Progressive Legal News: Local Community Radio, Second-Parent Adoption Ruling, Lawsuit Challenging the Use of Mace Against Schoolchildren, and Consumer Rights' Case Analysis

Today we came across a number of news stories that should be of interest:

Local Community Radio Act. Timothy Karr of the Huffington Post wrote a nice summary on the passage of this little-known bill-now-law, which will open up the radio airwaves to thousands of local independent radio stations. Great news for people who enjoy a variety of news and media sources.

North Carolina Strikes Down Second-Parent Adoption. This heap of bad news is delivered via a wonderful blog, Beyond (Straight and Gay) Marriage, run by WCL's own, Professor Nancy Polikoff. Not only did the Court rule that second-parent adoption (most often the only means by which same-sex couples can adopt) is not available in the state, but the ruling invalidates all previous adoptions. Professor Polikoff is particularly angry at the biological parent of the former lesbian couple who brought this claim at the expense of North Carolina families. There are just so many reasons to be outraged--so many reasons.

Southern Poverty Law Center Says "You Can't Mace School Children." It's hard to believe that this issue has to be litigated but apparently Alabama has not received the memo that macing school children, as a form of school discipline, is not only wrong, but unconstitutional. SPLC announced that it is filing suit against the Birmingham school officials who refused to address the issue after it had been brought to their attention that armed school guards were macing children, and apparently taunting the students after the fact. Yuck. If this issue is of interest, TMA is featuring in its soon-to-be released fall issue, an essay about the transition of schools into young people prisons, by Lizbet Simmons.

Understanding a Major Consumer Rights Case, AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion. The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights (NCRCR) Interview Series continues this week with Catholic University's Suzette Malveaux who breaks down a California arbitration class action lawsuit that may have a big ripple effect on consumer protection and the public's access to justice against corporations.