All Law & Courts
FocusGay marriage bans toppled in year since DOMA ruling. But it's not over.Lower courts have rejected gay marriage bans in 13 states since the US Supreme Court nixed the Defense of Marriage Act one year ago. But the issue is destined to return to the high court, where one justice in particular will hold sway.
Supreme Court rules against President Obama on NLRB recess appointmentsBut in a landmark opinion, the Supreme Court also established for the first time clear and broad rules for when a president can act alone to fill vacancies.
Supreme Court, 9-0, nixes 35-foot 'buffer zone' at abortion clinicA Massachusetts law violated the free-speech rights of anti-abortion activists by keeping them 35 feet from abortion clinics, the US Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The state failed to seek less restrictive options, it found.
Utah ban on same-sex marriage violates fundamental right, appeals court rulesThe 2-to-1 decision by the聽Tenth US Circuit Court of Appeals聽in Denver is the most important judicial ruling yet among a steady stream of court decisions against state laws banning same-sex marriages.
Supreme Court rules against Internet startup Aereo, likening it to cable TVThe Supreme Court justices, in a 6-to-3 ruling, said Aereo, Inc. violated copyright law by offering its subscribers network TV programming over the Internet.
Anti-terrorist 'no-fly' list can be challenged, US judge rulesThousands of individuals, including hundreds of Americans, have found themselves on the US government's 'no-fly' list. A federal judge says they have a right to more effectively challenge that listing.
US Supreme Court to police: To search a cell phone, 'get a warrant'The US Supreme Court, ruling 9 to 0, invalidated the warrantless searches of cell phones, which hold 'the privacies of life.' Police have no right to 'rummage at will,' the justices said.
In growing US sex-trafficking business, majority of victims are American-bornA week-long nationwide sweep has recovered 168 children forced into prostitution in 106 cities. The increase in 'throwaway kids' not reported as missing is creating a larger pool of potential victims, their advocates say.
On EPA power to limit greenhouse gases, a Supreme Court compromiseThe US Supreme Court ruled Monday that the EPA can press ahead with its greenhouse gas regulations covering power plant emissions. But it also rebuked the EPA for its broad assertion of authority to address global warming.- Sandusky report clears Pennsylvania governor of suspicionA report to the Pennsylvania attorney general found that the previous attorney general, Gov. Tom Corbett, did not stall the Jerry Sandusky child-molestation investigation.
Supreme Court declines to hear plea for sports betting in N.J.The Supreme Court let stand an injunction blocking New Jersey from legalizing sports betting. Pro sports associations argue that gambling undercuts the integrity of games.
Supreme Court: Anti-abortion group can challenge 'false statement' lawIn a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court backed the right of an antiabortion advocacy group to challenge an Ohio law banning false statements during an election campaign, citing threat to free speech.
Split Supreme Court shoots down 'straw' gun purchasesSupreme Court embraces broad reading of federal firearms law. It's not enough for a 'straw purchaser' to be legally eligible to buy a gun. The identity of a gun's purchaser must be accurate, the majority ruled.
Can a school hold graduation in a church? Supreme Court declines case.The high court's action let stand an appeals court ruling that found that a rented church auditorium amounted to 'a religion-saturated and proselytizing environment.'
Same-sex marriage: After 550 Wisconsin couples wed, US judge stays her rulingDistrict Judge Barbara Crabb did not explain why she had not stayed her ruling finding Wisconsin's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, but referred to the 'expressions of joy' on the faces of those who wed in the interim.
Vermont, food industry begin court fight over GMO label lawA coalition of industry groups sued Vermont over the state's new law requiring food producers to put special labels on products treated with GMOs. It makes Vermont ground zero of a very big food fight.
Illegal immigration dilemma: Are migrant children refugees or criminals?An overwhelmed US immigration system is trying to figure out the exact legal status of thousands of immigrant children rushing the US border. In one of the most politicized asylum systems in the Western world, that won鈥檛 be easy.
Supreme Court allows lawsuit over constitution 鈥� of a fruit juicePomegranate juice company POM Wonderful can sue rival Coca-Cola for unfair competition over an allegedly misleading label, the Supreme Court ruled in a 8-0 decision.
Is Donald Sterling mentally competent? Court date is set to decide.The wife of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is asking a court to affirm mental incompetence on his part. The legal proceedings could be messy.
Slender Man stabbing suspect to undergo mental health examOne of the preteen suspects in the Wisconsin stabbing of a 12-year-old girl will undergo a mental health exam to see if her case should be moved from adult to juvenile court.
