Civil Rights News: CA Overcrowding, NYC Census, Access to Courts

Justices, 5-4, Tell California to Cut Prisoner Population
The New York Times

The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that California prisons were in violation of the “Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.” The verdict in Brown v Plata ordered “the state to reduce its prison population by more than 30,000 inmates.” The ruling upheld the decision of a federal three-judge court.

Survey Hints at a Census Undercount in New York City
The New York Times

The 2010 Census Report numbers for NYC could be incorrect according to a survey conducted by the New York Times. The survey affirms the suspicions of many New Yorkers and government leaders, including Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY). The Census Report findings are vital because they help determine the number of State and federal representatives, how much federal aid a district receives, and an important tool for businesses when determining where to invest their resources, among other reasons.

Texas Bill Takes Aim at Frivolous Lawsuits
The Wall Street Journal

Texas is close to passing a bill “mandating that either plaintiffs or defendants who lose at the motion-to-dismiss phase pay the court costs and attorneys’ fees of the other side.” The motion-to-dismiss phase comes early in the court case process. The legislation could discourage people with legitimate claims to file a suit for economic reasons. “In the U.S., parties rarely have to pay the other sides’ costs, which some say best ensures that even the poorest litigants can gain access to the courts.” Alaska is the only state which has a “loser pay system.” This legislation, especially if adopted by Texas and other states, along with the recent Supreme Court ruling in AT&T v Concepcion are evidence of the shift to limit American’s access to the judicial system.

Compiled by Sergio Azcona