All Law & Courts
Gay marriage: Pennsylvania attorney general pulls an Obama on DOMAPennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane says she will not defend her state's ban on gay marriage in court. Obama took a similar tack with the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
George Zimmerman trial: 5 poignant moments The jury is set to begin deliberations on whether George Zimmerman committed murder when he shot an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Fla., or whether it was an act of self-defense. Here are five moments stand out from the trial.
George Zimmerman trial: Jury can consider lesser charge of manslaughterThe judge in the George Zimmerman murder trial will give the jury the option of convicting him of a lesser charge, despite objections from the defense. Some legal analysts say prosecutors were not confident of their case for second-degree murder in the Trayvon Martin shooting.
Zimmerman trial: Did wall-to-wall media coverage inform, or entertain?While some say the extensive media coverage of the George Zimmerman trial provided a civics lesson to the US public, others saw a play for ratings that did little to address key issues in the case.
Boston Marathon bombing suspect pleads 'not guilty,' shows no remorseBoston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who appeared in federal court Wednesday, faces the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty.
George Zimmerman speaks, but won鈥檛 testify in his defenseThe man at the center of the Trayvon Martin murder case told Judge Debra Nelson on Wednesday he will not take the stand 鈥� one of several last minute moves by Zimmerman's defense team.
Fight expert: George Zimmerman more like Pee-wee Herman than Chuck NorrisGeorge Zimmerman, on trial for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, trained at a boxing gym but was not deemed competent enough to face someone in the ring, a fight expert testified Wednesday.
Trayvon Martin as pot smoker: What Zimmerman defense stands to gainThe judge overseeing the George Zimmerman trial has ruled that the defense can discuss how marijuana use might have affected Trayvon Martin on the night of his fatal encounter with the defendant. The strategy serves several purposes.
Gay marriage: Lawsuit, first since DOMA ruling, targets Pennsylvania banThe ACLU, on behalf of 10 same-sex couples and others, filed the suit, which cites language from the majority opinion in the DOMA case in聽asking a US judge to strike down the Pennsylvania ban.
NSA surveillance: Supreme Court is asked to halt phone spying on AmericansA privacy group called on the Supreme Court to invalidate the secret court order that authorized the collection of telephone metadata from every Verizon business customer in the US.
Guant谩namo: US judge condemns force-feeding, but declines detainees' appealA US district judge said she lacked the jurisdiction to halt the practice of force-feeding at Guant谩namo, but condemned it as 'painful ... and degrading' and said Obama could stop it.
George Zimmerman prosecution leaves jury to untangle lies and justificationThe State of Florida rested its case Friday against George Zimmerman, on trial for killing unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin last year. The state faces long odds in winning a conviction.
Trayvon Martin case: As prosecution rests, saga captivates AmericansFlorida prosecutors on Friday finished laying out their case against George Zimmerman, who faces second-degree murder charges in the fatal shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin. Why is this particular trial so riveting for so many?
Trayvon Martin's mom: It was my son screamingDay 19 of the George Zimmerman murder trial began emotionally, with Trayvon Martin's mom, Sybrina Fulton, taking the stand to say the person screaming on a recorded 911 call was 'Trayvon Benjamin Martin.'
Guant谩namo hunger strike: Force-feedings won鈥檛 clash with Ramadan, US saysUS government lawyers defended the policy of force-feeding hunger-strikers at聽Guant谩namo and said the detainees would be fed before dawn or after sunset, in accordance with Ramadan.
Gun grab? No Trayvon Martin DNA on George Zimmerman gun, expert saysA forensics expert testified Wednesday that no DNA from slain teenager Trayvon Martin was found on the gun George Zimmerman used to shoot him. Zimmerman has reportedly said Trayvon tried to grab the gun as the two fought.
Parents who withheld care are guilty of homicide, Wisconsin justices sayThe Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld by 6 to 1 the second-degree reckless homicide conviction of two parents whose daughter died, citing a 聽'legal duty to provide medical care for a child if necessary.'聽
Justin Carter case: How one man's Facebook 'banter' is another's 'threat'Teenager Justin Carter has been in custody in Texas for 4-1/2 months after posting a Facebook item that seemed to threaten a school shooting. Is this a case of due diligence by law officers, or free speech violated?
Trayvon Martin case: Zimmerman studied self-defense law, witness saysA college professor testified Wednesday that George Zimmerman learned in his criminal justice class about Florida's self-defense law. Why prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin shooting are keen to establish that.
To the mat: Parents to appeal ruling allowing yoga in public schoolsA San Diego judge ruled that teaching yoga in Encinitas, Calif., public schools does not violate First Amendment protections against religious indoctrination. The attorney for the parents says there are several avenues for appeal.
