Will The Ukraine Civilian Combatants Be Protected Under International Law?

The international law of armed conflict has always distinguished between civilians and the military. Two days after Putin announced his "special military operations", media reports show that several Ukrainian citizens are taking uparms to defend their home. Once the situation escalated and Russians forces were closing in on Kyiv, the Ukrainian Government called out tocivilians to...

By Simply Alleging Genocide, A Country Can't Invade Another : Ukraine Argues Before ICJ In Case Against Russia

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Netherlands on Monday heard extensive arguments from Ukraine while adjudicating upon an application moved by the Ukrainian government accusing Russia of carrying out and "planning acts of genocide in Ukraine." The application inter alia also urged the ICJ to urgently indicate provisional measures directing Russia to suspend its...

U.S. President Nominates First Black Woman To The Supreme Court Of United States

U.S. President Joe Biden, last week, announced U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to the United States Supreme Court. Jackson, if confirmed would be the first black woman jurist to the Supreme Court of United States. Introducing Jackson, the President in the nomination speech said that he wanted to select a nominee worthy of retiring Justice Stephen...

Russia-Ukraine Conflict : International Criminal Court Prosecutor To Open Probe Into Alleged War Crimes

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Criminal Court Prosecutor has decided to open an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, observing that there is a "reasonable basis" to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed.Prosecutor Karim A Khan said in a statement that the investigation will look at alleged crimes committed before...

Ukraine Approaches International Court Of Justice Against Russia's "Special Military Operation"

Ukraine filed an application instituting proceedings against the Russian Federation before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, concerning "a dispute . . . relating to the interpretation, application and fulfilment of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" (the "Genocide Convention").In...

New York Supreme Court Allows Attorney General To Compel Deposition Of Trump; Says There Is "Copious Evidence Of Financial Fraud"

The New York Supreme Court, on Thursday, quashed Donald Trump and his children Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr.'s motion against the subpoenas issued by the New York State Office of Attorney General (OAG). Judge Arthur Engoron, refusing to stay the parallel civil investigation instituted against them, ordered Donald Trump to comply with the subpoena seeking documents and information, and...

Judicial Commission Of Pakistan Recommends Elevation Of Justice Ayesha Malik As First Female Judge Of Supreme Court

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Thursday approved the proposal to elevate Justice Ayesha Malik (presently a Lahore High Court Judge) to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, reported Pakistan Daily Dawn.If the Parliamentary Committee on Judges, which has the final say regarding appointments made to the Supreme Court, approves this proposal, then Justice Malik would go on to become the...

Myanmar Court Sentences Ousted Leader Aung San Suu Kyi To 4 Years Jail

A Myanmar court on Monday sentenced former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to four years in prison, reported AFP. The former Myanmar leader, who was ousted by the military in a coup in February, was sentenced to four years in prison by a court on Monday on the first two of the at least 11 charges against her, according to a government spokesperson. Suu Kyi was found guilty of inciting unrest...

Unwritten Constitutional Principles Like Democracy Is Part Of Constitution; But Cannot Be Used As Bases For Invalidating Legislation: Canada Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Canada (5:4) observed that 'unwritten constitutional principles' like democracy, though part of Constitution, cannot be used as bases for invalidating legislation.The court was considering a challenge against a law viz. Better Local Government Act, 2018, reducing the size of Toronto City Council wards from 47 to 25. The City and two groups of private individuals...

Children Born To Parents Outside Marital Bond Are Blameless; Differential Treatment Towards Them Unconstitutional: South Africa Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court of South Africa observed that differential treatment of children "born out of wedlock" is unconstitutional.To condemn children for the nature of their parents' relationships, is in inconsistent with our constitutional values and has no place on our statute books, the court held.The court held that a provision in the Births and Deaths Registration Act which prohibits...

Media Liable For Defamatory Comments By Third Party Users In Its Facebook Page: Australia High Court

The High Court of Australia held that a media company can be held liable for defamatory comments made by the third party users in its Facebook page.By the creation of a public Facebook page and the posting of content on that page, facilitated, encouraged and thereby assisted the publication of comments from third-party Facebook users, the court held while dismissing the appeal filed by...

Heartbeat Act: Stringent Abortion Law Comes Into Force In Texas As US Supreme Court Refuses Stay

The Supreme Court of the United States (by 5:4 majority) refused to stay a law enacted by Texas effectively banning abortions as early as six weeks into the pregnancy.The law thus came into force on 1st September 2021.The new law viz. Texas Heartbeat Act, makes it unlawful for physicians to perform abortions if they either detect cardiac activity in an embryo or fail to perform a test to...