All Law & Courts
Clarence Thomas compares affirmative action to Jim Crow lawsClarence Thomas, Supreme Court justice, explains his legal reasoning for rejecting affirmative action in the latest court ruling. Clarence Thomas admits that he was a beneficiary of affirmative action.
Supreme Court makes it harder for workers to win discrimination lawsuitsThe Supreme Court issued a pair of 5-to-4 rulings on workers' lawsuits. Justice Ginsburg filed a dissent in both cases calling for Congress to overturn the decisions by passing new legislation.
Informant or not, Whitey Bulger still making FBI look badThe trial of James 'Whitey' Bulger is now focusing on FBI evidence claiming that Bulger was an informant 鈥� a claim he refutes. The court proceedings are showing an ugly side of the FBI.
Supreme Court sends Texas affirmative action case back to lower courtThe 7-to-1 Supreme Court decision requires the lower court to apply a new, tougher test to the case: Schools challenged on race-based admissions policies must show that there are no workable, race-neutral alternatives to achieve diversity.
Were Obama recess appointments constitutional? Supreme Court takes caseThe Supreme Court will weigh in on a major flash point between President Obama and Senate Republicans, who challenge his use of recess appointments while their chamber is holding 'pro forma' sessions.
Why prosecutors aren't done charging alleged Cleveland captor Ariel CastroEarlier this month, a grand jury indicted Ariel Castro on 139 counts of rape and 177 counts of kidnapping. Prosecutors say they expect to add more charges within two weeks.
Zimmerman jury of peers is jury of (mostly white) womenZimmerman jury selection was completed in the racially charged case. Six women, five of them white, will decide whether the shooting death of Trayvon Martin constituted second-degree murder.- Supreme Court: Anti-prostitution pledge in AIDS law violates free speechA 2003 US law providing funding to fight AIDS required recipients to explicitly oppose prostitution. The Supreme Court, by a 6-2 margin, rejected the pledge of 'allegiance to the government's policy.'
- Slavery: US gives bad marks to China and Russia in its annual reportThe State Department report on slavery notes that more聽countries are prosecuting traffickers and providing services to rescued victims. But China and Russia are failing to make progress, the US says.
George Zimmerman trial: Second Amendment bubbles beneath jury selectionThe George Zimmerman trial has stoked passionate debate about race in America. But in the end, it could end up saying more about Americans' evolving views of the Second Amendment.
Whitey Bulger defense: Star witness lied before, could be lying nowThe defense for crime boss James 'Whitey' Bulger might have poked some holes in the testimony of key witness John Martorano, but it still faces an uphill battle.
Supreme Court limits judges' discretion on minimum sentencesAny fact that increases the mandatory minimum sentence for a crime must be determined by a jury, not a judge, the Supreme Court rules in an important Sixth Amendment case.
Whitey Bulger trial: Star witness tells of bungled murdersJohn Martorano, a close associate of James 'Whitey' Bulger, testified Monday, saying that Bulger was involved in numerous murders, including at least one that went badly wrong.
Arizona can't ask voters for proof of citizenship, Supreme Court rulesBy 7 to 2, the Supreme Court justices struck down Arizona's Proposition 200 as violating the National Voter Registration Act, which requires only a written declaration of US citizenship.
Alleged Minnesota Nazi: Could 94-year-old US citizen be deported?A notorious Nazi unit was commanded by Minnesota resident Michael Karkoc, according to the Associated Press. The US has tried to deport ex-Nazis in the past, with mixed success.
Minnesota Nazi: How did Nazi hunters miss Michael Karkoc?Minnesota Nazi:聽US, German, and Polish authorities are now taking a look at 94-year-old Michael Karkoc鈥檚 reputed past as a Nazi commander. 鈥楴azi hunters鈥� have had major successes and notable failures in finding and deporting Nazis.
Fort Hood shooting: Judge nixes Nidal Hasan defense strategy. What now?Army Maj. Nidal Hasan cannot use the defense that he acted to protect Taliban leaders from US soldiers deploying to Afghanistan, a military judge ruled Friday. His challenge now is to come up with another explanation to argue at his court-martial.
Edward Snowden: Whistle-blowing protections most likely won't helpWhile Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, and others portray him as a heroic whistle-blower, his decision to make top secret documents public severely limits his legal protections, analysts say.
Obama, in surprise move, wades into NYPD 'stop and frisk' lawsuitA federal judge is poised to rule soon on the constitutionality of the NYPD's controversial 'stop and frisk' policy. The Obama administration this week said nothing on that point, but it did state its preferred remedy if the city loses the case.
Prospective Juror E-81: George Zimmerman is innocentAs lawyers questioned prospective jurors in the George Zimmerman murder trial, Juror E-81's responses highlighted why jury selection in the Trayvon Martin shooting is proving difficult, and exhausting.
