Court
Federal Judge Upholds Ruling Against Former Bolivian President in Human Rights Case Brought by HLS Clinic
HLS’s International Human Rights Clinic secured a historic victory as a federal judge turned down a former Bolivian president and defense minister's request to reverse a judgement against them for the massacre of Indigenous people.
Massachusetts Court Dismisses Lawsuit Over Harvard’s Possession of Slave Photos
A Middlesex Superior Court judge on Tuesday dismissed Connecticut resident Tamara K. Lanier’s lawsuit against Harvard alleging that the University unlawfully possesses and profits from historic photos she says depict her enslaved ancestors. Lanier plans to appeal the decision.
Students for Fair Admissions Petitions SCOTUS to Take Up Suit Against Harvard’s Race-Conscious Admissions
The anti-affirmative action group Students for Fair Admissions petitioned the United States Supreme Court Thursday to review a lower court’s decision upholding Harvard’s race-conscious admissions practices, marking the latest development in a nearly seven-year-long, high-profile legal battle that could determine the future of race-conscious admissions in higher education.
Massachusetts Court Dismisses Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign Lawsuit Over University Investments
A Massachusetts judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit from the Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign over Harvard’s investments in companies with ties to the prison industry.
Federal Judge Dismisses Former Harvard Employee Eric Clopper’s Lawsuit Against The Crimson
Earlier this month, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought in federal court by a former Harvard employee, Eric Clopper, over the Crimson’s coverage of — and the University’s subsequent response to — a 2018 performance he put on at Sanders Theatre.
Harvard Files Opposition in Chemistry Prof. Lieber Indemnification Suit
Harvard filed an opposition Thursday in response to Chemistry professor Charles M. Lieber’s lawsuit alleging Harvard is contractually obligated to pay for his legal defense against federal fraud charges.
Former Chemistry Chair's Defense Could Tie Federal Charges to DOJ China Initiative, Experts Say
Legal experts say recent court filings indicate University Professor Charles M. Lieber — charged with lying to federal officials investigating his funding sources and ties to China — may try to convince jurors that Lieber was swept up in the Trump administration’s broader anti-China campaign.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Threatening Prof. Believed to Be Affiliated With Harvard
A Rhode Island man was sentenced to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release Wednesday for sending dozens of violent, threatening emails to a Massachusetts professor reportedly affiliated with Harvard.
Moakley Courthouse
After being charged by the federal government for alleged failures to disclose funding in late January, Charles M. Lieber had a bail hearing at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse.
Cambridge Courts Shift Operations Online, Postpone Non-Emergency Matters
Courts in Cambridge and Middlesex County have shifted their operations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, hearing emergency matters virtually.
Harvard Veterans Legal Clinic Contends VA Unlawfully Denies Health Care to Hundreds of Thousands of Veterans
The Veterans Legal Clinic at the Harvard Law School Legal Services Center released a report on Thursday contending the Department of Veteran Affairs has unlawfully turned away nearly half a million veterans seeking health care.
Harvard Law School Students Criticize Judicial Misconduct Email
Harvard Law School Dean John F. Manning ’82 outlined efforts taken by the Law School to confront instances of judicial misconduct and sexual harassment against clerks in a school-wide email Thursday.
Harvard Law Affiliates Condemn Sexual Harassment in Legal Profession Following Graduate's Congressional Testimony
Harvard Law School students, faculty, and administrators have condemned sexual harassment in the judicial system following Law School graduate Olivia A. Warren’s Feb. 13 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.
Cambridge Appeals Ruling Halting Two-Year Moratorium on Some Recreational Marijuana Sales
The City of Cambridge filed an emergency motion appealing a court ruling that lifted the city’s two-year moratorium on certain cannabis sales permits, according to a city announcement Friday.
Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign Files Suit Against University
The Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign filed suit against Harvard in Massachusetts state court Wednesday over Harvard’s alleged investments in companies with ties to the prison industry.
Appeals Court Dismisses Former Professor’s Tenure Lawsuit
A federal appeals court last month affirmed a district court’s dismissal of a lawsuit by former Harvard associate professor Kimberly S. Theidon, ending her long-running lawsuit alleging that the University unfairly denied her tenure.
Law School Students Criticize Wisconsin Prosecutor in Open Letter
Members of a Harvard Law School student group are calling on the Kenosha, WI, district attorney to drop all charges against 19-year-old Chrystul Kizer.
Harvard-Yale Divestment Protesters Receive Five Hours of Community Service
Under the agreement, the protesters are required to complete five hours of community service before their Jan. 27 court date in New Haven, Conn. and commit no additional offenses between now and then.
Ten Months After the Admissions Trial, the Judge Has Yet to Issue a Ruling
Judge Allison D. Burroughs hasn’t released her verdict yet. Her decision — almost certain to be appealed regardless of the outcome — could prove pivotal in an ongoing legal battle that could shape the future of affirmative action at private colleges and universities nationwide.
Lawsuit Alleging Harvard Law Review Discriminates in Member Selection Process Dismissed
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Thursday that was brought against the Harvard Law Review in October alleging the legal journal violates federal anti-discrimination laws in its member and article selection policies.
Agassiz’s Descendants Urge Harvard To Turn Over Slave Photos
A group representing 43 descendants of former Harvard professor Louis Agassiz delivered a letter to University President Lawrence S. Bacow Thursday urging him to turn over a set of historic slave photos to a Connecticut woman who alleges they depict her ancestors.
Rhode Island Man Charged With Threatening Mass. Professor Who Is Believed to Be Affiliated With Harvard
A Rhode Island man was arrested Wednesday for sending dozens of graphic, threatening emails to a Harvard professor, according to court documents and local news reports.
Harvard Motions to Dismiss Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over 2015 Suicide
Harvard filed a motion on March 8 to dismiss a lawsuit it currently faces alleging it was negligent in the care of Luke Z. Tang ’18, an undergraduate who died by suicide in 2015.
Harvard Admissions Trial Ruling Will Determine Facts for Future Appeals, Experts Say
Attorneys for Harvard and anti-affirmative action group Students for Fair Admissions had their last chance to present arguments in their ongoing battle over whether the College’s admissions processes discriminates against Asian-American applicants last week.
Former Employee Sues Harvard For Racial Discrimination, Failure to Accommodate Her Disability, and Retaliation
Former employee Melissa Defay filed a lawsuit against Harvard Wednesday alleging the University racially discriminated against her, failed to accommodate her disability, and retaliated against her when she raised these concerns.