Topic overview
In brief
- Sonia Sotomayor declined to stay a $655.5 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority and PLO.
- The judgment is related to a lawsuit from American victims of terrorist attacks in Jerusalem during the early 2000s.
- The PA faces financial difficulties exacerbated by recent conflicts and the judgment's enforcement.
Summary
In the United States, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor recently made a significant legal decision regarding a $655.5 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This judgment stems from a lawsuit filed by American victims and families of those killed or injured in terrorist attacks that occurred in Jerusalem during the early 2000s, specifically between 2002 and 2004, amid the Second Intifada. The attacks were attributed to various Palestinian groups and resulted in numerous casualties, including both Americans and Israelis.
The PA and PLO sought to challenge the judgment, arguing that it had become a 'nullity' and 'absolutely void' due to earlier court proceedings. They filed an application with the Supreme Court in late July, requesting a stay on the enforcement of the judgment while they pursued further appeals. However, Sotomayor, who is responsible for handling emergency matters from the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, declined their request, allowing the judgment to remain in effect.