The Palace of Westminster, built in 1016, is the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Together, Parliament holds legislative supremacy and ultimate power over all UK territories.
Before becoming law, a bill must be approved by both Houses of Parliament and receive Royal Assent. Therefore, although a deeply divisive bill to legalize assisted dying has passed the House of Commons, it must still clear the House of Lords, parliamentary committees, and gain approval from the King. However, as approval from MPs is the “most important hurdle,” it has likely survived its most stringent challenge.
— Andrew Cunningham, Student Editor
United Kingdom 🇬🇧
After years of campaigning, the British Parliament has voted to legalize assisted dying. The bill would allow terminally ill patients with minimal months of life remaining to take a substance to end their lives. The individual must be capable of making an informed decision, and two doctors, along with a High Court judge, would need to approve the choice. Supporters and critics of the bill differ on whether its safeguards are adequate to prevent patients from choosing assisted dying merely to avoid becoming a burden on their families. (CNN, 11/29/24) Keep Reading »
United States 🇺🇸
“Was the richest person in the world overpaid?” A Delaware judge answered affirmatively, ruling that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not entitled to a $56 billion compensation package, despite shareholders voting to reinstate it. The court found that Tesla’s board had breached its fiduciary duties in approving the deal. (Washington Post, 12/2/24) Keep Reading »
President Biden’s decision to pardon his son for federal crimes has been criticized as “misguided and unwise.” Critics argue the move is hypocritical, given the Democratic party’s years of condemning Donald Trump circumventing legal processes and disregarding norms.. Responding to the controversy, legal experts have called for a ban on lame-duck pardons. (AP News, 12/2/24) Keep Reading »
Somalia 🇸🇴
Somalia’s federal government and the autonomous Jubbaland region have issued reciprocal arrest warrants for their respective leaders. This move follows a growing dispute over the conduct of Jubbaland’s elections, which the federal government claims were held without its oversight. (Reuters, 11/28/24) Keep Reading »
Ecuador 🇪🇨
In response to accusations of collusion between the country’s judicial system and high-level money laundering and drug trafficking organizations, an Ecuadorean court has convicted 20 defendants, sentencing each to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10 years. (Reuters, 11/25/24) Keep Reading »
China 🇨🇳
Amid the unprecedented surge in bitcoin prices, a Shanghai court ruled that personal ownership of cryptocurrency is not prohibited by Chinese law. However, this decision does not apply to business activities, as corporate possession of cryptocurrency is considered a threat to China’s financial stability. (Yahoo Finance, 11/20/24) Keep Reading »
Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Hong Kong’s highest court has struck down exclusionary inheritance and housing laws in a landmark ruling, marking a significant victory for LGBTQ+ couples. The government’s argument that same-sex couples should be treated differently based on their inability to procreate was unanimously rejected. (The Guardian, 11/26/24) Keep Reading »
Romania 🇷🇴
Following a trove of declassified intelligence alleging Russian interference, the Constitutional Court of Romania invalidated the first-round vote of the presidential election. New dates will be set to rerun the presidential vote next year. (AP News, 12/8/24) Keep Reading »
South Korea 🇰🇷
On Dec. 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea surprised even members of his own party by declaring martial law. While the decree lasted only six hours, it caused massive political tumult, halted diplomatic activities, and rattled financial markets. On Dec. 14, 2024, Yoon was impeached by parliament. Parliament now has 180 days to decide whether to dismiss Yoon as president or restore his powers. The last instance of martial law in South Korea occurred in 1979, following the assassination of dictator Park Chung Hee. (AP News, 12/17/24) Keep Reading »
The December 2024 Global Judicial News Report was compiled and written by Andrew Cunningham, an LLM candidate at Duke Law School and a Student Editor for Judicature International. He also serves as a judicial extern to Judge Jeffery Carpenter of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Prior to Duke, Andrew completed his LL.B. at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), where he graduated first in his class and was the recipient of the Henry Hamilton Hunter Memorial Prize.
