Tag: appeal

Senegalese prosecutors file appeal for opposition leader who received 2-month sentence

Prosecutors in Senegal who had sought two years in prison for opposition leader Ousmane Sonko have filed an appeal after he was given a much lighter, two-month suspended sentence for his conviction on libel charges in a case his supporters say was politically motivated.

The outcome of Thursday’s verdict allows Sonko to run for president next year though he still faces unrelated criminal charges in a pending rape case that would disqualify him if he is convicted. Sonko is widely viewed as the top opposition candidate in Senegal’s elections next year.

Sonko has not yet decided whether to appeal the sentence in the libel case, his lawyer Bamba Cisse told The Associated Press.

SENEGAL’S TOP OPPOSITION POLITICIAN GETS 2-MONTH SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR LIBEL

Sonko was also ordered to pay about $330,000 to Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang, who accused the politician of defamation and public insults.

Neither Sonko nor his lawyers were present on Thursday when the verdict and sentence were delivered.

SENEGAL POLICE SMASH WINDOWS OF OPPOSITION LEADER’S VEHICLE, FORCIBLY REMOVING HIM

Each of Sonko’s previous court appearances led to protests in the streets of Dakar, the capital, and Sonko himself was forcibly removed from his vehicle by police on two occasions. Demonstrations have taken place not only in Dakar but in cities throughout the country.

Sonko’s supporters see the charges against him as the latest attempt to cut short his political career. Sonko finished third in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and has called on President Macky Sall to declare publicly that he won’t seek a third term.

The ruling party says Sall should be allowed to run after a constitutional change in 2016 — made while Sall was president — which changed presidential terms to five years.

Sonko also faces rape charges based on accusations from a female employee of a massage salon who said she was assaulted by him. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and would be barred from running for president. No date has been set yet for the that trial.

Louisiana Supreme Court denies appeal challenging abortion ban

In a win for pro-life advocates, the Louisiana Supreme Court rejected an appeal in the continued legal fight regarding the state’s abortion law, meaning the ban will remain in effect.

The ruling, which was handed down Friday, comes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, allowing states to make their own abortion laws, thus forcing Louisiana’s three clinics to rely on rulings and temporary restraining orders to continue operations. Providers had hoped the latest decision would allow them to resume abortion services.

“While it is disappointing that four of the seven justices, without any written explanation, issued a ruling that will effectively deny critical care to women throughout Louisiana, the litigation continues, and we are confident we can affect meaningful change,” Joanna Wright, an attorney for the plaintiff, said.

NEW ORLEANS WOMAN CHARGED WITH STABBING TWO TODDLERS, LEAVING ONE DEAD

Louisiana’s trigger law, designed to take effect following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, prohibits abortion in the state and does not allow exceptions for rape or incest.

Plaintiffs challenging the state’s ban acknowledge abortions can now be prohibited but contest that the law’s provisions are contradictory and unconstitutionally vague.

State Judge Donald Johnson issued a preliminary injunction on July 21, allowing clinics to continue offering abortions while the lawsuit pertaining to the ban on the procedure is battled out in court. 

IDAHO SUPREME COURT: ABORTION BANS WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE EFFECT AMID CHALLENGES

But just days later, abortions were stopped after a state appeals court ruled in favor of Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a defendant in the case. A “suspensive” appeal was granted and Johnson was ordered to reinstate enforcement of the abortion restrictions.

The plaintiffs made an unsuccessful appeal of the 1st Circuit Court’s ruling to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Landry lauded Friday’s ruling in a Twitter post, saying he was “pleased with the Court’s decision and will continue fighting to end this legal circus.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Red Bull's failed appeal and F1's war of words over Hamilton/Verstappen explained

Why was Red Bull’s appeal of Lewis Hamilton’s penalty unsuccessful? What was Red Bull hoping to achieve? And what happens now? Laurence Edmondson picks through the remarkable fallout from the British GP.

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