Articles about Legal

Exclusive: Greens MLC Sue Higginson tells parliament that Corrective Services knew things ‘which made it very clear they had monitored our conversation’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA New South Wales parliamentarian has alleged prison officers unlawfully listened to her calls with inmates and then threatened those who had sought her help.The Greens’ justice spokesperson, Sue Higginson, alleged that her phone calls were “routinely” monitored despite it being against the law for corrective services officers to listen to calls between parliamentarians and prisoners. Continue reading...

Former co-host of Kyle Sandilands filed proceedings in the federal court against Kiis licence holderFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJackie Henderson has filed a legal action in the federal court claiming compensation of “at least $82,250,000” for the wrongful termination of her 10-year contract to present the Kyle and Jackie O Show on radio station Kiis.The Fair Work claim says that the termination of Henderson’s contract earlier this month constituted adverse action, ARN Media said in a statement to the ASX on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Agency uses devices, which are uncomfortable and interfere with employment, to push people to self-deport, advocates saySign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxFor five years, an asylum-seeking woman attended routine check-ins with immigration authorities without issue. At her most recent appointment in October, she was unexpectedly ordered to strap on an ankle monitor, according to her attorney, Deepa Bijpuria.Bijpuria, a supervising attorney in the immigration unit of Legal Aid DC, described the client as a single mom who fled her home country because of severe domestic violence, escaping while pregnant with her young daughter. Continue reading...

Noelia Castillo, 25, has struggled with psychiatric illness since she was young and tried to kill herself in October 2022A Spanish woman who spent months fighting her father for the right to euthanasia after being sexually assaulted and becoming paraplegic is expected to end to her life on Thursday.Noelia Castillo, 25, has struggled with psychiatric illness since she was a teenager and tried to kill herself in October 2022 after being sexually assaulted. The attempt left her in constant pain and using a wheelchair. Eighteen months later, she used Spain’s euthanasia law – which was introduced in 2021 – to secure permission to end her life.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Watchdog issues formal guidance to trustees at top AI research institute after staff expressed concernsThe board of the UK’s leading AI research institute has been reminded of its legal duties in areas such as financial oversight and managing organisational change by the charity watchdog after a whistleblower complaint.The Charity Commission has issued formal regulatory advice and guidance to trustees at the Alan Turing Institute (ATI) – the organisation’s board – after it was contacted by a group of staff with a list of concerns. Continue reading...

The woman was arrested at routine ICE check-in and separated from two children, aged 18 months and fourSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA Venezuelan mother of two who was allegedly trafficked to the US has been unlawfully detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and could soon be deported, according to her lawyers.The woman has applications in process for asylum and a visa designed for victims of trafficking. Continue reading...

Tania Warner says she has documents showing she is in the US legally, but immigration agents were not swayedSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA Canadian woman who has been imprisoned with her seven-year-old daughter by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has cautioned other immigrants that they are at risk of detention, even if they follow the correct legal process – and warned them to keep out of sight for as long as Donald Trump is president.“Don’t go anywhere near a checkpoint, and if your papers are in processing, just lay low. Trump meant what he said – he is trying to get rid of everyone, whether they are good or bad,” said Tania Warner, 47, who is currently held with her autistic daughter, Ayla, at the Dilley immigration processing center in south Texas. Continue reading...

Greg Bovino says Trump’s immigration crackdown hasn’t gone far enough in exit interview with the New York TimesAs his retirement looms, Gregory Bovino, the US border patrol’s former commander-at-large, has contended that efforts to curb illegal immigration by Donald Trump’s administration have not gone far enough – showing no remorse over federal agents’ killings of two US citizens in Minneapolis in January.“I wish I’d caught even more illegal aliens,” he told the New York Times on Tuesday in an exit interview, during which he also referred to the Republican president as “the Trumpster” and acknowledged his retirement at the end of March was not entirely voluntary. Continue reading...

State legislation due to be introduced on Tuesday will give authorities powers to seize high-powered e-motorbikes. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol told 7.30 last night that the “world is facing the greatest global energy security threat in its history” and Australians are feeling the pain at the petrol pump. We’ll have more coming up. Continue reading...

Barrister who represented Indigenous Palm Island community says appointing Darren Robinson to the Legal Aid board is a ‘slap in the face to the family of Mulrunji Doomadgee’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA barrister who acted for Mulrunji Doomadgee’s family says it is “unacceptable” for a former police officer criticised for his conduct in investigating the 2004 death in custody to serve on the state’s Legal Aid board.Andrew Boe represented Doomadgee’s family and the Palm Island community council at an aborted coronial inquest in 2005 and then in subsequent inquests in 2006 and 2010. Continue reading...

Governing body to meet to discuss next steps over sexual abuse claims made against suspended chiefThe international criminal court’s governing body is expected to meet on Monday to assess the advice of a panel of judges who have challenged the findings of an investigation into the chief prosecutor, Karim Khan.Last year a UN inquiry into the allegations about Khan’s behaviour is understood to have established a factual basis for claims of misconduct against him. The senior British lawyer has been accused by a complainant of sexual abuse. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Townsville lawyer and former detective Darren Robinson’s appointment by attorney general Deb Frecklington has ‘brought back a lot of trauma’ for Indigenous communityGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland government has “opened old wounds” by appointing a former police detective who was heavily criticised for his role in events surrounding the 2004 riots on Palm Island to the state’s Legal Aid board, say First Nations community leaders and members of the legal fraternity.The Liberal National party government sacked and replaced all Labor-appointed members of the Legal Aid Queensland board last month. Continue reading...

• Rep. Van Taylor's bill mandating deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of fraud passed the House of Representatives on March 19, 2026. • The legislation targets non-citizens involved in fraudulent activities, aiming to strengthen immigration enforcement. • Passage reflects ongoing Republican priorities on border security and public safety amid rising immigration debates.

House of Lords decision welcomed as ‘landmark moment’ after attempt to strike out amendment is defeatedUK politics live – latest updatesWomen who have been convicted, and in some cases jailed, over illegal abortions are set to be pardoned after a historic vote in the House of Lords.Last June, the House of Commons voted to end the criminalisation of women who terminate their pregnancies outside of the legal framework, while keeping the existing framework in place. Doctors and others who act outside of the law could still face the threat of prosecution. Continue reading...

Commonwealth ombudsman also finds Victoria and Queensland police not keeping adequate recordsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales police force is overusing intrusive technology to monitor the phones and computers of people suspected of committing less serious crime, the commonwealth ombudsman has found.The watchdog said Victoria and Queensland police were not keeping sufficient records to justify their use of the electronic surveillance powers, while NSW police “were unable to demonstrate” they were meeting the requirements of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979. Continue reading...

• DUG Technology Ltd announced settlement of legal proceedings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas involving its subsidiary DownUnder GeoSolutions (America) LLC, reducing the court judgment from approximately $2.1 million to $1.5 million. • The dispute centered on a contested supplier invoice under an energy management services agreement, with both parties agreeing to a settlement and release agreement that resolves all claims including DUG US's counterclaim. • The settlement stipulates that neither party will pursue further legal action and includes a confidentiality provision regarding remaining details, with the supplier required to file a release of judgment upon payment.

MSPs reject bill after concerted campaign to block it and despite amendments intended to placate criticsThe Scottish parliament has voted against legalising assisted dying after critics and religious groups led a concerted campaign to block the measures.MSPs voted 69 to 57 to reject the proposals in a late night vote on Tuesday, despite a series of last-minute amendments designed to placate critics of the private member’s bill. Continue reading...

Kalshi calls Arizona’s case ‘paper-thin’ and says the platform should not be overseen by ‘inconsistent state laws’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxArizona’s attorney general on Tuesday filed criminal charges against Kalshi, accusing the prediction markets platform of operating an illegal gambling business in the state and unlawfully allowing people to place bets on elections.The charges filed by Kris Mayes, the Arizona attorney general, marked the first time a state has pursued a criminal case against Kalshi, which has been at the center of an escalating battle over the ability of state gaming regulators to police prediction markets operators. Continue reading...

Reform UK’s deputy leader comments came as he was responding to questions raised about his own tax affairsAll Britons should do their best to pay the minimum tax possible, Reform UK’s deputy leader has argued as he dismissed a newspaper investigation over his own tax affairs as a smear.Richard Tice, who was presenting a press conference on Monday about Reform’s claims to have saved large sums of money in the English councils it runs, faced questions about a Sunday Times story which detailed a scheme the paper said had helped him avoid nearly £600,000 in corporation tax. Continue reading...

Nottinghamshire and Met police made arrests in past year, despite MPs voting to decriminalise in England and WalesVulnerable women in England are still being arrested and facing police investigations over suspected illegal pregnancy terminations, despite parliament backing changes to the law to decriminalise abortion.Responding to a freedom of information request, Nottinghamshire police and the Metropolitan police confirmed they had arrested women suspected of illegal terminations between June last year and this January. Continue reading...

• Virginia lawmakers passed a bill legalizing recreational cannabis sales for adults 21+ from January 1, 2027, authorizing up to 350 retail stores by 2028. • The framework prioritizes licenses for residents from disproportionately policed areas, veterans, and distressed farmers, with a 6% state tax plus local add-ons up to 3.5%. • This aligns Virginia with eastern states' tax models, potentially generating revenue while promoting equity in licensing.

Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in five states are challenging bans that restrict purchases of sugary foods as part of state-level public health initiatives. The restrictions, implemented to address obesity and diet-related diseases, have sparked legal disputes from program participants who argue the limitations infringe on food choice and dignity. Public health officials supporting the bans contend that limiting sugar-sweetened beverages and processed foods reduces healthcare costs and improves nutrition outcomes. The cases highlight ongoing tensions between state efforts to promote healthy eating behaviors and individual rights to food selection within federal assistance programs.