Legal links of interest for the week ending November 8

Steven Getman, attorney, reports on some news stories about lawyers and the law in the past week:

Bill to ban job bias against gays clears Senate hurdle: A measure that would outlaw workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity overcame a significant obstacle as seven Republicans voted to begin debate on the bill.

In Bond v. U.S., the Supreme Court will decide if a treaty trumps state police powers: Carol Bond concedes that she spread a toxic chemical on the car and mailbox of a friend who had an affair with her husband. Federal prosecutors intervened in what would normally be a state criminal case to charge Bond with violating the chemical-weapons convention that the Senate ratified in 1997.

Domestic violence alerts available in New York: Victims of domestic violence can now sign-up for SAVIN-NY alerts at www.nyalert.gov by clicking on “Orders of Protection.”

D.C. Circuit rules against Obamacare contraceptive mandate: the D.C. Circuit ruled November 1 that two brothers who own and operate a food-supply company are entitled under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act to a preliminary injunction against imposition of the HHS mandate on contraception and abortifacients.

Judge upholds Rochester's red light camera program: A state court justice found the red light camera laws do not infringe upon a fundamental right

Legislative prayer gets Supreme Court review: The case argued at the court Wednesday involves prayers said at the start of town council meetings in Greece, N.Y., a Rochester suburb.

New York State warns residents of STAR application scam: New homeowners have received letters offering to enroll them in the STAR Program for a substantial fee; however enrollment in the the program is actually free.

For more on each of these stories, click on the links above.