All Law & Courts
In looming federalism fight, three states say feds can't 'unmarry' gay couplesVermont, New York, and Connecticut argue in a US court of appeals brief聽that it鈥檚 states, not the federal government, that license official relationships, including gay marriages.
Drew Peterson: How his murder case upended a quiet communityWhen police Sgt. Drew Peterson was charged with murdering his third wife, it brought an intense media glare to Bolingbrook, Ill., a Chicago suburb. His conviction doesn't mean the community will slip back into obscurity any time soon.
Guant谩namo: Judge rejects US bid to limit lawyers鈥� access to detaineesIn a strongly worded 32-page decision, a federal judge in Washington rejected the US effort regarding security detainees at Guant谩namo, calling it an聽'illegitimate exercise of executive power.'
Arizona illegal immigration law gets final go-ahead from courtArizona's聽illegal immigration聽law directs police to check the status of individuals during a legal stop or detention.聽It's the latest chapter in the battle between the state and the Obama administration over which level of government has authority regarding immigration policy.聽
Vacation danger: Is cruise ship liable for perils on shore excursions?A federal appeals court restored a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines in the case of a 15-year-old passenger killed in the crossfire of a gang shooting on the island of St. Thomas.
Illegal immigration: agents sue to block Obama's 'DREAM Act'Ten immigration agents say President Obama's bid to block deportation of some young illegal immigrants in a 'DREAM Act lite' is unconstitutional, and they are challenging it in court.聽
Tropical storm Isaac: 9/11 trials delayed as storm targets Guant谩namo BayTropical storm Isaac is forecast to hit Guant谩namo Bay Saturday, prompting the judge in charge of the trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to put off proceedings.聽
9/11 hearings set to begin. Should Khalid Sheikh Mohammed be censored?Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others await trial at Guant谩namo. Starting Thursday, a military judge is to hear pretrial motions, including a censoring issue.
Will Arizona-inspired illegal immigration laws run afoul of Constitution?Courts take dim views of anti-illegal immigration laws in Georgia, Alabama, and Arizona, even as they start letting some provisions take effect. Police must now enforce the laws without profiling.聽- Court: Some Florida early-voting plans undermine minority votingBut a three-judge panel stopped short of invalidating Florida鈥檚 early-voting law. A number of lawsuits across the US seek to block implementation of new voting procedures ahead of Nov. 6.
Could 鈥榣iking鈥� something on Facebook get you fired?That鈥檚 what six sheriff鈥檚 deputies say happened to them after they 鈥榣iked鈥� the political opponent of their boss. A district judge ruled that Facebook likes aren't protected speech, but the case is being appealed.
Judgment time for 'America's Toughest Sheriff' Joe ArpaioArizona sheriff Joe Arpaio聽鈥� known for his controversial jail tactics and tough stand on immigration聽鈥� faces a class-action lawsuit and US Justice Department probe of alleged racial profiling targeting Latinos. He's also up for reelection.
Could George Zimmerman walk free after 'stand your ground' hearing?If George Zimmerman can convince a judge that he acted within the bounds of Florida's stand your ground law, he could prevail in his case without a jury trial. Mr. Zimmerman is charged with killing unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin earlier this year.
Jared Lee Loughner and 6 other mass shooters: How the cases were resolved Jared Lee Loughner was found competent Tuesday to stand trial and pled guilty to 19 counts, including murder, for the January 2011 shooting in Tucson in which six people were killed and 13 wounded 鈥� including then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) of Arizona. In mass shootings like this where the perpetrator was not killed during the rampage, here鈥檚 how the cases have been resolved.
Free speech: Can school fire 鈥榬edneck鈥� over Confederate flag on his truck?An Oregon school bus driver who refers to himself as a 'backyard redneck' was fired for refusing to remove the Confederate flag from his truck. A federal magistrate upheld his free speech lawsuit.
Colorado shooting: If a school is warned about a student, what must it do?Members of a University of Colorado threat assessment team reportedly were told about James Holmes, the Colorado shooting suspect, just before he quit school, raising questions about the team's obligations.
Gay marriage: California's Prop. 8 lands on doorstep of US Supreme CourtUS Supreme Court is asked to hear California's Prop. 8 case. If the justices agree to hear that one and federal Defense of Marriage Act cases in the next term, it would mark the most extensive and important examination of gay rights in the US ever.
Why so many Americans are riveted by the Drew Peterson caseThe former police sergeant is the lone defendant in the first-degree murder trial for his third wife, while his fourth wife is missing. Opening arguments in the Drew Peterson case started Tuesday.- Obamacare: US judge lets Catholic-owned firm cut contraception from coverageA federal judge issued an injunction after Catholic owners of a private company in Colorado argued that Obama's health-care reform violates their rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment鈥檚 protection of religious freedom.
Colorado shooting bombshell: Defense says suspect was psychiatric patientInformation on the Colorado shooting suspect was in a defense motion submitted to the judge in which it accused the prosecution of leaking privileged information.
