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US conservative advocacy group says strict liability crimes contribute to overcriminalization

JURIST

The report also criticized the proliferation of laws that require no specific mental state as contributing to over-criminalization in the country. ” The report further argued that mandating a mens rea requirement in every federal criminal statute would help eliminate over-criminalization and the abuse of prosecutorial discretion.

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Hong Kong top court affirms opposition activist now-repealed sedition convictions

JURIST

The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal unanimously upheld Thursday the convictions of the opposition activist Tam Tak Chi of uttering seditious words under now-repealed section 10(1)(b) of the Crimes Ordinance. Another question before the court is whether the sedition offense was an indictable offense that must be tried by a judge and jury.

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Pakistan dispatch: persecution of religious minorities continues under current blasphemy law

JURIST

Law students and law graduates in Pakistan are reporting for JURIST on events in that country impacting its legal system. University of London law graduate Mariyam Taher Qayyum files this dispatch from Islamabad. . Mariyam Taher Qayyum is a law graduate of the University of London External Program.

Mens Rea 271
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US Supreme Court rules reckless offenses do not qualify as ‘violent felony’

JURIST

The US Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that “reckless” crimes qualify as violent felonies for purposes of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). The Supreme Court reversed that judgment and remanded the case.

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Hong Kong court convicts 14 activists over subverting state power by controlling legislature

JURIST

Lam would have been forced to dissolve the Legislative Council under Article 50 of the Basic Law and resign under Article 52 of the Basic Law if she refused to address the demand. The court acquitted Lau Wai-chung and Lee Yue-shun by finding that it is unclear if they intended to subvert state power.

Mens Rea 104
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Amid overdose crisis, court will weigh physician intent in “pill mill” prosecutions and more under the Controlled Substances Act

SCOTUSBlog

Share In the midst of a national opioid crisis that claimed more than 100,000 lives in this country over the past year, the Supreme Court will hear a case on Tuesday about the relevance of doctors’ subjective intentions in criminal prosecutions for unlawful distribution of controlled substances. While on the surface, the case, Ruan v.

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Subjective intent of wrongdoing required to convict doctors under Controlled Substances Act

SCOTUSBlog

Share With a majority opinion that will be one of Justice Stephen Breyer’s last for the Supreme Court, the court on Monday ruled 9-0 that two alleged opioids “pill mill” doctors could not be convicted absent a jury finding that they subjectively believed they were wrongfully dispensing pills. The case, Ruan v.

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