use permits to open two profit-seeking immigration jails @ @ @ @ @ the public , which opposes it .


What, Again?

REDWOOD CITY , Calif. — A black man sued Travelodge in San Mateo County Court , claiming a desk clerk @ @ @ @ @ in to a hotel in San Francisco , though he had prepaid for his room @ @ @ @ @ then called police and told them , falsely , that he had a gun and @ @ @ @ @ .


Bus Shooting

BAKERSFIELD , Calif. — A woman sued Greyhound Lines in Kern County Court , claiming it let an intoxicated man @ @ @ @ @ gun , and he shot five passengers , including her .


courthousenews--2020-07-01--China Downplays Potential New Swine Flu Pandemic

The virus is a descendant of the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009 .
BEIJING ( AFP ) — China on Wednesday played down the threat of a new swine flu strain with pandemic potential that researchers discovered in pigs , saying the study is “ not representative.
” The Covid-19 pandemic , which has infected more than 10.4 million people worldwide and killed more than 511,000 , emerged in China last December and is thought to have originated in bats and jumped to humans through an unspecified intermediary animal .
The new swine flu strain found in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday in the U.S. science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , has “ all the essential hallmarks ” to infect humans and raised fears of another potential pandemic .
But China ’ s foreign ministry downplayed those fears on Wednesday .
“ The G4 virus mentioned in the relevant report is a subtype of the H1N1 virus , ” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said .
“ Experts have concluded that the sample size of the report is small and not representative.
” Zhao said that “ relevant departments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease , send warnings and handle it in a timely manner .
The new G4 swine flu strain is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009 , according to the study by scientists at Chinese universities and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention .
G4 was observed to be highly infectious , they said , replicating in human cells and causing more serious symptoms in ferrets than other viruses .
Researchers took 30,000 nasal swabs from slaughterhouse pigs in 10 Chinese provinces , allowing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the study , 10.4 % of pig slaughterhouse workers tested had already been infected .
So far , there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission .
China did not elaborate on how many had been infected by G4 .
“ It is of concern that human infection of G4 virus will further human adaptation and increase the risk of a human pandemic , ” the researchers wrote , calling for urgent measures to monitor people working with pigs .

China on Wednesday played down the threat of a new swine flu strain with pandemic potential that researchers discovered in pigs, saying the study is "not representative."
BEIJING (AFP) — China on Wednesday played down the threat of a new swine flu strain with pandemic potential that researchers discovered in pigs, saying the study is "not representative."
The Covid-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 10.4 million people worldwide and killed more than 511,000, emerged in China last December and is thought to have originated in bats and jumped to humans through an unspecified intermediary animal.
The new swine flu strain found in China, according to the study published Monday in the U.S. science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has "all the essential hallmarks" to infect humans and raised fears of another potential pandemic.
But China's foreign ministry downplayed those fears on Wednesday.
"The G4 virus mentioned in the relevant report is a subtype of the H1N1 virus," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
"Experts have concluded that the sample size of the report is small and not representative."
Zhao said that "relevant departments and experts" will step up monitoring of the disease, send warnings and handle it in a timely manner.
The new G4 swine flu strain is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009, according to the study by scientists at Chinese universities and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
G4 was observed to be highly infectious, they said, replicating in human cells and causing more serious symptoms in ferrets than other viruses.
Researchers took 30,000 nasal swabs from slaughterhouse pigs in 10 Chinese provinces, allowing them to isolate 179 swine flu viruses.
According to the study, 10.4% of pig slaughterhouse workers tested had already been infected.
So far, there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission. China did not elaborate on how many had been infected by G4.
"It is of concern that human infection of G4 virus will further human adaptation and increase the risk of a human pandemic," the researchers wrote, calling for urgent measures to monitor people working with pigs.
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-07-01--Hong Kong Makes First Security Law Arrests Amid Protests

HONG KONG ( AFP ) — Hong Kong police made the first arrests under Beijing ’ s new national security law Wednesday as the anniversary of the city ’ s handover to China was met by thousands defying a ban on protests .
Police deployed water cannon , pepper spray and tear gas throughout the afternoon , arresting more than 180 people , seven of them for breaching the new national security law .
The confrontations came a day after China imposed its legislation on the restless city , a historic move decried by many Western governments as an unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberties and autonomy .
Beijing said the law would restore stability .
But its imposition sparked the worst unrest in months .
Certain political views and symbols became illegal overnight , including showing support for the independence of Hong Kong , Taiwan , Xinjiang and Tibet .
Police said the first two national security arrests were for people possessing signs promoting independence .
“ Advocacy for independence of Hong Kong is against the law , ” security minister John Lee said .
Many of the protesters on Wednesday chanted independence slogans .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to terrorize the people and stop them from coming out , ” Chris To , a 49-year-old protester , told Agence France-Presse .
Police said one officer was stabbed in the shoulder as he tried to make an arrest .
Opprobrium over the law poured in from critics and western governments , including the United States , over fears the law will usher in a new era of mainland-style political repression .
Under a deal made before the 1997 handover from Britain , authoritarian China guaranteed Hong Kong civil liberties as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a formula known as one country , two systems .
“ ( China ) promised 50 years of freedom to the Hong Kong people , and gave them only 23 , ” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said as he promised unspecified countermeasures .
But Beijing said foreign countries should keep quiet about the law , and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hailed the legislation as the “ most important development ” since the city ’ s return to Beijing ’ s rule .
After huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for even peaceful rallies in recent months .
Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned under anti-coronavirus laws even though local transmissions have ended .
The July 1 anniversary has long been a polarizing day in Hong Kong .
Beijing loyalists celebrate Hong Kong ’ s return to the Chinese motherland after a century and a half of what they consider humiliating colonial rule by Britain .
On Wednesday morning helicopters flew across Victoria Harbor carrying a large Chinese flag and a smaller Hong Kong pennant , while a barge appeared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enacting of the National Security Law , ” in giant Chinese characters .
Small groups of Beijing supporters waved Chinese flags in several local neighborhoods , untroubled by police .
Democracy advocates have long used the date to hold large rallies as popular anger toward Beijing swells — although this year ’ s event was banned for the first time in 17 years .
During huge pro-democracy demonstrations last year , the city ’ s legislature was besieged and trashed .
The one country , two systems formula helped cement Hong Kong ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bolstered by an independent judiciary and political freedoms unseen on the mainland .
But critics have long accused Beijing of chipping away at that status and describe the new security law as the most brazen move yet .
It was passed in just six weeks , skipping Hong Kon ’ ’ s fractious legislature , and the precise wording was kept secret until it took effect late Tuesday .
It outlaws subversion , secession , terrorism and colluding with foreign forces to undermine national security , with sentences of up to life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal firewall that existed between the city ’ s judiciary and the mainland ’ s party-controlled courts .
China will have jurisdiction over “ serious ” cases and its security agencies will be able to operate publicly in Hong Kong for the first time .
Another provision also claims universal jurisdiction for national security crimes committed beyond Hong Kong or China .
More than two dozen countries — including Britain , France , Germany and Japan — urged Beijing to reconsider the law .
Canada warned its citizens in Hong Kong that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and extradition to China .
Authorities in Taiwan opened a new office to deal with Hong Kongers seeking refuge .
Beijing says the law will not end Hong Kong ’ s freedoms , but critics have little faith in that , as similar national security laws are used routinely on the mainland to crush dissent .

Hong Kong police made the first arrests under Beijing’s new national security law Wednesday as the anniversary of the city’s handover to China was met by thousands defying a ban on protests.
HONG KONG (AFP) — Hong Kong police made the first arrests under Beijing’s new national security law Wednesday as the anniversary of the city’s handover to China was met by thousands defying a ban on protests.
Police deployed water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas throughout the afternoon, arresting more than 180 people, seven of them for breaching the new national security law.
The confrontations came a day after China imposed its legislation on the restless city, a historic move decried by many Western governments as an unprecedented assault on the financial hub’s liberties and autonomy.
Beijing said the law would restore stability. But its imposition sparked the worst unrest in months.
Certain political views and symbols became illegal overnight, including showing support for the independence of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet.
Police said the first two national security arrests were for people possessing signs promoting independence.
"Advocacy for independence of Hong Kong is against the law," security minister John Lee said.
Many of the protesters on Wednesday chanted independence slogans.
"What this authoritarian regime wants to do is to terrorize the people and stop them from coming out," Chris To, a 49-year-old protester, told Agence France-Presse.
Police said one officer was stabbed in the shoulder as he tried to make an arrest.
Opprobrium over the law poured in from critics and western governments, including the United States, over fears the law will usher in a new era of mainland-style political repression.
Under a deal made before the 1997 handover from Britain, authoritarian China guaranteed Hong Kong civil liberties as well as judicial and legislative autonomy until 2047 in a formula known as one country, two systems.
"(China) promised 50 years of freedom to the Hong Kong people, and gave them only 23," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said as he promised unspecified countermeasures.
But Beijing said foreign countries should keep quiet about the law, and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hailed the legislation as the "most important development" since the city's return to Beijing’s rule.
After huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year, authorities have shown zero tolerance for even peaceful rallies in recent months.
Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned under anti-coronavirus laws even though local transmissions have ended.
The July 1 anniversary has long been a polarizing day in Hong Kong. Beijing loyalists celebrate Hong Kong's return to the Chinese motherland after a century and a half of what they consider humiliating colonial rule by Britain.
On Wednesday morning helicopters flew across Victoria Harbor carrying a large Chinese flag and a smaller Hong Kong pennant, while a barge appeared with a banner stating, "Welcome the Enacting of the National Security Law," in giant Chinese characters.
Small groups of Beijing supporters waved Chinese flags in several local neighborhoods, untroubled by police.
Democracy advocates have long used the date to hold large rallies as popular anger toward Beijing swells — although this year's event was banned for the first time in 17 years.
During huge pro-democracy demonstrations last year, the city's legislature was besieged and trashed.
The one country, two systems formula helped cement Hong Kong's status as a world-class business hub, bolstered by an independent judiciary and political freedoms unseen on the mainland.
But critics have long accused Beijing of chipping away at that status and describe the new security law as the most brazen move yet.
It was passed in just six weeks, skipping Hong Kon’'s fractious legislature, and the precise wording was kept secret until it took effect late Tuesday.
It outlaws subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces to undermine national security, with sentences of up to life in prison.
It also topples the legal firewall that existed between the city's judiciary and the mainland's party-controlled courts.
China will have jurisdiction over "serious" cases and its security agencies will be able to operate publicly in Hong Kong for the first time.
Another provision also claims universal jurisdiction for national security crimes committed beyond Hong Kong or China.
More than two dozen countries — including Britain, France, Germany and Japan — urged Beijing to reconsider the law.
Canada warned its citizens in Hong Kong that they face an increased risk of arbitrary detention and extradition to China.
Authorities in Taiwan opened a new office to deal with Hong Kongers seeking refuge.
Beijing says the law will not end Hong Kong's freedoms, but critics have little faith in that, as similar national security laws are used routinely on the mainland to crush dissent.
by JEROME TAYLOR and YAN ZHAO
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-07-01--Italy Seizes ISIS-Made Meth Worth 1 Billion Euros

ROME ( AFP ) — Italian police on Wednesday said they had seized a 14-ton haul of amphetamines made by the Islamic State group in Syria , calling it the biggest seizure of such drugs in the world .
The drug , in the form of around 84 million Captagon tablets hidden inside industrial goods in containers , was worth about $ 1.12 billion , and intended to be sold on the European market “ to finance terrorism , ” the finance police of Naples said in a statement .
“ We know that the Islamic State finances its terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria which in the past few years has become the world ’ s largest producer of amphetamines , ” the statement said .
Police said three suspect containers had arrived at the port of Salerno , just south of Naples , containing large cylindrical paper rolls for industrial use as well as industrial machinery .
Cutting open the paper rolls and metal gearwheels with chainsaws , police found them filled with tablets imprinted with two semicirles , the symbol of Captagon .
Video images taken by police showed pills spilling out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open .
“ This is the largest seizure of amphetamines in the world , ” police said .
Captagon , a brand name , was originally for medical use but illegal versions have been dubbed “ the Jihad Drug , ” after being widely used by ISIS fighters in combat , the police said .
Citing the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration , Naples police said ISIS “ makes extensive use of it in all territories over which it exerts influence and where it controls the drug trade ” .
Once the labs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ISIS to produce large quantities also for the world market for synthetic drugs , in order to quickly accumulate substantial funding , ” the statement said .
The amount of drugs seized was sufficient to satisfy the entire European market , police said , without providing a time frame .
A consortium of criminal groups was likely involved for distribution of the drugs , including possibly many clans within the infamous Camorra of Naples , police said .
“ The hypothesis is that during the lockdown… production and distribution of synthetic drugs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement said .
“ Many smugglers , even in consortiums , have turned to Syria where production , however , does not seem to have slowed down.
” Two weeks ago , also at the port of Salerno , police seized a container sent from Syria hiding 6,200 pounds of hashish and more than 1 million amphetamine pills bearing the same symbol as those seized on Wednesday .
La Repubblica daily reported that police were suspicious because the container , ostensibly containing “ desks and gym clothes ” was destined for Libya , @ @ @ @ @

Italian police on Wednesday said they had seized a 14-ton haul of amphetamines made by the Islamic State group in Syria, calling it the biggest seizure of such drugs in the world.
ROME (AFP) — Italian police on Wednesday said they had seized a 14-ton haul of amphetamines made by the Islamic State group in Syria, calling it the biggest seizure of such drugs in the world.
The drug, in the form of around 84 million Captagon tablets hidden inside industrial goods in containers, was worth about $1.12 billion, and intended to be sold on the European market "to finance terrorism," the finance police of Naples said in a statement.
"We know that the Islamic State finances its terrorist activities mainly by trafficking drugs made in Syria which in the past few years has become the world's largest producer of amphetamines," the statement said.
Police said three suspect containers had arrived at the port of Salerno, just south of Naples, containing large cylindrical paper rolls for industrial use as well as industrial machinery.
Cutting open the paper rolls and metal gearwheels with chainsaws, police found them filled with tablets imprinted with two semicirles, the symbol of Captagon. Video images taken by police showed pills spilling out of the rolls and wheels as they were forced open.
"This is the largest seizure of amphetamines in the world," police said.
Captagon, a brand name, was originally for medical use but illegal versions have been dubbed "the Jihad Drug," after being widely used by ISIS fighters in combat, the police said.
Citing the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Naples police said ISIS "makes extensive use of it in all territories over which it exerts influence and where it controls the drug trade".
Once the labs are established, "it is easy for ISIS to produce large quantities also for the world market for synthetic drugs, in order to quickly accumulate substantial funding," the statement said.
The amount of drugs seized was sufficient to satisfy the entire European market, police said, without providing a time frame.
A consortium of criminal groups was likely involved for distribution of the drugs, including possibly many clans within the infamous Camorra of Naples, police said.
"The hypothesis is that during the lockdown... production and distribution of synthetic drugs in Europe has practically stopped," the statement said.
"Many smugglers, even in consortiums, have turned to Syria where production, however, does not seem to have slowed down."
Two weeks ago, also at the port of Salerno, police seized a container sent from Syria hiding 6,200 pounds of hashish and more than 1 million amphetamine pills bearing the same symbol as those seized on Wednesday.
La Repubblica daily reported that police were suspicious because the container, ostensibly containing "desks and gym clothes" was destined for Libya, via a Swiss company.
by ALEXANDRIA SAGE
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-07-01--Tokyo Suburb Bars Pedestrians From Smart Phoning

YAMATO , Japan ( AFP ) — A Tokyo suburb on Wednesday imposed Japan ’ s first ban on a habit seen around the world : pedestrians glued to their phone screens while walking , sometimes dangerously oblivious to their surroundings .
Visitors arriving at the railway station in Yamato City were greeted with banners announcing the new prohibition , which applies to all foot journeys around the neighborhood ’ s public roads , squares and parks .
“ Using smartphones while walking is banned .
Please operate your smartphones after you stop walking , ” a recorded female voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those unable to tear themselves away from their screens in the street but the suburb of 240,000 wants to use the ordinance to highlight the dangers of scrolling while strolling .
The unusual move appeared to have broad support from citizens young and old , with very few people on the streets of Yamato spotted breaching the new rule .
“ I often see people using mobiles while walking .
They are not paying attention to things around them .
Elderly people may not be able to dodge them , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobile phone is addictive .
… People seem to feel they can not stop looking at their mobile and they have to feel connected with friends all the time , ” he told Agence France-Presse .
Teenager Arika Ina said she often saw people looking at their screens while walking and believed the habit was dangerous .
She said people should be walking around without being in thrall to their phones as a matter of common decency , and questioned the need for legislation .
“ I don ’ t think we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can stop it by being a little bit more careful , ” the 17-year-old said .
Research by Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo in 2014 found that pedestrians lost 95 % of their field of vision while staring down at a smartphone .
The company ran a computer simulation of what would occur if 1,500 people traversed the road outside Tokyo ’ s Shibuya station — the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world — while all simultaneously looking at their smartphones .
The results showed that two-thirds would not make it to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person-to-person collisions and 103 people being knocked over .

A Tokyo suburb on Wednesday imposed Japan's first ban on a habit seen around the world: pedestrians glued to their phone screens while walking, sometimes dangerously oblivious to their surroundings.
YAMATO, Japan (AFP) — A Tokyo suburb on Wednesday imposed Japan's first ban on a habit seen around the world: pedestrians glued to their phone screens while walking, sometimes dangerously oblivious to their surroundings.
Visitors arriving at the railway station in Yamato City were greeted with banners announcing the new prohibition, which applies to all foot journeys around the neighborhood's public roads, squares and parks.
"Using smartphones while walking is banned. Please operate your smartphones after you stop walking," a recorded female voice told travelers.
There is no punishment for those unable to tear themselves away from their screens in the street but the suburb of 240,000 wants to use the ordinance to highlight the dangers of scrolling while strolling.
The unusual move appeared to have broad support from citizens young and old, with very few people on the streets of Yamato spotted breaching the new rule.
"I often see people using mobiles while walking. They are not paying attention to things around them. Elderly people may not be able to dodge them," said 64-year-old Kenzo Mori.
"Using a mobile phone is addictive. ... People seem to feel they cannot stop looking at their mobile and they have to feel connected with friends all the time," he told Agence France-Presse.
Teenager Arika Ina said she often saw people looking at their screens while walking and believed the habit was dangerous. She said people should be walking around without being in thrall to their phones as a matter of common decency, and questioned the need for legislation.
"I don't think we need an ordinance to ban it. You can stop it by being a little bit more careful," the 17-year-old said.
Research by Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo in 2014 found that pedestrians lost 95% of their field of vision while staring down at a smartphone.
The company ran a computer simulation of what would occur if 1,500 people traversed the road outside Tokyo's Shibuya station — the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world — while all simultaneously looking at their smartphones.
The results showed that two-thirds would not make it to the other side without incident, with 446 person-to-person collisions and 103 people being knocked over.
by MIWA SUZUKI
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-07-01--Powerball Winner Who Regretted It Dies at 72

CHARLESTON , W.Va. ( AP ) — Andrew “ Jack ” Whittaker Jr. , whose life became rife with setbacks and tragedy after winning a record $ 315 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas night in 2002 , has died .
He was 72 .
The Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlor in Hinton , W.Va. confirmed it .
A funeral home official who declined to give his name said Tuesday that Whittaker died of natural causes , but he declined to say when or where , and said a service would be private .
Whittaker became an instant celebrity at 55 when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. lottery jackpot won by a single ticket .
He opted for a lump-sum payout of $ 113.4 million after taxes , and flew off to New York with his family in a private jet to appear on network TV morning shows .
But he quickly fell victim to scandals , lawsuits and personal setbacks as he endured constant requests for money , leaving him unable to trust others .
Several times he was quoted as saying he wished he had torn up the ticket .
His wife left him .
A friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his home in 2004 .
Three months later , his 17-year-old granddaughter was gone , too .
His daughter , Ginger Whittaker Bragg , died in 2009 at 42 after struggling for years with cancer .
And in 2016 , he lost a Virginia home to a fire .
He struggled with drinking and gambling .
His home and car were repeatedly burglarized .
At a strip club , thieves broke into his Lincoln Navigator and stole a briefcase stuffed with $ 245,000 and three $ 100,000 cashiers ’ checks .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a break — the briefcase was found , with the money still inside .
Whittaker was charged twice with driving while under the influence and sued repeatedly , once by three female casino employees who accused him of assault .
In a 2007 interview with The Associated Press , Whittaker said he knew his legacy was already written .
“ I ’ m only going to be remembered as the lunatic who won the lottery , ” Whittaker said .
“ I ’ m not proud of that .
I wanted to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people.
” At that point , Whittaker said he still had plenty of money .
How much remained at his death , and who might benefit from his estate , was not immediately clear on Tuesday .
Known for wearing cowboy hats and Western-style clothing , Whittaker was a self-made millionaire long before he won the lottery , having built construction businesses worth $ 17 million .
A regular Powerball player , Whittaker , who then lived in Scott Depot , already had concrete plans to share his prize with churches and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve had to work for everything in my life .
This is the first thing that ’ s ever been given to me , ” Whittaker said then .
A foundation started in Whittaker ’ s name spent $ 23 million building two churches in the years after his jackpot win , and his family donated food , clothing and college scholarships to local students .
Whittaker also put his granddaughter , Brandi Bragg , on his payroll .
But his plans to give his inheritance to her were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when her body was found in a junked van , hidden by a boyfriend who panicked when he found her dead .
An autopsy did not pinpoint a cause .
“ She was going to inherit everything , ” Whittaker said .

Andrew "Jack" Whittaker Jr., whose life became rife with setbacks and tragedy after winning a record $315 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas night in 2002, has died. He was 72.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Andrew "Jack" Whittaker Jr., whose life became rife with setbacks and tragedy after winning a record $315 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas night in 2002, has died. He was 72.
The Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlor in Hinton, W.Va. confirmed it. A funeral home official who declined to give his name said Tuesday that Whittaker died of natural causes, but he declined to say when or where, and said a service would be private.
In this Aug. 30, 2007 photo Jack Whittaker speaks during an interview in Mount Hope, W.Va. Whittaker Jr., whose life became rife with setbacks and tragedy after winning a record $315 Powerball jackpot on Christmas night in 2002, has died. He was 72. On Tuesday, June 30, 2020, Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlor in Hinton, West Virginia confirmed Whittaker’s death. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)
Whittaker became an instant celebrity at 55 when he claimed what was then the largest U.S. lottery jackpot won by a single ticket. He opted for a lump-sum payout of $113.4 million after taxes, and flew off to New York with his family in a private jet to appear on network TV morning shows.
But he quickly fell victim to scandals, lawsuits and personal setbacks as he endured constant requests for money, leaving him unable to trust others. Several times he was quoted as saying he wished he had torn up the ticket.
His wife left him. A friend of his drug-addicted granddaughter was found dead at his home in 2004. Three months later, his 17-year-old granddaughter was gone, too.
His daughter, Ginger Whittaker Bragg, died in 2009 at 42 after struggling for years with cancer.
And in 2016, he lost a Virginia home to a fire.
He struggled with drinking and gambling. His home and car were repeatedly burglarized. At a strip club, thieves broke into his Lincoln Navigator and stole a briefcase stuffed with $245,000 and three $100,000 cashiers' checks.
That time, at least, he caught a break — the briefcase was found, with the money still inside.
Whittaker was charged twice with driving while under the influence and sued repeatedly, once by three female casino employees who accused him of assault.
In a 2007 interview with The Associated Press, Whittaker said he knew his legacy was already written.
"I'm only going to be remembered as the lunatic who won the lottery," Whittaker said. "I'm not proud of that. I wanted to be remembered as someone who helped a lot of people."
At that point, Whittaker said he still had plenty of money. How much remained at his death, and who might benefit from his estate, was not immediately clear on Tuesday.
Known for wearing cowboy hats and Western-style clothing, Whittaker was a self-made millionaire long before he won the lottery, having built construction businesses worth $17 million.
A regular Powerball player, Whittaker, who then lived in Scott Depot, already had concrete plans to share his prize with churches and his family when he claimed his winnings.
"I've had to work for everything in my life. This is the first thing that's ever been given to me," Whittaker said then.
A foundation started in Whittaker's name spent $23 million building two churches in the years after his jackpot win, and his family donated food, clothing and college scholarships to local students.
Whittaker also put his granddaughter, Brandi Bragg, on his payroll. But his plans to give his inheritance to her were vanquished just before Christmas in 2004, when her body was found in a junked van, hidden by a boyfriend who panicked when he found her dead. An autopsy did not pinpoint a cause.
"She was going to inherit everything," Whittaker said.
By JOHN RABY


courthousenews--2020-07-02--House Extends Deadline for Small Businesses to Apply for Covid Relief Loans

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a measure giving small businesses until Aug. 8 to apply for a federal loan initiative meant to help them stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The House unanimously approved the measure on Wednesday afternoon , extending the window for small businesses to apply the Paycheck Protection Program through Aug. 8 .
The Senate passed the measure on Tuesday , shortly before the original loan approval window closed at midnight .
“ As coronavirus cases surge across the country and countless businesses are forced to shutter , American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect their lives and livelihoods , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday .
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the extension .
The Paycheck Protection Program allows small businesses to take out loans that can be forgiven if the money is used to cover payroll , rent , utilities and certain other expenses during widespread closures and operating restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Through June 27 , the program had approved more than 4.7 million loans totaling $ 518 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program is $ 108,000 , with more than 66 % going for $ 50,000 or less , according to the Small Business Administration .
Though the program has been broadly popular , Democrats have ramped up calls recently for the Trump administration to release more information on who is receiving the loans .
In her statement , Pelosi said without the information it is impossible to tell whether the loans are reaching “ our most impacted communities.
” The initial $ 350 billion given to the program quickly ran out , leading to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 310 billion more going into its coffers .
Congress has since passed legislation giving greater flexibility to how businesses can spend the money they receive under the program .
Congress is also expected to work on an additional coronavirus response package as cases tick up again in parts of the country , but the contours of that bill are not clear as Congress prepares to leave Washington for its planned July 4 recess .

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a measure giving small businesses until Aug. 8 to apply for a federal loan initiative meant to help them stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.
WASHINGTON (CN) — The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a measure giving small businesses until Aug. 8 to apply for a federal loan initiative meant to help them stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The House unanimously approved the measure on Wednesday afternoon, extending the window for small businesses to apply the Paycheck Protection Program through Aug. 8. The Senate passed the measure on Tuesday, shortly before the original loan approval window closed at midnight.
“As coronavirus cases surge across the country and countless businesses are forced to shutter, American workers and small businesses desperately need action to protect their lives and livelihoods,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the extension.
The Paycheck Protection Program allows small businesses to take out loans that can be forgiven if the money is used to cover payroll, rent, utilities and certain other expenses during widespread closures and operating restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Through June 27, the program had approved more than 4.7 million loans totaling $518 billion. The average loan approved under the program is $108,000, with more than 66% going for $50,000 or less, according to the Small Business Administration.
Though the program has been broadly popular, Democrats have ramped up calls recently for the Trump administration to release more information on who is receiving the loans. In her statement, Pelosi said without the information it is impossible to tell whether the loans are reaching “our most impacted communities.”
The initial $350 billion given to the program quickly ran out, leading to contentious negotiations that eventually led to $310 billion more going into its coffers. Congress has since passed legislation giving greater flexibility to how businesses can spend the money they receive under the program.
Congress is also expected to work on an additional coronavirus response package as cases tick up again in parts of the country, but the contours of that bill are not clear as Congress prepares to leave Washington for its planned July 4 recess.


courthousenews--2020-07-02--Fireworks Spew Toxins Into the Air, Scientists Find

( CN ) — If you ever find yourself holding your breath during a particularly thrilling Independence Day fireworks show , you might be better off : A study released Wednesday reveals common fireworks emit lead , copper and other toxins that can damage human cells and animal lungs .
“ While many are careful to protect themselves from injury from explosions , our results suggest that inhaling firework smoke may cause longer-term damage , a risk that has been largely ignored , ” says study senior author Terry Gordon , a professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at NYU Grossman School of Medicine , the study showed harmful levels of lead in two of 12 types of commercially available fireworks .
Titanium , strontium , and copper are also commonly found in fireworks .
The toxic metals are used to give fireworks their vibrant colors .
Experiments using rodents and human tissue also showed that emissions from five types of fireworks significantly increased oxidation , a chemical process in the body that can kill cells .
Analyzing years of air quality samples taken at dozens of sites by the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team also found that levels of toxic metals were higher in samples taken near Independence Day and New Year ’ s Eve celebrations than at any other time of the year .
“ Although people are only exposed to these substances for a short time each year , they are much more toxic than the pollutants we breathe every day , ” Gordon said in a statement accompanying the study .
Americans purchase more than 258 million pounds of fireworks every year to celebrate holidays , concerts and sporting events , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright colors , metals are exposed to high temperatures , causing a chemical reaction that gives off a flash of colored light .
The study , published in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology , claims to be the first to examine the effects of firework exposure in human cells and to test for particles of common firework metals thrown into the atmosphere .
Researchers collected emissions from a dozen types of fireworks detonated in the lab .
They then exposed human lung cells and dozens of mice to the captured particles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a New Yorker ’ s daily exposure to pollutants in Manhattan air .
Gordon cautions that the current investigation is a first step , only addressing the potential effects of one-time exposure .
Repeated exposure is likely a larger concern , he says .
Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

If you ever find yourself holding your breath during a particularly thrilling Independence Day fireworks show, you might be better off: A study released Wednesday reveals common fireworks emit lead, copper and other toxins that can damage human cells and animal lungs.
(CN) — If you ever find yourself holding your breath during a particularly thrilling Independence Day fireworks show, you might be better off: A study released Wednesday reveals common fireworks emit lead, copper and other toxins that can damage human cells and animal lungs.
"While many are careful to protect themselves from injury from explosions, our results suggest that inhaling firework smoke may cause longer-term damage, a risk that has been largely ignored," says study senior author Terry Gordon, a professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at NYU Langone Health.
Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the study showed harmful levels of lead in two of 12 types of commercially available fireworks. Titanium, strontium, and copper are also commonly found in fireworks. The toxic metals are used to give fireworks their vibrant colors.
Experiments using rodents and human tissue also showed that emissions from five types of fireworks significantly increased oxidation, a chemical process in the body that can kill cells.
Analyzing years of air quality samples taken at dozens of sites by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gordon and his team also found that levels of toxic metals were higher in samples taken near Independence Day and New Year's Eve celebrations than at any other time of the year.
"Although people are only exposed to these substances for a short time each year, they are much more toxic than the pollutants we breathe every day," Gordon said in a statement accompanying the study.
Americans purchase more than 258 million pounds of fireworks every year to celebrate holidays, concerts and sporting events, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. To create bright colors, metals are exposed to high temperatures, causing a chemical reaction that gives off a flash of colored light.
The study, published in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology, claims to be the first to examine the effects of firework exposure in human cells and to test for particles of common firework metals thrown into the atmosphere.
Researchers collected emissions from a dozen types of fireworks detonated in the lab. They then exposed human lung cells and dozens of mice to the captured particles, notably in low doses thought to match a New Yorker's daily exposure to pollutants in Manhattan air.
Gordon cautions that the current investigation is a first step, only addressing the potential effects of one-time exposure. Repeated exposure is likely a larger concern, he says. Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences


courthousenews--2020-07-02--California Prison Officials Blasted for Covid Outbreak

( CN ) — Recalling a haunting scene of men pleading for their lives behind locked cell doors , an infectious disease expert warned California lawmakers Wednesday that San Quentin State Prison must immediately release at least half of its 3,500 inmates to thwart a deadly Covid-19 outbreak .
“ Frankly , it ’ s hard to understand how residents and staff can safely continue working and living at San Quentin at all , ” said David Sears , associate professor of medicine at the University of California , San Francisco .
Sears visited San Quentin on June 13 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmate health care at state prisons pursuant to a federal court ’ s 2005 finding that California fails to provide constitutionally adequate medical care to prisoners .
San Quentin , a 168-year-old prison in Marin County north of San Francisco , reported zero confirmed Covid-19 cases in May .
That was before 121 prisoners were transferred there in late May from the California Institution for Men in Chino , a prison with the deadliest Covid-19 outbreak in the state .
Testifying during a California Senate Public Safety Committee meeting , federal receiver Clark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to San Quentin despite a policy that requires inmates test negative for the virus prior to any transfer .
Kelso said the intention was to move uninfected inmates from Chino to San Quentin , but because the protocol did not specify how long a negative test would remain valid , inmates were transferred two to three weeks after they tested negative for the virus .
By that time , the tests had become “ too old to be a good indicator of the absence of Covid-19 , ” Kelso said .
Sen. Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Safety Committee , voiced frustration that state prison officials allowed such a blunder to occur .
“ By the end of May we fully understood and had adequate testing , so how could there have been the transfer of people who had not been tested for two to three weeks ?
” Skinner asked .
“ It ’ s abhorrent and I don ’ t understand it.
” After learning of the outbreak at San Quentin , Kelso tapped Sears and other public health experts to inspect the facility .
Sears reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are set up like dorms and lack proper ventilation , the perfect conditions for rapidly spreading the virus .
Aside from urging prison officials to immediately start reducing the population , Sears recommended an emergency response team be assembled to oversee virus containment measures , testing , inmate health care and staff training .
He also suggested the facility ramp up testing for correctional officers and staff .
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages 35 state prisons .
As of Wednesday , the agency reported 2,585 active Covid-19 cases among inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and staff , 477 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
The department has suspended accepting new inmates from county jails through July 29 to prevent a potential worsening of the outbreak .
Kelso said he sent a team to visit 15 or 16 state prisons and report back on compliance with mask wearing , social distancing and other procedures .
He said the team reported that only one institution , the prison in Chino , was not complying with the requirements .
“ I don ’ t see how they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , ” Kelso said .
Karen Franklin , a licensed nurse who works at San Quentin , also told lawmakers that access to personal protective equipment has been “ dismal at best.
” She described nurses grabbing N95 masks out of hazmat bags and cleaning them with Clorox wipes .
She said nurses had to reuse medical gowns until they became tattered or wear trash bags around their bodies for protection .
Employees have been forced to work extra shifts until they are “ physically and emotionally exhausted , ” she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they are too tried to drive home after their shifts , she said .
“ When we inform our supervisors we are unable to work an extra shift because of exhaustion , we are threatened with adverse action , ” Franklin testified .
Sam Lewis , a former San Quentin inmate who now serves as executive director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition , questioned why it took an outbreak at a prison in the San Francisco Bay Area before state officials started taking the issue seriously .
He noted that 16 inmates had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There seemingly to me was not enough outrage and uproar to those deaths , ” Lewis said .
“ It seemed to me if we had jumped on it then , maybe it would have never reached San Quentin.
” A woman who identified herself as Adrian also testified Wednesday , telling lawmakers that her 63-year-old father who is in remission from cancer is housed at San Quentin and at very high risk of developing life-threatening symptoms .
“ My dad is the most important person in my life , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my calls or emails regarding his wellbeing.
” Skinner said an existing state law empowers the Department of Corrections to grant early parole to people who are elderly or have serious medical conditions .
She urged the state to start using that authority to reduce the inmate population at state prisons .
“ Given that we know the death rate is higher for medically fragile and elderly people , then it only makes sense for the department to use the statutory tools we ’ ve given them , ” Skinner said .

Recalling a haunting scene of men pleading for their lives behind locked cell doors, an infectious disease expert warned California lawmakers Wednesday that San Quentin State Prison must immediately release at least half of its 3,500 inmates to thwart a deadly Covid-19 outbreak.
(CN) — Recalling a haunting scene of men pleading for their lives behind locked cell doors, an infectious disease expert warned California lawmakers Wednesday that San Quentin State Prison must immediately release at least half of its 3,500 inmates to thwart a deadly Covid-19 outbreak.
“Frankly, it’s hard to understand how residents and staff can safely continue working and living at San Quentin at all,” said David Sears, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
Sears visited San Quentin on June 13 at the request of a federal receiver overseeing inmate health care at state prisons pursuant to a federal court’s 2005 finding that California fails to provide constitutionally adequate medical care to prisoners.
San Quentin, a 168-year-old prison in Marin County north of San Francisco, reported zero confirmed Covid-19 cases in May. That was before 121 prisoners were transferred there in late May from the California Institution for Men in Chino, a prison with the deadliest Covid-19 outbreak in the state. As of Wednesday, 1,135 San Quentin inmates had been infected with Covid-19.
Testifying during a California Senate Public Safety Committee meeting, federal receiver Clark Kelso explained how infected prisoners were transferred to San Quentin despite a policy that requires inmates test negative for the virus prior to any transfer.
Kelso said the intention was to move uninfected inmates from Chino to San Quentin, but because the protocol did not specify how long a negative test would remain valid, inmates were transferred two to three weeks after they tested negative for the virus. By that time, the tests had become “too old to be a good indicator of the absence of Covid-19,” Kelso said.
Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, voiced frustration that state prison officials allowed such a blunder to occur.
“By the end of May we fully understood and had adequate testing, so how could there have been the transfer of people who had not been tested for two to three weeks?” Skinner asked. “It’s abhorrent and I don’t understand it.”
After learning of the outbreak at San Quentin, Kelso tapped Sears and other public health experts to inspect the facility. Sears reported the prison’s five-tier cell blocks are set up like dorms and lack proper ventilation, the perfect conditions for rapidly spreading the virus.
Aside from urging prison officials to immediately start reducing the population, Sears recommended an emergency response team be assembled to oversee virus containment measures, testing, inmate health care and staff training. He also suggested the facility ramp up testing for correctional officers and staff.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages 35 state prisons. As of Wednesday, the agency reported 2,585 active Covid-19 cases among inmates and 22 deaths. For correctional officers and staff, 477 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The department has suspended accepting new inmates from county jails through July 29 to prevent a potential worsening of the outbreak.
Kelso said he sent a team to visit 15 or 16 state prisons and report back on compliance with mask wearing, social distancing and other procedures. He said the team reported that only one institution, the prison in Chino, was not complying with the requirements.
“I don’t see how they can not take it seriously given the outbreak there,” Kelso said.
Karen Franklin, a licensed nurse who works at San Quentin, also told lawmakers that access to personal protective equipment has been “dismal at best.” She described nurses grabbing N95 masks out of hazmat bags and cleaning them with Clorox wipes. She said nurses had to reuse medical gowns until they became tattered or wear trash bags around their bodies for protection.
Employees have been forced to work extra shifts until they are “physically and emotionally exhausted,” she added. Some employees sleep in their cars because they are too tried to drive home after their shifts, she said.
“When we inform our supervisors we are unable to work an extra shift because of exhaustion, we are threatened with adverse action,” Franklin testified.
Sam Lewis, a former San Quentin inmate who now serves as executive director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, questioned why it took an outbreak at a prison in the San Francisco Bay Area before state officials started taking the issue seriously. He noted that 16 inmates had already died at the Chino prison.
“There seemingly to me was not enough outrage and uproar to those deaths,” Lewis said. “It seemed to me if we had jumped on it then, maybe it would have never reached San Quentin.”
A woman who identified herself as Adrian also testified Wednesday, telling lawmakers that her 63-year-old father who is in remission from cancer is housed at San Quentin and at very high risk of developing life-threatening symptoms.
“My dad is the most important person in my life,” she said. “No one will answer my calls or emails regarding his wellbeing.”
Skinner said an existing state law empowers the Department of Corrections to grant early parole to people who are elderly or have serious medical conditions. She urged the state to start using that authority to reduce the inmate population at state prisons.
“Given that we know the death rate is higher for medically fragile and elderly people, then it only makes sense for the department to use the statutory tools we’ve given them,” Skinner said.


courthousenews--2020-07-01--Big-City DAs Form Commissions to Help Heal From Racial Injustice

( CN ) — District attorneys in three major American cities will host truth and reconciliation commissions intent on giving voice to citizens who have suffered from police violence or prosecutorial overreach .
San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin , Suffolk County , Massachusetts , DA Racheal Rollins and Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner announced a partnership with the Grassroots Law Project to host a Truth , Justice and Reconciliation Commission in their cities .
“ Prosecutors have a special responsibility to promote justice and reconciliation with the communities whose needs have historically been neglected , ” Boudin said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working to not only enact changes and create policies that hold police accountable going forward , but also to build trust with those who have been hurt by the lack of police accountability in the past.
” The formation of such commissions comes as the nation grapples with racial inequities in the criminal justice system .
The Grassroots Law Project was co-founded by Shaun King , one of the nation ’ s most prominent critics of how policing in America unfairly targets black communities in the United States .
“ People see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little justice oppressed communities actually get , and conclude that it ’ s broken , but the truth is much more nefarious , ” King said in a statement .
“ This system is not broken .
It ’ s functioning exactly the way those who designed and built it intended it to function.
” Boudin , Krasner and Rollins all recently became the top cop in their respective jurisdictions on promises to revamp their offices and hold police accountable for their deficiencies or abuses .
Boudin is the son of two members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-wing militant organization active in the 1960s and the 1970s .
His parents were arrested for their role in a bank robbery in which a guard was killed , and he has said his repeated visits to his parents in prison gave him a unique perception on the criminal justice system .
“ We are honored by the opportunity to be part of this initiative to heal the wounds created by police abuse , to empower impacted communities , and to seek real justice for all , ” Boudin said .
Truth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history as a means to allow those oppressed by political systems to air their grievances , tell their stories and achieve a reconciliation with the current culture that allows all parties to move forward .
The first known commission was created by Argentina in 1983 to look into political disappearances during the military dictatorships of the 1970s .
The commission issued a report titled Nunca Mas , or Never Again .
Perhaps the most famous example of a truth and reconciliation commission occurred in South Africa in the aftermath of apartheid .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity to those who detailed the extent of their human rights violations .
It was also an effort to heal the grievous wounds of the country , provide dignity for victims and allow the country to move forward to a more racially harmonious future envisioned by Nelson Mandela .
Truth and reconciliation commissions have been used extensively throughout Africa to help broach peace and amicably between warring factions in given countries .
Canada recently used a similar format to explore its legacy of putting Native children in boarding schools where they were enculturated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the criminal justice system has levied tremendous amounts of abuse on black communities within their purview .
“ As a civil rights lawyer , I watched how this community suffered from law enforcement and prosecutorial overreach , and I know that these harms went unaddressed for many , if not for most , ” Krasner said in a statement .
“ We can not go back to fix that , but we can give a voice to those who experienced injustice for years .
”

District attorneys in three major American cities will host truth and reconciliation commissions intent on giving voice to citizens who have suffered from police violence or prosecutorial overreach.
(CN) — District attorneys in three major American cities will host truth and reconciliation commissions intent on giving voice to citizens who have suffered from police violence or prosecutorial overreach.
San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, DA Racheal Rollins and Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner announced a partnership with the Grassroots Law Project to host a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission in their cities.
“Prosecutors have a special responsibility to promote justice and reconciliation with the communities whose needs have historically been neglected,” Boudin said in a statement. “In San Francisco we are working to not only enact changes and create policies that hold police accountable going forward, but also to build trust with those who have been hurt by the lack of police accountability in the past.”
The formation of such commissions comes as the nation grapples with racial inequities in the criminal justice system. The Grassroots Law Project was co-founded by Shaun King, one of the nation’s most prominent critics of how policing in America unfairly targets black communities in the United States.
“People see the pain the system causes, and how little justice oppressed communities actually get, and conclude that it’s broken, but the truth is much more nefarious,” King said in a statement. “This system is not broken. It’s functioning exactly the way those who designed and built it intended it to function.”
Boudin, Krasner and Rollins all recently became the top cop in their respective jurisdictions on promises to revamp their offices and hold police accountable for their deficiencies or abuses.
Boudin is the son of two members of the Weather Underground, the radical left-wing militant organization active in the 1960s and the 1970s. His parents were arrested for their role in a bank robbery in which a guard was killed, and he has said his repeated visits to his parents in prison gave him a unique perception on the criminal justice system.
“We are honored by the opportunity to be part of this initiative to heal the wounds created by police abuse, to empower impacted communities, and to seek real justice for all,” Boudin said.
Truth and reconciliation commissions have been employed throughout recent history as a means to allow those oppressed by political systems to air their grievances, tell their stories and achieve a reconciliation with the current culture that allows all parties to move forward.
The first known commission was created by Argentina in 1983 to look into political disappearances during the military dictatorships of the 1970s. The commission issued a report titled Nunca Mas, or Never Again.
Perhaps the most famous example of a truth and reconciliation commission occurred in South Africa in the aftermath of apartheid. The commission was formed in 1995 and offered immunity to those who detailed the extent of their human rights violations. It was also an effort to heal the grievous wounds of the country, provide dignity for victims and allow the country to move forward to a more racially harmonious future envisioned by Nelson Mandela.
Truth and reconciliation commissions have been used extensively throughout Africa to help broach peace and amicably between warring factions in given countries.
Canada recently used a similar format to explore its legacy of putting Native children in boarding schools where they were enculturated and often abused.
All three prosecutors say the criminal justice system has levied tremendous amounts of abuse on black communities within their purview.
“As a civil rights lawyer, I watched how this community suffered from law enforcement and prosecutorial overreach, and I know that these harms went unaddressed for many, if not for most,” Krasner said in a statement. “We cannot go back to fix that, but we can give a voice to those who experienced injustice for years.”


courthousenews--2020-07-01--Study Reveals Major Flaws in Research Supporting Covid Antibody Tests

( CN ) — While many have lauded the potential value of antibody tests as the world continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic , a study released Wednesday indicates some of the tests are so flawed they shouldn ’ t be used .
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the early part of this year , few subjects have received more airtime and discussion as accessible and accurate Covid-19 testing resources .
While a great deal of this focus has been on molecular tests — which determine whether someone has the illness in that moment — much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which detect coronavirus antibodies in people who were previously infected .
Serological tests have been widely viewed as critical to help us better understand how and when populations become most exposed to the virus and to help health professionals more accurately gauge infection trends .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson — who suffered a bout of Covid-19 and was even hospitalized in intensive care for a time — personally hailed these serological tests as “ game-changing.
” But this optimism may not be backed by the data .
A study published Wednesday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers reveals that significant weaknesses have been identified in the evidence base for serological tests .
The evidence is particularly weak for point-of-care tests , conducted directly with a patient outside of a traditional laboratory environment , with the researchers saying the evidence doesn ’ t even support their continued use .
Researchers made these troubling observations by combing through 40 different studies for measuring sensitivity or specificity of a Covid-19 antibody test compared with a control test .
They found the studies in medical databases and preprint servers from January to April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the studies , the majority of which came from China , were not peer reviewed .
Worse , most showed a either high or uncertain possibility of bias that would have wrongly skewed the final results .
Of the 40 studies , researchers noted that only four included data related to outpatients and just two examined tests at the point of care .
When they collected all of the sensitivity data from the studies — measurements of those who were correctly identified as having a disease — the researchers found anywhere between 2.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Covid-19 would have been missed .
“ Overall , the poor performance of existing serological tests for Covid-19 raises questions about the utility of using such methods for medical decision making , particularly given time and effort required to do these tests and the challenging workloads many clinics are facing , ” the study states .
Researchers also looked closely at lateral flow immunoassay tests , a point of care test that has been recently considered as a way to provide people with “ immunity passports.
” They weren ’ t impressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data , if lateral flow immunoassay tests used on a population with a Covid-19 prevalence of 10 % , of 1,000 people tested there would be at least 31 who would be declared immune without ever having contracted the virus .
Another 34 people who actually did have Covid-19 would be told they had never been infected , the researchers found .
Governments around the world should therefore not put too much stock in the accuracy of these tests , the researchers said .
“ Our findings should also give pause to governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test s— in particular , point-of-care tests — to issue immunity ‘ certificates ’ or ‘ passports.
’ ” Faiz Ahmad Khan , one of the authors of the study and scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre , said that if we want to better understand our testing effectiveness , better clinical studies is a solid way to get it .
“ We need more rigorously designed clinical studies , that actually see how these serological tests perform at the point of care and when used in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied , ” Khan said in an email .
“ Such studies could be rapidly conducted with international collaboration — that will be key to get answers that are applicable in a diversity of settings .
”

While many have lauded the potential value of antibody tests as the world continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, a study released Wednesday indicates some of the tests are so flawed they shouldn’t be used.
(CN) — While many have lauded the potential value of antibody tests as the world continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, a study released Wednesday indicates some of the tests are so flawed they shouldn’t be used.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the early part of this year, few subjects have received more airtime and discussion as accessible and accurate Covid-19 testing resources. While a great deal of this focus has been on molecular tests — which determine whether someone has the illness in that moment — much has also been made about serological tests which detect coronavirus antibodies in people who were previously infected.
Serological tests have been widely viewed as critical to help us better understand how and when populations become most exposed to the virus and to help health professionals more accurately gauge infection trends. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson — who suffered a bout of Covid-19 and was even hospitalized in intensive care for a time — personally hailed these serological tests as "game-changing.”
But this optimism may not be backed by the data.
A study published Wednesday in The BMJ by an international team of researchers reveals that significant weaknesses have been identified in the evidence base for serological tests. The evidence is particularly weak for point-of-care tests, conducted directly with a patient outside of a traditional laboratory environment, with the researchers saying the evidence doesn’t even support their continued use.
Researchers made these troubling observations by combing through 40 different studies for measuring sensitivity or specificity of a Covid-19 antibody test compared with a control test. They found the studies in medical databases and preprint servers from January to April.
They discovered at least half of the studies, the majority of which came from China, were not peer reviewed. Worse, most showed a either high or uncertain possibility of bias that would have wrongly skewed the final results.
Of the 40 studies, researchers noted that only four included data related to outpatients and just two examined tests at the point of care.
When they collected all of the sensitivity data from the studies — measurements of those who were correctly identified as having a disease — the researchers found anywhere between 2.2% and 34% of the patients with Covid-19 would have been missed.
“Overall, the poor performance of existing serological tests for Covid-19 raises questions about the utility of using such methods for medical decision making, particularly given time and effort required to do these tests and the challenging workloads many clinics are facing,” the study states.
Researchers also looked closely at lateral flow immunoassay tests, a point of care test that has been recently considered as a way to provide people with “immunity passports.” They weren’t impressed with the results.
According to their data, if lateral flow immunoassay tests used on a population with a Covid-19 prevalence of 10%, of 1,000 people tested there would be at least 31 who would be declared immune without ever having contracted the virus. Another 34 people who actually did have Covid-19 would be told they had never been infected, the researchers found.
Governments around the world should therefore not put too much stock in the accuracy of these tests, the researchers said.
“Our findings should also give pause to governments that are contemplating the use of serological test s— in particular, point-of-care tests — to issue immunity ‘certificates’ or ‘passports.’”
Faiz Ahmad Khan, one of the authors of the study and scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, said that if we want to better understand our testing effectiveness, better clinical studies is a solid way to get it.
"We need more rigorously designed clinical studies, that actually see how these serological tests perform at the point of care and when used in the same populations where they will eventually be applied,” Khan said in an email. “Such studies could be rapidly conducted with international collaboration — that will be key to get answers that are applicable in a diversity of settings."


courthousenews--2020-07-01--11th Circuit Blocks Order Allowing Felon Voting in Florida

More than 774,000 Florida felons owe fees that could prevent them from voting .
ATLANTA ( CN ) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday halted the voting registration of thousands of Florida felons who can not pay fines or fees , just weeks after a lower court threw out the state law mandating payment of all legal financial obligations before voting .
The 11th Circuit decision granted Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis ’ request to suspend voter registration until the full court hears the case .
The Atlanta-based appeals court did not signal if any decision would occur before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is set for Aug. 11 , which is past the registration deadline for Florida ’ s Aug. 18 primary elections .
Last year , the Campaign Legal Center , American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP sued Florida over SB 7066 , a law requiring felons to pay all restitution , fines and fees before they are eligible to vote .
Republican lawmakers passed the controversial measure just months after Florida voters overwhelming approved Amendment 4 , a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to most felons “ after they complete all terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The amendment did not mention restitution or fines .
After an eight-day trial in May , U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled the 24th Amendment prohibits Florida from conditioning voting on payment of fines and fees .
The law , Hinkle said , was a “ pay-to-vote system.
” DeSantis lodged the appeal days later .
The 11th Circuit had previously upheld an injunction against SB 7066 and will now rehear the case en banc .
The case , Jones v. DeSantis , could have lasting implications for politics statewide and nationally as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ margins .
In the 2016 presidential election , Donald Trump took the state with less than 120,000 votes .
More than 774,000 Florida felons have some type of legal financial obligation , according to a study submitted to the court .
In a statement , Campaign Legal Center Vice President Paul Smith called the 11th Circuit decision “ a setback.
” “ The district court ’ s decision to block Florida ’ s pay-to-vote system followed clear Supreme Court precedent , ” Smith said .
“ We are hopeful that the court of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for all that wealth can not determine a person ’ s eligibility to vote.
” Citing the “ ongoing legal matter , ” a spokesperson for the governor ’ s office declined to comment until the full 11th Circuit reaches a decision .
The decision to rehear the case is rare .
In February , a three-judge panel of the court upheld an earlier ruling by Hinkle , a Bill Clinton appointee , that granted voting rights to the 17 felons in the case .
Hinkle ’ s May ruling applied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restitution , fines and court costs .
When DeSantis ’ attorneys first asked for a full court hearing on the matter , the circuit judges declined .
Florida does not have a statewide database of those who owe restitution and fines and the state ’ s byzantine patchwork of record-keeping prevented many felons from learning about outstanding financial obligations before registering to vote .
Hinkle ’ s May decision required county supervisors of elections to allow felons to fill out a form attesting to indigency .
In Hillsborough County , officials created a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential voters and grant them the right to vote .
Prior to the passage of Amendment 4 , Florida had the highest number of disenfranchised felons in the country , according to a 2016 report by the Sentencing Project .
The Sunshine State was one of only three states that banned ex-convicts from voting for life .
In the first three months after the amendment took effect in January , more than 2,000 formerly incarcerated Floridians registered to vote .
Advocates say thousands more have registered since .

A federal appeals court on Wednesday halted the voting registration of thousands of Florida felons who cannot pay fines or fees, just weeks after a lower court threw out the state law mandating payment of all legal financial obligations before voting.
ATLANTA (CN) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday halted the voting registration of thousands of Florida felons who cannot pay fines or fees, just weeks after a lower court threw out the state law mandating payment of all legal financial obligations before voting.
The 11th Circuit decision granted Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ request to suspend voter registration until the full court hears the case.
The Atlanta-based appeals court did not signal if any decision would occur before the November elections. An initial hearing is set for Aug. 11, which is past the registration deadline for Florida’s Aug. 18 primary elections.
Last year, the Campaign Legal Center, American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP sued Florida over SB 7066, a law requiring felons to pay all restitution, fines and fees before they are eligible to vote.
Republican lawmakers passed the controversial measure just months after Florida voters overwhelming approved Amendment 4, a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to most felons “after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation.” The amendment did not mention restitution or fines.
After an eight-day trial in May, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled the 24th Amendment prohibits Florida from conditioning voting on payment of fines and fees. The law, Hinkle said, was a “pay-to-vote system.”
DeSantis lodged the appeal days later. The 11th Circuit had previously upheld an injunction against SB 7066 and will now rehear the case en banc.
The case, Jones v. DeSantis, could have lasting implications for politics statewide and nationally as Florida’s elections typically have razor-thin margins. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump took the state with less than 120,000 votes.
More than 774,000 Florida felons have some type of legal financial obligation, according to a study submitted to the court.
In a statement, Campaign Legal Center Vice President Paul Smith called the 11th Circuit decision “a setback.”
“The district court’s decision to block Florida’s pay-to-vote system followed clear Supreme Court precedent,” Smith said. “We are hopeful that the court of appeals will follow suit and confirm once and for all that wealth cannot determine a person’s eligibility to vote.”
Citing the “ongoing legal matter,” a spokesperson for the governor’s office declined to comment until the full 11th Circuit reaches a decision.
The decision to rehear the case is rare. In February, a three-judge panel of the court upheld an earlier ruling by Hinkle, a Bill Clinton appointee, that granted voting rights to the 17 felons in the case. Hinkle’s May ruling applied to all felons who cannot pay court-ordered restitution, fines and court costs. When DeSantis’ attorneys first asked for a full court hearing on the matter, the circuit judges declined.
Florida does not have a statewide database of those who owe restitution and fines and the state’s byzantine patchwork of record-keeping prevented many felons from learning about outstanding financial obligations before registering to vote.
Hinkle’s May decision required county supervisors of elections to allow felons to fill out a form attesting to indigency. In Hillsborough County, officials created a special court to verify the indigency of potential voters and grant them the right to vote.
Prior to the passage of Amendment 4, Florida had the highest number of disenfranchised felons in the country, according to a 2016 report by the Sentencing Project. The Sunshine State was one of only three states that banned ex-convicts from voting for life.
In the first three months after the amendment took effect in January, more than 2,000 formerly incarcerated Floridians registered to vote. Advocates say thousands more have registered since.