courthousenews--2020-06-12--Trump Administration Reverses Transgender Health Care Protections

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Drawing immediate threats of lawsuits from advocacy groups , the Trump administration finalized its rollback Friday of an Obama-era regulation that covered gender identity under antidiscrimination protections in health care .
In a final rule announced on Friday afternoon , the administration said it will do away with a 2016 regulation issued as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that included gender identity in protections against discrimination on the basis of sex .
The Obama regulation defined gender identity to include “ one ’ s internal sense of gender , which may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a combination of male and female.
” In a press release announcing the new rule , the Department of Health and Human Services said it will interpret the word “ sex ” as “ male or female and as determined by biology.
” The 2016 regulation was issued as part of section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act , commonly called Obamacare , which applied a host of existing civil rights laws to health care facilities that receive federal funding .
In addition to prohibiting discrimination against transgender patients , the regulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis of sex stereotyping and abortion .
A federal judge in Texas blocked the regulation in December 2016 and in October 2019 found the rules violated federal law .
Advocates have raised alarms about the looming rollback since it was put forward in May 2019 , warning it would cause more transgender people to be denied health care and lead to more discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community .
The new regulation , finalized on Friday , rolls back the 2016 regulation ’ s inclusion of gender identity and abortion under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex , arguing the definition went “ beyond the plain meaning of the law.
” In announcing the finalization of the rollback on Friday , HHS said the changes will bring the regulation back in line with current legal precedents while still allowing the agency to enforce the civil rights protections that remain standing .
“ HHS respects the dignity of every human being and as we have shown in our response to the pandemic , we vigorously protect and enforce the civil rights of all to the fullest extent permitted by our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roger Severino , the director of the Department of Health and Human Services ’ Civil Rights Office , said in a statement .
“ We are unwavering in our commitment to enforcing civil rights in health care.
” In addition to rolling back the 2016 protections , the new regulation also makes clear other laws that provide for protections for sincerely held religious beliefs apply to the health care antidiscrimination rules .
The regulation is all but certain to face swift legal challenge , with LGBTQ rights groups Lambda Legal and the Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ LGBTQ people should not live in fear that they can not get the care they need simply because of who they are , ” Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said in a statement .
“ It is clear that this administration does not believe that LGBTQ people , or other marginalized communities , deserve equality under the law .
But we have a reality check for them : we will not let this attack on our basic rights to be free from discrimination in health care go unchallenged.
” Omar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care strategist at Lambda Legal , called the new regulation “ flat out illegal ” in a statement that also promised a legal challenge .

Drawing immediate threats of lawsuits from advocacy groups, the Trump administration finalized its rollback Friday of an Obama-era regulation that covered gender identity under antidiscrimination protections in health care.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Drawing immediate threats of lawsuits from advocacy groups, the Trump administration finalized its rollback Friday of an Obama-era regulation that covered gender identity under antidiscrimination protections in health care.
In a final rule announced on Friday afternoon, the administration said it will do away with a 2016 regulation issued as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that included gender identity in protections against discrimination on the basis of sex.
The Obama regulation defined gender identity to include “one’s internal sense of gender, which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female.” In a press release announcing the new rule, the Department of Health and Human Services said it will interpret the word “sex” as “male or female and as determined by biology.”
The 2016 regulation was issued as part of section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, which applied a host of existing civil rights laws to health care facilities that receive federal funding. In addition to prohibiting discrimination against transgender patients, the regulation also included protections against discrimination on the basis of sex stereotyping and abortion.
A federal judge in Texas blocked the regulation in December 2016 and in October 2019 found the rules violated federal law.
Advocates have raised alarms about the looming rollback since it was put forward in May 2019, warning it would cause more transgender people to be denied health care and lead to more discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.
The new regulation, finalized on Friday, rolls back the 2016 regulation’s inclusion of gender identity and abortion under the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex, arguing the definition went “beyond the plain meaning of the law.”
In announcing the finalization of the rollback on Friday, HHS said the changes will bring the regulation back in line with current legal precedents while still allowing the agency to enforce the civil rights protections that remain standing.
“HHS respects the dignity of every human being and as we have shown in our response to the pandemic, we vigorously protect and enforce the civil rights of all to the fullest extent permitted by our laws as passed by Congress,” Roger Severino, the director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Civil Rights Office, said in a statement. “We are unwavering in our commitment to enforcing civil rights in health care.”
In addition to rolling back the 2016 protections, the new regulation also makes clear other laws that provide for protections for sincerely held religious beliefs apply to the health care antidiscrimination rules.
The regulation is all but certain to face swift legal challenge, with LGBTQ rights groups Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign already promising to bring lawsuits.
“LGBTQ people should not live in fear that they cannot get the care they need simply because of who they are,” Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said in a statement. “It is clear that this administration does not believe that LGBTQ people, or other marginalized communities, deserve equality under the law. But we have a reality check for them: we will not let this attack on our basic rights to be free from discrimination in health care go unchallenged.”
Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, a senior attorney and health care strategist at Lambda Legal, called the new regulation “flat out illegal” in a statement that also promised a legal challenge.


courthousenews--2020-06-12--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

June 12 , 2020 : Extension of criminal trials and changes to public access order June 10 , 2020 : @ @ @ @ @ continued for 60 days for trials with existing trial date of May 25 to July @ @ @ @ @ : Judicial Council regarding revisions to past orders in preparation for phased reopening June 5 @ @ @ @ @ to be held in regular session beginning June 22 , masks required on courthouse grounds @ @ @ @

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courthousenews--2020-06-12--Tribes Dispute Whether Native Corporations Qualify for Virus Relief Funding

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — A high-stakes tug-of-war over billions of dollars in Covid-19 emergency funds played out in federal court in Washington , D.C. Friday between Native American tribes from across the country and Alaska Native corporations .
Congress set aside $ 8 billion for tribal governments in March , but in the months that followed a tense legal battle has tied up a large portion of the relief funding provided through the CARES Act .
Dozens of tribes sued the Treasury Department when it drew up plans to send money to Alaska Native corporations , arguing the private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta partially rejected the tribes ’ request to block the distribution of funds , ordering the government instead to only hold off sending money to ANCs as the case unfolded .
The private corporations argued in a teleconference hearing Friday that they carry the weight of providing services to Alaskan Natives in remote areas of the state where there is no federally recognized tribe to step up .
“ Getting the tribal services to Alaskan Natives would be rendered highly ineffective , if not completely disrupted , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” attorney Daniel Wolff said , arguing that ANCs should be recognized as playing the role of Indian tribes .
Some of the remote villages ANCs service are without running water , deep in the interior of Alaska nowhere near roads and accessible by dog sled or snowmobile most of the year , Wolff said .
“ But they ’ ve got huge logistical issues and the sovereign tribal entities aren ’ t equipped to deal with that , ” the attorney said , telling the judge .
“ ANCs step into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presiding over the case argued Friday and two other lawsuits over the CARES Act funding for Native tribes , Mehta looked to the plaintiffs to address the ANCs ’ argument that Congress contemplated that the private corporations would qualify as Indian tribes .
“ To read the eligibility clause to essentially exclude that in the same breath as they ’ re included doesn ’ t really make a lot of sense , ” Mehta said .
Attorney Riyaz Kanji , arguing for tribes from Alaska and the Lower 48 , said Congress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligibility clause to be federally recognized under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act .
“ This was a time when there was a great deal of uncertainty and novelty about the situation in Alaska , ” Kanji said .
“ And so Congress prudently left the door open .
The fact that it did does not mean that it enshrined in any way , shape or form that Native corporations had to be treated as tribes.
” Mehta later asked the tribes ’ attorney to clarify whether Congress has ever federally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had strongly anchored their arguments around the example of one private corporation , Cook Inlet Region Inc. , providing welfare assistance , job placement and health care among other services to around 60,000 Alaskan Natives in the same manner as a tribal government .
Wolff argued the example of the Anchorage-based ANC “ blows the roof off ” the claim that the private corporations are not tribes .
But an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund dismantled the claim , telling the judge that Cook Inlet Region Inc. is a standalone example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress in order to make that the only exception , ” attorney Natalie Landreth said .
“ And that ’ s a really important thing to understand , is that is not tied to any of these statutes.
” Landreth argued that the private corporations know they are not governments .
“ The ANCS have said , let me quote , ‘ a governing body of Alaska Natives would constitute an Indian tribal government , but a corporation would not because it does not exercise governmental functions , ’ ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument that ANCs are not positioned the same as the tribal governments .
Across the four corners of the country , 574 federally recognized tribal governments maintain a government-to-government relationship with the United States .
But ANCs are not among them , Kanji said , arguing that Congress has allowed the private corporations “ to stand in the shoes of the governing tribe ” when necessary , but do not consider them to be tribal governments .

A high-stakes tug-of-war over billions of dollars in Covid-19 emergency funds played out in federal court in Washington, D.C. Friday between Native American tribes from across the country and Alaska Native corporations.
WASHINGTON (CN) — A high-stakes tug-of-war over billions of dollars in Covid-19 emergency funds played out in federal court in Washington, D.C., Friday between Native American tribes from across the country and Alaska Native corporations.
Congress set aside $8 billion for tribal governments in March, but in the months that followed a tense legal battle has tied up a large portion of the relief funding provided through the CARES Act.
Dozens of tribes sued the Treasury Department when it drew up plans to send money to Alaska Native corporations, arguing the private business corporations are not eligible for funding. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta partially rejected the tribes’ request to block the distribution of funds, ordering the government instead to only hold off sending money to ANCs as the case unfolded.
The private corporations argued in a teleconference hearing Friday that they carry the weight of providing services to Alaskan Natives in remote areas of the state where there is no federally recognized tribe to step up.
“Getting the tribal services to Alaskan Natives would be rendered highly ineffective, if not completely disrupted, if the ANCs were not given that recognition,” attorney Daniel Wolff said, arguing that ANCs should be recognized as playing the role of Indian tribes.
Some of the remote villages ANCs service are without running water, deep in the interior of Alaska nowhere near roads and accessible by dog sled or snowmobile most of the year, Wolff said.
“But they’ve got huge logistical issues and the sovereign tribal entities aren’t equipped to deal with that,” the attorney said, telling the judge. “ANCs step into the void, your honor.”
Currently presiding over the case argued Friday and two other lawsuits over the CARES Act funding for Native tribes, Mehta looked to the plaintiffs to address the ANCs’ argument that Congress contemplated that the private corporations would qualify as Indian tribes.
“To read the eligibility clause to essentially exclude that in the same breath as they’re included doesn’t really make a lot of sense,” Mehta said.
Attorney Riyaz Kanji, arguing for tribes from Alaska and the Lower 48, said Congress in 1975 did contemplate whether ANCs satisfied the eligibility clause to be federally recognized under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act.
“This was a time when there was a great deal of uncertainty and novelty about the situation in Alaska,” Kanji said. “And so Congress prudently left the door open. The fact that it did does not mean that it enshrined in any way, shape or form that Native corporations had to be treated as tribes.”
Mehta later asked the tribes’ attorney to clarify whether Congress has ever federally recognized ANCs as tribes.
“That’s never happened, correct?” the judge asked.
“That’s correct,” Kanji replied.
The ANCs had strongly anchored their arguments around the example of one private corporation, Cook Inlet Region Inc., providing welfare assistance, job placement and health care among other services to around 60,000 Alaskan Natives in the same manner as a tribal government.
Wolff argued the example of the Anchorage-based ANC “blows the roof off” the claim that the private corporations are not tribes.
But an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund dismantled the claim, telling the judge that Cook Inlet Region Inc. is a standalone example.
“It took an act of Congress in order to make that the only exception,” attorney Natalie Landreth said. “And that’s a really important thing to understand, is that is not tied to any of these statutes.”
Landreth argued that the private corporations know they are not governments.
“The ANCS have said, let me quote, ‘a governing body of Alaska Natives would constitute an Indian tribal government, but a corporation would not because it does not exercise governmental functions,’” she said.
The attorney backed up Kanji’s argument that ANCs are not positioned the same as the tribal governments.
Across the four corners of the country, 574 federally recognized tribal governments maintain a government-to-government relationship with the United States.
But ANCs are not among them, Kanji said, arguing that Congress has allowed the private corporations “to stand in the shoes of the governing tribe” when necessary, but do not consider them to be tribal governments.


Carotid Hold Ban

VENTURA , Calif. – The Ventura County Sheriff ’ s Office announced Friday that it would stop the use of @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training said they would no longer @ @ @ @ @ of its training .

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.


courthousenews--2020-06-12--Churches Fight Illinois Ban on Mass Gatherings at Seventh Circuit

CHICAGO ( CN ) — Two Chicago-area churches argued before a Seventh Circuit panel Friday against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker ’ s order to combat the spread of Covid-19 , saying the state ’ s restrictions discriminate against religious services .
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago and Logos Baptist Ministries in suburban Niles , Illinois , sued the governor on May 7 , asking for his 10-person limit on religious gatherings to be lifted .
Making several First Amendment claims , the churches , some of whose pastors and members fled communist Romania due to religious persecution , say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to uphold his sworn duties Governor Pritzker has stepped over a line the Constitution does not permit.
” While churches were deemed nonessential during the coronavirus outbreak , other businesses like grocery stores , liquor stores and warehouses could remain open .
“ The state disparately and discriminatorily allows so-called ‘ essential ’ commercial and non-religious to accommodate large crowds and masses of persons without scrutiny or the 10-person limit , ” the complaint states .
“ Plaintiffs , their pastors , and all congregants will suffer immediate and irreparable injury from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mere act of engaging in the free exercise of religion and going to church , ” the churches claim , adding that “ because of the government threat of criminal sanction , plaintiffs were forced not to host services on Easter Sunday , the most treasured day in Christianity.
” Both churches did , however , hold services the Sunday after their lawsuit was filed , with Elim receiving a $ 500 fine for disorderly conduct from the city .
The following week U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman , a Bill Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a temporary restraining order , which would have allowed them to hold in-person services during litigation .
“ Plaintiffs ’ request for an injunction , and their blatant refusal to follow the mandates of the order are both ill-founded and selfish .
Their interest in communal services can not and does not outweigh the health and safety of the public , ” Gettleman wrote .
“ There is no question that the world , the country , and Illinois in particular are in the midst of a deadly pandemic of epic proportions.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the order targets religion , ” the judge said , pointing to the fact that church services and shopping and manufacturing businesses are not comparable .
“ The order has nothing to do with suppressing religion and everything to do with reducing infections and saving lives , ” he concluded .
The churches appealed that decision and have continued holding in-person services despite it .
“ What we ’ re talking about here is an incidental effect , ” or a neutral law that ends up affecting something like religious practices , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School .
“ This is not a law that is directed at religion .
That ’ s not the point of it , ” Stone said in an interview .
“ The law is applying to all of those things that have similar risk.
” Steven Schwinn , professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago John Marshall Law School , agreed : “ It ’ s just issuing this broadly applicable law that happens to have an effect on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the courts are very reluctant to hold laws unconstitutional for that reason , ” Stone added .
“ Because it would be crazy in the sense that every law has the potential to be incidental.
” What the churches have to do , the professors said , is show that the governor is specifically targeting religion with his order .
“ What the challengers of this law have to show is that the state intended to harm religious conduct , ” said Andrew Koppelman , John Paul Stevens Professor of Law at Northwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to show that religious activity is being treated worse than a comparable non-religious activity , ” he said , adding that laws that merely burden religions are not presumed to be unconstitutional .
Schwinn said “ what the churches are arguing is that the order picks out religion for bad treatment ” by allowing more than 10 people to be in stores and other businesses .
Responding to a public health crisis does give the government some leeway in the restrictions it places on everyone , including those practicing religion .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantial interest .
It can ’ t be trivial , ” Stone said .
“ In this context , the argument is that the seriousness of Covid is such that to protect both the individual , and later the people they come in contact with , is sufficiently great to say ‘ you can ’ t do this.
’ ” “ There ’ s no question that preventing the spread of a deadly disease is a compelling interest , ” Koppelman said .
“ If you can keep large groups from gathering indoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing you can do.
” Schwinn added that although people can disagree on the policy itself , “ as far as the law , it ’ s pretty clear the governor has authority ” to limit any type of congregation .
The professors said the question could focus on whether churches are comparable to grocery stores and other essential businesses , or if they are more like schools , concerts and baseball games , which have also been put on hold .
Oral arguments Friday in the Chicago-based Seventh Circuit did in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to essential businesses .
Horatio Mihet , one of the churches ’ attorneys with the Florida-based Liberty Counsel , said employees of grocery stores and warehouses are working together all day , in close quarters .
“ The employees are there for hours and hours of time .
There ’ s no restrictions on them , ” Mihet pointed out .
“ These places are actually more dangerous than a properly distanced church service.
” “ The basic error that is being made in these comparisons is that some people assume that people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walmart but not at these church services , ” he added .
“ People at church are the same people that go to Walmart .
The virus doesn ’ t know what people are there for.
” Saying that churches haven ’ t even been given the chance to try out preventative measures in the same way that businesses have , Mihet further argued that “ what matters is the proximity of the people.
” “ There ’ s no reason why people can ’ t be distanced in a church the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Priyanka Gupta , an assistant attorney general for the state , argued Governor Pritzker was merely responding to the situation at hand and following guidelines given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ It is helpful to look at the context in which the order was issued , ” she said .
“ What we did know was that [ Covid-19 ] was spreading quickly from gatherings and from people speaking and singing.
” Secular activities such as lectures and theaters received the same treatment as churches , Gupta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous examples around the world of religious gatherings leading to outbreaks.
” Gupta said that manufacturing plants and retail stores have had to follow strict guidelines about how close employees can work to each other and for how long .
Mihet , as well as the judges on the panel , worried that although the state ’ s restrictions have eased since the complaint was filed , the governor could decide to go back to the original order if no injunction is in place to stop him .
“ The governor has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will not return to the allegedly wrong conduct , ” Mihet said .
“ There ’ s no doubt that the governor has not had a change of heart.
” Gupta argued that the governor needs flexibility in reacting to new information about the outbreak .
“ This is an emergent situation the likes of which the world has not seen before , ” she said .
“ No matter what happens in the future the context is going to be important.
” As of Friday morning , Illinois had racked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,285 deaths from the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus .
The panel was comprised of U.S .
Circuit Judges Frank H. Easterbrook and Michael S. Kanne , both Ronald Reagan appointees , and U.S .
Circuit Judge David F. Hamilton , a Barack Obama appointee .
The judges did not say when a decision on the preliminary injunction would be issued .

Two Chicago-area churches argued before a Seventh Circuit panel Friday against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s order to combat the spread of Covid-19, saying the state’s restrictions discriminate against religious services.
CHICAGO (CN) — Two Chicago-area churches argued before a Seventh Circuit panel Friday against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s order to combat the spread of Covid-19, saying the state’s restrictions discriminate against religious services.
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago and Logos Baptist Ministries in suburban Niles, Illinois, sued the governor on May 7, asking for his 10-person limit on religious gatherings to be lifted.
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago, Illinois. (Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church Chicago via Facebook)
Making several First Amendment claims, the churches, some of whose pastors and members fled communist Romania due to religious persecution, say in their complaint that “in an effort to uphold his sworn duties Governor Pritzker has stepped over a line the Constitution does not permit.”
While churches were deemed nonessential during the coronavirus outbreak, other businesses like grocery stores, liquor stores and warehouses could remain open.
“The state disparately and discriminatorily allows so-called ‘essential’ commercial and non-religious to accommodate large crowds and masses of persons without scrutiny or the 10-person limit,” the complaint states.
“Plaintiffs, their pastors, and all congregants will suffer immediate and irreparable injury from the threat of criminal prosecution for the mere act of engaging in the free exercise of religion and going to church,” the churches claim, adding that “because of the government threat of criminal sanction, plaintiffs were forced not to host services on Easter Sunday, the most treasured day in Christianity.”
Both churches did, however, hold services the Sunday after their lawsuit was filed, with Elim receiving a $500 fine for disorderly conduct from the city.
The following week U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman, a Bill Clinton appointee, denied the churches’ request for a temporary restraining order, which would have allowed them to hold in-person services during litigation.
“Plaintiffs’ request for an injunction, and their blatant refusal to follow the mandates of the order are both ill-founded and selfish. Their interest in communal services cannot and does not outweigh the health and safety of the public,” Gettleman wrote. “There is no question that the world, the country, and Illinois in particular are in the midst of a deadly pandemic of epic proportions.”
“Plaintiffs have provided no evidence that the order targets religion,” the judge said, pointing to the fact that church services and shopping and manufacturing businesses are not comparable.
“The order has nothing to do with suppressing religion and everything to do with reducing infections and saving lives,” he concluded.
The churches appealed that decision and have continued holding in-person services despite it.
“What we’re talking about here is an incidental effect,” or a neutral law that ends up affecting something like religious practices, said Geoffrey R. Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School.
“This is not a law that is directed at religion. That’s not the point of it,” Stone said in an interview. “The law is applying to all of those things that have similar risk.”
Steven Schwinn, professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago John Marshall Law School, agreed: “It’s just issuing this broadly applicable law that happens to have an effect on this particular religious practice.”
“In general the courts are very reluctant to hold laws unconstitutional for that reason,” Stone added. “Because it would be crazy in the sense that every law has the potential to be incidental.”
What the churches have to do, the professors said, is show that the governor is specifically targeting religion with his order.
“What the challengers of this law have to show is that the state intended to harm religious conduct,” said Andrew Koppelman, John Paul Stevens Professor of Law at Northwestern University.


Top Eight

Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the number of new coronavirus infections reported each day is on the rise around the world ; Stock markets finished out the week on a mildly positive note ; Michael Flynn ’ s bid to end his prosecution appeared unlikely to win D.C .
Circuit approval , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday .
1 . )
Markets were able to climb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to finish out the week on a mildly positive note .
2 . )
Declining to futz with rules that determine who makes the coveted presidential debate stage , the D.C .
Circuit sank a challenge Friday from the Libertarian and Green parties .
3 . )
Michael Flynn ’ s bid to end his prosecution , going around a federal judge to secure the recommendation of Trump ’ s Justice Department , appeared unlikely Friday to win D.C .
Circuit approval .
4 . )
Governor Andrew Cuomo repealed New York ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state funding on the line Friday as part of a reform package meant to turn the page on systemic issues of racism and excessive force .
5 . )
Oregon Governor Kate Brown ’ s ban on large church services – intended to slow the spread of Covid-19 – was within the law , the state ’ s high court ruled Friday morning .
6 . )
A black man who served as a scapegoat for a lynch mob in 1920 received Minnesota ’ s first-ever posthumous pardon Friday , 100 years after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder of three of his co-workers .
7 . )
Three months after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic , the number of new infections reported each day is climbing as the deadly virus attacks people in poorer parts of the world .
8 . )
In addressing their countries about the coronavirus pandemic , world leaders are using key parts of effective science communication : Keep your message short and simple and repeat it often .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the number of new coronavirus infections reported each day is on the rise around the world; Stock markets finished out the week on a mildly positive note; Michael Flynn’s bid to end his prosecution appeared unlikely to win D.C. Circuit approval, and more.
Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the number of new coronavirus infections reported each day is on the rise around the world; Stock markets finished out the week on a mildly positive note; Michael Flynn’s bid to end his prosecution appeared unlikely to win D.C. Circuit approval, and more.
Sign up for CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.
National
1.) Markets were able to climb partly out of Thursday’s pit to finish out the week on a mildly positive note.
People walk through Universal CityWalk, Thursday, June 11, 2020, near Universal City, Calif. The tourist attraction, which had been closed due to the coronavirus outbreak recently re-opened. The Universal Studios tour is still closed. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2.) Declining to futz with rules that determine who makes the coveted presidential debate stage, the D.C. Circuit sank a challenge Friday from the Libertarian and Green parties.
From left, Democratic presidential candidates, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC. (AP Photo/John Locher)
3.) Michael Flynn’s bid to end his prosecution, going around a federal judge to secure the recommendation of Trump’s Justice Department, appeared unlikely Friday to win D.C. Circuit approval.
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2019 file photo, Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, leaves the federal court following a status conference in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Regional
4.) Governor Andrew Cuomo repealed New York’s police secrecy law and put their state funding on the line Friday as part of a reform package meant to turn the page on systemic issues of racism and excessive force.
Joining New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for a bill-signing ceremony on June 12, were the Rev. Al Sharpton, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Leader Carl Heastie, Valerie Bell, the mother of Sean Bell; Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner; and Hazel N. Dukes is President of the NAACP New York State Conference. (Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Cuomo via Courthouse News)
5.) Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s ban on large church services – intended to slow the spread of Covid-19 – was within the law, the state’s high court ruled Friday morning.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown speaks with the media at the Capitol in Salem Monday, July 1, 2019. Brown said she’s prepared to use executive order privileges as a last resort if lawmakers can’t move forward on a climate proposal that divided the statehouse and prompted a nine-day GOP walkout. (AP Photo/Sarah Zimmerman)
6.) A black man who served as a scapegoat for a lynch mob in 1920 received Minnesota’s first-ever posthumous pardon Friday, 100 years after his conviction was used to justify the murder of three of his co-workers.
In this May 30, 2020 photo, a protestor holds up a photo of George Floyd in front of the Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Memorial as part of a large protest in Duluth, Minn. The state’s Board of Pardons, consisting of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and the chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court Lorie Skjerven Gildea, will vote Friday, June 12, to clear Max Mason of a rape case that led to the only known lynching of Black people in the state’s history 100 years ago next week. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)
International
7.) Three months after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic, the number of new infections reported each day is climbing as the deadly virus attacks people in poorer parts of the world.
A heath worker takes a nasal swab sample during a public testing for the new coronavirus conducted at a market in Bali, Indonesia on Friday, June 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
8.) In addressing their countries about the coronavirus pandemic, world leaders are using key parts of effective science communication: Keep your message short and simple and repeat it often.


courthousenews--2020-06-12--Three Months Later, Pandemic Accelerates Around World

Over 7.5 million people have contracted Covid-19 globally and more than 135,000 new cases are being reported each day .
( CN ) — Three months after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic , the number of new infections reported each day is climbing as the deadly virus attacks people in poorer parts of the world .
“ We are very much on the upswing of this pandemic in many countries , particularly in the global south , ” said Dr. Michael Ryan , the head of emergencies at WHO , during a briefing Friday at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since May 27 , more than 100,000 new cases worldwide of Covid-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the virus , have been reported each day .
The number of new cases is climbing to more than 135,000 each day , according to tracking by Worldometer .
Globally , more than 7.5 million people have tested positive for the virus and more than 423,000 deaths have been linked to it .
On March 12 , the WHO declared the virus a pandemic , causing financial markets to collapse , economies to tumble into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country after country imposed lockdowns and shut down society to contain the spread of the virus .
The declaration of a pandemic also unleashed what many are calling a new Cold War as the United States and China , already engaged in a trade war before the pandemic , try to come out ahead of their rival in this global crisis .
The virus emerged in China in December , but the authoritarian Chinese regime managed to suppress the virus before it got out of hand .
So far , China has reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , making the country where the virus began paradoxically one of the least affected .
China continues to be wary of a resurgence and this week a few new cases in Beijing led to a delay in schools reopening .
When the pandemic was declared in March , the virus was ravaging Iran and Europe .
Soon Europe found itself in an epoch battle that many political leaders called the continent ’ s greatest challenge since World War II .
Since March , the virus has killed more than 180,000 people across Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By the middle of May , Europe had the virus mostly under control and life is slowly returning to normal with sporting events returning and bars , restaurants and city streets once again swelling with people – though most are wearing masks now .
However , the virus continues to batter the United Kingdom , where more than 41,500 people have died , the most in Europe .
The U.K. continues to report more than 1,000 new cases a day , by far the most in Europe .
Shortly after Europe was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , the United States discovered its own outbreaks .
So far , more than 116,000 people have died in the U.S. and more than 2 million people have been found infected .
The U.S. remains a hot spot with more than 19,000 new infections reported each day .
Russia too was hard hit and continues to report more than 8,000 new infections a day , bringing its total infected population to more than a half million .
But Russia ’ s death toll is low at about 6,700 , likely in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who dies from the virus .
By the end of April , the microbe had begun a ferocious attack on South and Central America and it continues to wreak havoc in many countries in the Americas .
So far , more than 72,700 people have died in countries south of the United States , according to a tracker kept by Johns Hopkins University .
Brazil is the hardest hit country with nearly 41,000 dead and more than 800,000 reported infections .
Most recently , India has become the new hot spot with reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths have been reported in India and about 310,000 cases .
It is now reporting more than 10,000 new cases a day .
As the pandemic accelerates in poorer regions of the world , the WHO ’ s director-general pleaded Friday for more cooperation and unity in the fight against the pandemic .
“ We ’ re truly concerned , actually , because the world is divided , ” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
“ The world has never seen anything like this since the flu in 1918 , which is more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referring to the Spanish flu that killed up to 50 million people .
“ This is a very dangerous virus and it ’ s very hard to fight this kind of virus in a divided world.
” Efforts to contain the virus are being hampered by political leaders – at the moment , those in the United States , Brazil and Mexico – downplaying the threat of the virus and pushing economies to keep ticking .
Tedros said bringing the pandemic under control by the end of this year or “ anytime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a divided world.
” “ That ’ s why , from day one , we ’ ve been calling for national unity and global solidarity , ” he said .
Tedros said cooperation is needed to limit the economic damage caused by the virus , which he said is even worse than the health crisis .
“ It is something that is causing serious damage to lives and livelihoods , and this has to stop , ” he said .
“ We see its impact on health , or on lives , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more serious.
” He said “ an invisible but a very small virus ” causing so much havoc “ should be a humbling moment ” for “ any nation weak or strong , poor or rich.
” “ So that ’ s why we ’ re saying enough is enough , ” he said .
“ Our fear is , as we have said , although it ’ s declining in Europe it ’ s increasing in other parts of the world .
And even Europe can not be safe because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No one is safe until everyone is safe.
” Ryan , the WHO emergencies chief , warned some countries that lifted lockdowns “ are having difficulties in exiting ” and are “ seeing increases in cases again.
” To avoid the need to reimpose severe lockdowns , he said countries need to be able to quickly understand where and why new cases of infection are happening .
“ That comes down to the granularity of your data , ” he said .
“ Do you know where the virus is ?
Can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing or decreasing ?
Do you have that knowledge ?
And within that can you make an intervention at a geographic level that allows you to take increased measures without affecting the whole population ?
” Achieving that kind of targeted approach comes down to having the ability “ to test , track and trace ” the virus and know how “ it ’ s spreading through communities , ” he said .
“ It ’ s very easy for me to sit here and say that , ” Ryan said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any circumstance .
But it is the only way to sustain the next number of months while we wait for other interventions.
” He added : “ We really hope we have an effective vaccine in time , but there are no guarantees .
We have to learn to live with this virus , we have to find a balance of controlling this virus against the damage , economically and socially , of controlling this virus.
” Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union .

Three months after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic, the number of new infections reported each day is climbing as the deadly virus attacks people in poorer parts of the world.
(CN) — Three months after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic, the number of new infections reported each day is climbing as the deadly virus attacks people in poorer parts of the world.
“We are very much on the upswing of this pandemic in many countries, particularly in the global south,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, the head of emergencies at WHO, during a briefing Friday at the agency's Geneva headquarters.
Since May 27, more than 100,000 new cases worldwide of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, have been reported each day. The number of new cases is climbing to more than 135,000 each day, according to tracking by Worldometer. Globally, more than 7.5 million people have tested positive for the virus and more than 423,000 deaths have been linked to it.
On March 12, the WHO declared the virus a pandemic, causing financial markets to collapse, economies to tumble into recession and upending billions of lives as country after country imposed lockdowns and shut down society to contain the spread of the virus.
The declaration of a pandemic also unleashed what many are calling a new Cold War as the United States and China, already engaged in a trade war before the pandemic, try to come out ahead of their rival in this global crisis.
The virus emerged in China in December, but the authoritarian Chinese regime managed to suppress the virus before it got out of hand. So far, China has reported 4,638 virus-related deaths and about 84,200 infections, making the country where the virus began paradoxically one of the least affected. China continues to be wary of a resurgence and this week a few new cases in Beijing led to a delay in schools reopening.
When the pandemic was declared in March, the virus was ravaging Iran and Europe. Soon Europe found itself in an epoch battle that many political leaders called the continent's greatest challenge since World War II. Since March, the virus has killed more than 180,000 people across Europe, including Russia and other eastern countries.
By the middle of May, Europe had the virus mostly under control and life is slowly returning to normal with sporting events returning and bars, restaurants and city streets once again swelling with people – though most are wearing masks now. However, the virus continues to batter the United Kingdom, where more than 41,500 people have died, the most in Europe. The U.K. continues to report more than 1,000 new cases a day, by far the most in Europe.
People wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus walk an outdoor book market set up in Red Square with a Historical museum in the background in Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Muscovites clad in face masks and gloves ventured into Red Square for an outdoor book market, a small sign of the Russian capital's gradual efforts to open up amid coronavirus concerns. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr)
Shortly after Europe was shocked to find itself besieged by the virus, the United States discovered its own outbreaks. So far, more than 116,000 people have died in the U.S. and more than 2 million people have been found infected. The U.S. remains a hot spot with more than 19,000 new infections reported each day.
Russia too was hard hit and continues to report more than 8,000 new infections a day, bringing its total infected population to more than a half million. But Russia's death toll is low at about 6,700, likely in part due to the way it is counting who dies from the virus.
By the end of April, the microbe had begun a ferocious attack on South and Central America and it continues to wreak havoc in many countries in the Americas. So far, more than 72,700 people have died in countries south of the United States, according to a tracker kept by Johns Hopkins University. Brazil is the hardest hit country with nearly 41,000 dead and more than 800,000 reported infections.
Most recently, India has become the new hot spot with reports that hospitals are overwhelmed. About 8,890 deaths have been reported in India and about 310,000 cases. It is now reporting more than 10,000 new cases a day.
As the pandemic accelerates in poorer regions of the world, the WHO's director-general pleaded Friday for more cooperation and unity in the fight against the pandemic.
“We're truly concerned, actually, because the world is divided,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“The world has never seen anything like this since the flu in 1918, which is more than 100 years ago,” he said, referring to the Spanish flu that killed up to 50 million people. “This is a very dangerous virus and it's very hard to fight this kind of virus in a divided world.”
Efforts to contain the virus are being hampered by political leaders – at the moment, those in the United States, Brazil and Mexico – downplaying the threat of the virus and pushing economies to keep ticking.
A woman wearing a face mask walks near a banner showing precautions against the new coronavirus at an exhibition and convention center in Goyang, South Korea, Friday, June 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Tedros said bringing the pandemic under control by the end of this year or “anytime soon” will be “difficult in a divided world.”
“That's why, from day one, we've been calling for national unity and global solidarity,” he said.
Tedros said cooperation is needed to limit the economic damage caused by the virus, which he said is even worse than the health crisis.
“It is something that is causing serious damage to lives and livelihoods, and this has to stop,” he said. “We see its impact on health, or on lives, but it's impact on livelihoods is even more serious.”
He said “an invisible but a very small virus” causing so much havoc “should be a humbling moment” for “any nation weak or strong, poor or rich.”
“So that's why we're saying enough is enough,” he said. “Our fear is, as we have said, although it's declining in Europe it's increasing in other parts of the world. And even Europe cannot be safe because the virus can be reintroduced even into Europe. No one is safe until everyone is safe.”
Ryan, the WHO emergencies chief, warned some countries that lifted lockdowns “are having difficulties in exiting” and are “seeing increases in cases again.”
To avoid the need to reimpose severe lockdowns, he said countries need to be able to quickly understand where and why new cases of infection are happening.
“That comes down to the granularity of your data,” he said. “Do you know where the virus is? Can you tell specifically where the virus is increasing or decreasing? Do you have that knowledge? And within that can you make an intervention at a geographic level that allows you to take increased measures without affecting the whole population?”
Achieving that kind of targeted approach comes down to having the ability “to test, track and trace” the virus and know how “it's spreading through communities,” he said.
“It's very easy for me to sit here and say that,” Ryan said. “That is very difficult to achieve in any circumstance. But it is the only way to sustain the next number of months while we wait for other interventions.”
He added: “We really hope we have an effective vaccine in time, but there are no guarantees. We have to learn to live with this virus, we have to find a balance of controlling this virus against the damage, economically and socially, of controlling this virus.”
Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union.


Gaming Kiosks

MADISON , Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a ruling against a video gaming machine company whose gaming kiosks @ @ @ @ @ and seized by law enforcement .
The kiosks can be used for non-gambling purposes but @ @ @ @ @ customers who pay to play a game in which they can win or lose cash @ @ @ @ @


Climate Action Plan

SAN DIEGO — An appeals court in California upheld an order compelling the County of San Diego to vacate its @ @ @ @ @ Plan , finding a measure allowing the purchase of foreign carbon offset credits is not @ @ @ @ @ comply with the California Environmental Quality Act .


Churches and Casinos

LAS VEGAS — A federal court in Nevada denied a church ’ s emergency motion for a temporary restraining order @ @ @ @ @ to resume in-person services of more than 50 people .
The church argues that casinos @ @ @ @ @ to operate at 50 % capacity but the court points out that casinos are subject @ @ @ @ @ and oversight ” than places of worship .


Unequal Time

Sometimes I don ’ t know how to react — which , I know , is a reaction itself but I ’ d rather not be confused thinking about that .
Anyway , I mention this because I had a confused nonreaction/reaction recently to a New York Times piece about bias at the U.S. Supreme Court .
The article is by two law professors who decided to listen to 10 phone oral arguments , time the speakers , and keep score .
It turns out that male justices talk longer and interrupt more than female justices .
Republican-appointed justices did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t say this is surprising .
We men are genetically obnoxious and annoying .
You can decide for yourself whether Republicans or Democrats are more obnoxious and annoying .
You have to be impressed that someone took a stopwatch ( or did some Mississippi counting ) to hours and hours of legalese .
I ’ m guessing some hapless law students were forced into this , but it ’ s still amazing .
Yet , what ’ s the point ?
We learned that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ( from her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconds less per questioning period than Justice Brett Kavanaugh ( who may or may not have been having a beer ) .
The takeaway for the clocking researchers was : “ Ten seconds may not sound like much , but is more than enough time to get out an additional question or at least a remark about how an advocate ’ s claims are unpersuasive.
” If only there had been an extra 10 seconds of questioning , the real murderer would have confessed !
In other words , does this really matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes if speaking times and interruptions were exactly even ?
It ’ s possible , I guess .
I do get that gender and political bias matter , but do we learn anything from timing talking ?
I don ’ t know how to react or not react by claiming not to react .
What I would like to see , though , is a study timing researchers who do timing .
We may learn that some of us are way too bored .
Focus .
These are tough , trying times and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention and concentrate on what ’ s important .
So The New York Times article recently about the president of the United States perhaps not paying full attention to briefings probably shouldn ’ t have been surprising .
Said the Times : “ Briefing him has been so great a challenge compared with his predecessors that the intelligence agencies have hired outside consultants to study how better to present information to him.
” Fortunately , I can help with this .
My wife teaches kindergarten and since she ’ s stuck at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve learned some valuable techniques that should be passed on to the White House .
Singing is a great way to get class or presidential attention .
There ’ s a reason why the alphabet is the lyrics to a song .
Catchy tunes get stuck in your head .
Do any of you not know the phone number for Kars4Kids ?
Visual aids help too .
A rhino wearing a hat and driving a bus or a Victoria ’ s Secret model flying over missile bases conveys memorable information and keeps your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student or president is eating during class or picking a nose , you need to point this out immediately .
Politely let them know they can do these things during lunch or recess .
If the bad behavior continues , tell them that recess could be canceled .
Demonstrate methods and results .
Students can watch you mix ingredients one day and see the bread you made the next day .
A president can watch you give a CEO a tax cut and then see the CEO buy a nice new mansion the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president with questions about what they ’ ve learned lets you know who ’ s been keeping up .
You may not be able to get through to all of them but at least you know who needs special attention .
And , finally , make certain there ’ s an adult in the room .
Everyone needs emotional support .
Someone please forward this to the appropriate intelligence agencies .

Sometimes I don’t know how to react — which, I know, is a reaction itself but I’d rather not be confused thinking about that. Anyway, I mention this because I had a confused nonreaction/reaction recently to a New York Times piece about bias at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Courthouse News columnist; racehorse owner and breeder; one of those guys who always got picked last.
Sometimes I don’t know how to react — which, I know, is a reaction itself but I’d rather not be confused thinking about that. Anyway, I mention this because I had a confused nonreaction/reaction recently to a New York Times piece about bias at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The article is by two law professors who decided to listen to 10 phone oral arguments, time the speakers, and keep score. It turns out that male justices talk longer and interrupt more than female justices. Republican-appointed justices did more interrupting than Democrat-appointed justices.
I can’t say this is surprising. We men are genetically obnoxious and annoying. You can decide for yourself whether Republicans or Democrats are more obnoxious and annoying.
You have to be impressed that someone took a stopwatch (or did some Mississippi counting) to hours and hours of legalese. I’m guessing some hapless law students were forced into this, but it’s still amazing.
Yet, what’s the point? We learned that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (from her hospital bed) got more than 10 seconds less per questioning period than Justice Brett Kavanaugh (who may or may not have been having a beer). The takeaway for the clocking researchers was: “Ten seconds may not sound like much, but is more than enough time to get out an additional question or at least a remark about how an advocate’s claims are unpersuasive.”
If only there had been an extra 10 seconds of questioning, the real murderer would have confessed!
In other words, does this really matter? Would any justices have changed their votes if speaking times and interruptions were exactly even? It’s possible, I guess.
I do get that gender and political bias matter, but do we learn anything from timing talking? I don’t know how to react or not react by claiming not to react.
What I would like to see, though, is a study timing researchers who do timing. We may learn that some of us are way too bored.
Focus. These are tough, trying times and sometimes it’s hard to pay attention and concentrate on what’s important. So The New York Times article recently about the president of the United States perhaps not paying full attention to briefings probably shouldn’t have been surprising.
Said the Times: “Briefing him has been so great a challenge compared with his predecessors that the intelligence agencies have hired outside consultants to study how better to present information to him.”
Fortunately, I can help with this. My wife teaches kindergarten and since she’s stuck at home these days teaching online, I’ve learned some valuable techniques that should be passed on to the White House.
Singing is a great way to get class or presidential attention. There’s a reason why the alphabet is the lyrics to a song. Catchy tunes get stuck in your head. Do any of you not know the phone number for Kars4Kids?
Visual aids help too. A rhino wearing a hat and driving a bus or a Victoria’s Secret model flying over missile bases conveys memorable information and keeps your students or president awake.
If a student or president is eating during class or picking a nose, you need to point this out immediately. Politely let them know they can do these things during lunch or recess. If the bad behavior continues, tell them that recess could be canceled.
(Note: I’m told if you’re teaching in person, options include telling the student or president to stand behind a red line or report to the principal for bad behavior. You can offer treats for completing assignments. This needs to be done carefully, however — you don’t want to set off a tantrum or a nuclear war.)
Demonstrate methods and results. Students can watch you mix ingredients one day and see the bread you made the next day. A president can watch you give a CEO a tax cut and then see the CEO buy a nice new mansion the next day.
Calling on students or the president with questions about what they’ve learned lets you know who’s been keeping up. You may not be able to get through to all of them but at least you know who needs special attention.
And, finally, make certain there’s an adult in the room. Everyone needs emotional support.
Someone please forward this to the appropriate intelligence agencies.


courthousenews--2020-06-15--George Floyd Protest Signs to Be Curated for Museum Exhibits

Three Washington , D.C.-area museums are collaborating on preserving signs from the George Floyd protests .
WASHINGTON ( CN ) — The demands for an end to police brutality and protection of civil rights for Black Americans on signs clutched by protesters as they marched on the nation ’ s capital are finding their way to historic preservation .
The African American History and Culture Museum , the American History Museum and the Anacostia Museum have formed a coalition with staff , activists and members of the community curating remnants of a movement long simmering but reignited after George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chauvin on May 25 , on video .
Signs and other ephemera were plastered for days along steel fences erected at the northern flank of the White House .
As the barricades came down , grassroots calls for conservation went up and many of the messages adorning Black Lives Matter Plaza — newly renamed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser — were relocated by hand half a block away as activists and curators began engaging .
Aaron Bryant , a curator for the National Museum of African American History and Culture , told Courthouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done by cultivating relationships with the people driving it .
“ There is a sincere respect for people ’ s humanity as well as understanding and having concern for their needs and respect for their expectations , ” he said .
Bryant spent a few days at Lafayette Square , the scene of weeks of demonstrations , viewing signs with other curators and artists and organizations that put some of the demonstrations together .
Relying on a “ network of people we know , personal friends or family , or organizations , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what could go on display in museums and why .
For now , the museum is refraining from revealing which signs will be exhibited or which artists are in talks with the coalition .
“ We haven ’ t collected anything yet .
We are investigating and looking at potential objects for the collection , ” Bryant said .
The review process has been complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic as the museum is closed .
When it reopens , review and assessment will continue .
“ We have to do research on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we would present to a collections committee and then the committee votes , ” Bryant said .
They also will seek permission from the donors .
The approval process will involve committee hearings and votes , much like nearby Congress .
While the raw expression of the movement is being preserved by the museums , the House this week begins grappling with its legislative response in the newly introduced Justice in Policing Act of 2020 .
Springing up after protests engulfed Washington , the bill would require racial bias training for state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of chokeholds and modify accountability , liability and transparency standards for officers .
It also tackles qualified immunity as a defense to civil actions against police , making it easier for people to litigate misconduct — something protesters have made integral to their demands .
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund president Sherrilyn Ifill testified to Congress last week that by amending a statute outlining the basis for civil actions challenging the deprivation of rights , the new bill would work toward drastically reshaping qualified immunity , an issue which from 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by officers in 57 % of civil cases filed against them for excessive force , she said .
George Floyd ’ s brother , Philonise Floyd , told the House Judiciary Committee on June 10 that it was the duty of lawmakers to pass legislation that fostered true reform , ensuring that his brother did not die in vain .
“ The people elected you to speak for them , to make positive change .
George ’ s name means something .
You have the opportunity here to make your names mean something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a curator of visual culture for the African American and Culture Museum , Bryant said he wants the messages left behind to “ mean something.
” As he pores over signs , murals and other art heralding calls to respect human rights and dignity , reform the police and end systemic racism , he thought of an aging actor he knew while working at a theater in Connecticut .
“ He said he enjoyed the process of learning about the character … and each night he gets out on stage and learns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanity .
If he ’ s lucky , he can help the audience do the same , ” Bryant said .
“ But if he ’ s really lucky , he learns something about his own humanity.
” What comes next , be it in one year or 50 , will be a showcase of the unfiltered messages protesters left for history to weigh .
Like the opportunity to step into another person ’ s experience cherished by his elder actor friend , Bryant said he hopes any resulting exhibits prompt a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the story help people connect not just to the humanity behind these artifacts but connect to their own ?
” he said .

The demands for an end to police brutality and protection of civil rights for black Americans on signs clutched by protesters as they marched on the nation’s capital are finding their way to historic preservation.
WASHINGTON (CN) — The demands for an end to police brutality and protection of civil rights for black Americans on signs clutched by protesters as they marched on the nation’s capital are finding their way to historic preservation.
The African American History and Culture Museum, the American History Museum and the Anacostia Museum have formed a coalition with staff, activists and members of the community curating remnants of a movement long simmering but reignited after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, on video.
Signs and other ephemera were plastered for days along steel fences erected at the northern flank of the White House. As the barricades came down, grassroots calls for conservation went up and many of the messages adorning Black Lives Matter Plaza — newly renamed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser — were relocated by hand half a block away as activists and curators began engaging.
Aaron Bryant, a curator for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, told Courthouse News that preserving the movement respectfully was done by cultivating relationships with the people driving it.
“There is a sincere respect for people’s humanity as well as understanding and having concern for their needs and respect for their expectations,” he said.
Bryant spent a few days at Lafayette Square, the scene of weeks of demonstrations, viewing signs with other curators and artists and organizations that put some of the demonstrations together.
Relying on a “network of people we know, personal friends or family, or organizations,” he said, facilitates a broader discussion about what could go on display in museums and why.
Scaffolding has become temporary home for hundreds of protest signs demonstrators carried through Washington, D.C. after the police killing of George Floyd. (Courthouse News photo/Brandi Buchman & Jack Rodgers)
For now, the museum is refraining from revealing which signs will be exhibited or which artists are in talks with the coalition.
“We haven’t collected anything yet. We are investigating and looking at potential objects for the collection,” Bryant said.
The review process has been complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic as the museum is closed. When it reopens, review and assessment will continue.
“We have to do research on the artifact, put together a presentation that we would present to a collections committee and then the committee votes,” Bryant said. They also will seek permission from the donors.
The approval process will involve committee hearings and votes, much like nearby Congress. While the raw expression of the movement is being preserved by the museums, the House this week begins grappling with its legislative response in the newly introduced Justice in Policing Act of 2020.
Springing up after protests engulfed Washington, the bill would require racial bias training for state and local police departments, ban the use of chokeholds and modify accountability, liability and transparency standards for officers.
It also tackles qualified immunity as a defense to civil actions against police, making it easier for people to litigate misconduct — something protesters have made integral to their demands.
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund president Sherrilyn Ifill testified to Congress last week that by amending a statute outlining the basis for civil actions challenging the deprivation of rights, the new bill would work toward drastically reshaping qualified immunity, an issue which from 2017 to 2019 in appellate courts was used by officers in 57% of civil cases filed against them for excessive force, she said.
An artist paints over a plywood-cover door. (Courthouse News photo/Brandi Buchman & Jack Rodgers)
George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, told the House Judiciary Committee on June 10 that it was the duty of lawmakers to pass legislation that fostered true reform, ensuring that his brother did not die in vain.
“The people elected you to speak for them, to make positive change. George’s name means something. You have the opportunity here to make your names mean something, too,” he said.
As a curator of visual culture for the African American and Culture Museum, Bryant said he wants the messages left behind to “mean something.”
As he pores over signs, murals and other art heralding calls to respect human rights and dignity, reform the police and end systemic racism, he thought of an aging actor he knew while working at a theater in Connecticut.
“He said he enjoyed the process of learning about the character … and each night he gets out on stage and learns a different thing about them and their humanity. If he’s lucky, he can help the audience do the same,” Bryant said. “But if he’s really lucky, he learns something about his own humanity.”
What comes next, be it in one year or 50, will be a showcase of the unfiltered messages protesters left for history to weigh.
Like the opportunity to step into another person’s experience cherished by his elder actor friend, Bryant said he hopes any resulting exhibits prompt a similar meditation.
“How does this part of the story help people connect not just to the humanity behind these artifacts but connect to their own?” he said.


courthousenews--2020-06-16--Cries for Police Budget Reform Ring Loud as DC Heads Into Fourth Week of Protests

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Two weeks since law enforcement officers dispersed peaceful protesters in D.C. with flash-bang grenades and chemical irritants , protesters marched from the White House to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial calling for police reform .
Civil rights groups have denounced the use of force , like what was used against protesters demonstrating on June 1 outside the White House to clear the way for President Donald Trump to pose outside St. John ’ s Episcopal Church for a photo while holding a Bible .
Cities across the country have seen weeks of protests following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black man , in Minneapolis .
Kyla Booker , a D.C. resident and student at Marymount University , said the use of force by police against peaceful protestors gave her flashbacks to the 1960s .
“ We need to be looking at how we can enact policy change , ” Booker said , standing in the historic Lafayette Square on Monday evening , where protesters fled from officers in riot gear two weeks ago .
The fallout to Attorney General William Barr ordering law enforcement to disperse the protest followed almost immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sued Trump and Barr in federal court , and America ’ s top military official publicly apologized for taking part in the photo-op .
Crowds increased outside St. John ’ s in the days following the violent clash between law enforcement and protesters , with demonstrations continuing in the street now blocked off and adorned with street performers and ice cream vendors .
“ The crowds only got larger and larger as the days went by , ” said Sean Blackmon , a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week of protests in the nation ’ s capital , expected to catalyze Friday with various demonstrations planned for June 19 , or Juneteenth , which marks the Emancipation Proclamation in the U.S. Members from Freedom Fighters D.C. — a predominantly black-led group of activists focused on police reform — gathered Monday morning in Freedom Plaza to begin a 36-hour sit-in near D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser ’ s office to demand cuts to the Metropolitan Police Department .
The D.C. Council met virtually on Monday to discuss its proposed police budget .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3.3 % increase in funding to the department , a total of $ 578 million .
More than 500 people signed up to give testimony before the council on Monday .
Blackmon , who marched outside the White House hours later , spoke remotely to the council members , calling for them to defund police and reinvest in housing , healthcare , and other critical services for the district ’ s black residents .
“ We have to keep this pressure up on the D.C. Council , and on Muriel Bowser , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas , ” he said .
“ And we also got ta stay in the streets , what we ’ re doing right now .
Last week , the council voted to ban the police department from using tear gas against demonstrators along with a litany of other policing reforms , including a ban on the use of chokeholds and other neck restraints .
The council is set to vote on the final budget on June 25 .
“ We are here to demand that that money be reallocated towards mental health services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and securities , those types of services in order to help the public instead of just policing us , ” said Jacqueline LaBayne , one of seven Freedom Fighters D.C. founders , in an interview Monday .
Freedom Fighters D.C. has a list of budget demands for how the council should reallocate funding , including a provision to send $ 4.6 million to “ community-centered , public health approaches to violence interruption.
” Another item asks that the council members “ never again vote to increase police funding or to increase the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arianna Evans say the militarized policing of demonstrators in D.C. was unnecessary .
“ Over-policing does not make you safer , ” Evans said .
“ We need to defund the police and refund the community .
We need to refund black health care , we need to refund black education , and we need to focus more on community reform then policing the people that are in the community.
” With national police budgets totaling more than $ 100 billion in 2017 , according to an Urban Institute study , LaBayne says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to invest in large-scale programs to benefit communities .
She also noted that $ 100 billion could pay the college tuition of every American .
“ People get defunding and completely abolished confused , ” she said .
“ Defunding is just the redistribution of funds .
We ’ re not just going to wake up one day , and the police are going to be gone , and chaos is going to erupt ; that ’ s not going to happen at all .
It ’ s a very slow-moving process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cries for racial justice and police reform are no longer isolated outside the White House and are now making their way up Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill with debate expected later this week on the Democrat-proposed bill for sweeping police reform .
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony from George Floyd ’ s brother last week and is expected to debate the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 on Wednesday in a markup hearing .
The legislation answers the call for a nationwide ban on chokeholds and an end to racial profiling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation moves toward more equitable policing by instilling new accountability , liability , and transparency standards .
The bill outlines plans to mandate racial bias training for local and state police departments , and mandatory body cameras on federal police officers and vehicles .
It also tackles an integral demand from protesters by doing away with qualified immunity for law enforcement and opening the door for individuals to recover damages in civil lawsuits when officers violate their constitutional rights .
Senators Tim Scott , R-S.C. , and James Lankford , R-Okla. , stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in favor of some portions of legislation targeting excessive force by police .
But Scott said Sunday on CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation ” that provisions targeting qualified immunity would be a poison pill for Republicans — echoing the president reportedly telling senators that the issue was “ off the table.
” GOP legislation is expected to focus on recruiting more black law enforcement officers and on addressing the mental health toll related to policing .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-K.Y .
said from the Senate floor Monday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection for police officers .
“ Under the leadership of Senator Tim Scott , our conference is developing a serious proposal to reform law enforcement in smart ways without lashing out needlessly and counterproductively at the first responders who are a credit to their communities , ” McConnell said .

Two weeks since law enforcement officers dispersed peaceful protesters in D.C. with flash-bang grenades and chemical irritants, protesters marched from the White House to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial calling for police reform.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Two weeks since law enforcement officers dispersed peaceful them with flash-bang grenades and chemical irritants, protesters marched from the White House to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial calling for police reform.
Civil rights groups have denounced the use of force, like what was used against protesters on June 1 outside the White House to clear the way for President Donald Trump to pose outside St. John’s Episcopal Church for a photo while holding a Bible. Cities across the country have seen weeks of protests following the police killing of George Floyd, a black man, in Minneapolis.
Kyla Booker, a Washington resident and student at Marymount University, said the use of force by police against peaceful protestors gave her flashbacks to the 1960s.
“We need to be looking at how we can enact policy change,” Booker said, standing in the historic Lafayette Square on Monday evening, where protesters fled from officers in riot gear two weeks ago.
The fallout to Attorney General William Barr ordering law enforcement to disperse the protest followed almost immediately. Black Lives Matter and the ACLU have sued Trump and Barr in federal court, and America’s top military official publicly apologized for taking part in the photo-op.
Crowds increased outside St. John’s in the days following the violent clash between law enforcement and protesters, with demonstrations continuing in the street now blocked off and adorned with street performers and ice cream vendors.
“The crowds only got larger and larger as the days went by,” said Sean Blackmon, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, while marching.
Monday marked the fourth week of protests in the nation’s capital, expected to catalyze Friday with various demonstrations planned for June 19, or Juneteenth, which marks the Emancipation Proclamation in the U.S.
Members from Freedom Fighters D.C. — a predominantly black-led group of activists focused on police reform — gathered Monday morning in Freedom Plaza to begin a 36-hour sit-in near Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s office to demand cuts to the Metropolitan Police Department.
The D.C. Council met virtually on Monday to discuss its proposed police budget. For 2021, Bowser has recommended a 3.3% increase in funding to the department, a total of $578 million.
More than 500 people signed up to give testimony before the council on Monday.
Blackmon, who marched outside the White House hours later, spoke remotely to the council members, calling for them to defund police and reinvest in housing, health care and other critical services for the district’s black residents.
“We have to keep this pressure up on the D.C. Council, and on Muriel Bowser, we have to keep our foot on the gas,” he said. “And we also gotta stay in the streets, what we’re doing right now."
Last week, the council voted to ban the police department from using tear gas against demonstrators along with a litany of other policing reforms, including a ban on the use of chokeholds and other neck restraints.
The council is set to vote on the final budget on June 25.
“We are here to demand that that money be reallocated towards mental health services, education, food, and housing and securities, those types of services in order to help the public instead of just policing us,” said Jacqueline LaBayne, one of seven Freedom Fighters D.C. founders, in an interview Monday.
Protesters gathered in the shadow of the Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., building Monday, preparing for a 36-hour sit-in demonstration, to advocate for funding reforms. (Courthouse News photo/Jack Rodgers)
Freedom Fighters D.C. has a list of budget demands for how the council should reallocate funding, including a provision to send $4.6 million to “community-centered, public health approaches to violence interruption." Another item asks that the council members “never again vote to increase police funding or to increase the police department’s budget.”
Protesters like Arianna Evans say the militarized policing of demonstrators in Washington was unnecessary.
“Overpolicing does not make you safer,” Evans said. “We need to defund the police and re-fund the community. We need to re-fund black health care, we need to re-fund black education, and we need to focus more on community reform then policing the people that are in the community.”
With national police budgets totaling more than $100 billion in 2017, according to an Urban Institute study, LaBayne says reallocating these funds would be more than enough to invest in large-scale programs to benefit communities. She also noted that $100 billion could pay the college tuition of every American.
“People get defunding and completely abolished confused,” she said. “Defunding is just the redistribution of funds. We’re not just going to wake up one day, and the police are going to be gone, and chaos is going to erupt; that’s not going to happen at all. It’s a very slow-moving process of redistributing these funds to these services.”
Cries for racial justice and police reform are no longer isolated outside the White House and are now making their way up Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill with debate expected later this week on the Democrat-proposed bill for sweeping police reform.
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony from George Floyd's brother last week and is expected to debate the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 on Wednesday in a markup hearing.
The legislation answers the call for a nationwide ban on chokeholds and an end to racial profiling by law enforcement. Democrats argue the legislation moves toward more equitable policing by instilling new accountability, liability, and transparency standards.
The bill outlines plans to mandate racial bias training for local and state police departments, and mandatory body cameras on federal police officers and vehicles. It also tackles an integral demand from protesters by doing away with qualified immunity for law enforcement and opening the door for individuals to recover damages in civil lawsuits when officers violate their constitutional rights.
Republican Senators Tim Scott and James Lankford stated over the weekend that GOP lawmakers are in favor of some portions of legislation targeting excessive force by police.
But Scott said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that provisions targeting qualified immunity would be a poison pill for Republicans — echoing the president reportedly telling senators that the issue was “off the table.” GOP legislation is expected to focus on recruiting more black law enforcement officers and on addressing the mental health toll related to policing.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said from the Senate floor Monday that a GOP-led police reform bill will safeguard protection for police officers.
“Under the leadership of Senator Tim Scott, our conference is developing a serious proposal to reform law enforcement in smart ways without lashing out needlessly and counterproductively at the first responders who are a credit to their communities,” McConnell said.


courthousenews--2020-06-16--President Trump to Sign Police Reform Executive Order

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — As Congress prepares its own police reform initiatives , President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order Tuesday aimed at incentivizing police departments to adopt new use of force standards and participate in a national police misconduct database .
“ The overall goal is we want law and order and we want it done fairly , justly , we want it done safely , ” Trump said Monday at the White House .
“ But we want law and order .
It ’ s about law and order .
But it ’ s about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety.
” As detailed by senior administration officials on Monday afternoon , the executive order that Trump will unveil on Tuesday is more narrow than the reforms currently being debated in Congress .
The order will incentivize police departments to adopt updated use of force standards , participate in a nationwide database tracking officers accused of misconduct and adopting policies allowing social workers to respond to non-violent incidents , especially those involving mental health , drug addiction and homelessness , the administration officials said .
Certain details of how the executive order will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration officials said the order will generally make it so the federal government weighs those reforms when making decisions on awarding grants to departments .
The executive order comes amid ongoing nationwide protests against racial disparities in policing spurred on by the death of George Floyd , a 46-year-old man who died in police custody in Minneapolis last month .
The protests have renewed calls for federal police reform legislation and congressional Democrats last week unveiled a sweeping package that would ban chokeholds , set up a nation-wide registry to track police misconduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cameras and change the federal standard for police misconduct .
The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark up its reform package on Wednesday and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina is working on a reform plan for Senate Republicans .
Appearing on “ Meet the Press ” Sunday , Scott expressed confidence that his reform efforts will succeed .
“ I think we ’ re going to get to a bill that actually becomes law , ” Scott said .
The bill from House Democrats would also alter qualified immunity , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuits over excessive force .
Though the idea of reforming the doctrine is popular with advocates , it is considered a poison pill for Republicans in Congress and the White House .
A senior administration official on Monday reiterated that Trump would not support any package that reforms qualified immunity and suggested the same would be true even if Congress were to pass a bill that included the reforms within the executive order Trump will sign Tuesday .
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up cases urging the court to reconsider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislative branch .

As Congress prepares its own police reform initiatives, President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order Tuesday aimed at incentivizing police departments to adopt new use of force standards and participate in a national police misconduct database.
WASHINGTON (CN) — As Congress prepares its own police reform initiatives, President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order Tuesday aimed at incentivizing police departments to adopt new use of force standards and participate in a national police misconduct database.
“The overall goal is we want law and order and we want it done fairly, justly, we want it done safely,” Trump said Monday at the White House. “But we want law and order. It’s about law and order. But it’s about justice also and it’s about safety.”
As detailed by senior administration officials on Monday afternoon, the executive order that Trump will unveil on Tuesday is more narrow than the reforms currently being debated in Congress.
The order will incentivize police departments to adopt updated use of force standards, participate in a nationwide database tracking officers accused of misconduct and adopting policies allowing social workers to respond to non-violent incidents, especially those involving mental health, drug addiction and homelessness, the administration officials said.
Certain details of how the executive order will be implemented remain unclear, but the administration officials said the order will generally make it so the federal government weighs those reforms when making decisions on awarding grants to departments.
The executive order comes amid ongoing nationwide protests against racial disparities in policing spurred on by the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old man who died in police custody in Minneapolis last month.
The protests have renewed calls for federal police reform legislation and congressional Democrats last week unveiled a sweeping package that would ban chokeholds, set up a nation-wide registry to track police misconduct complaints, require the use of body cameras and change the federal standard for police misconduct.
The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark up its reform package on Wednesday and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina is working on a reform plan for Senate Republicans. Appearing on “Meet the Press” Sunday, Scott expressed confidence that his reform efforts will succeed.
“I think we’re going to get to a bill that actually becomes law,” Scott said.
The bill from House Democrats would also alter qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that shields police from civil lawsuits over excessive force. Though the idea of reforming the doctrine is popular with advocates, it is considered a poison pill for Republicans in Congress and the White House.
A senior administration official on Monday reiterated that Trump would not support any package that reforms qualified immunity and suggested the same would be true even if Congress were to pass a bill that included the reforms within the executive order Trump will sign Tuesday.
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up cases urging the court to reconsider the doctrine, putting the effort in the legislative branch.