All Law & Courts
Is John Edwards verdict the last straw for campaign finance?A jury found John Edwards not guilty of the most serious charge, and the judge declared a mistrial on the others. The verdict is part of the changing landscape of campaign finance, experts say.- Why a federal court struck down the Defense of Marriage ActThe First Circuit wrote that the federal Defense of Marriage Act intruded on states' rights and that the act's defenders failed to justify its impact on gay couples. But the court acknowledged that 'only the Supreme Court can finally decide this unique case.'
- Appeals court strikes down DOMA: Tradition doesn't justify unequal treatmentA three-judge panel from the federal appeals court in Boston unanimously ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional for denying federal benefits to 'same-sex couples lawfully married in Massachusetts.'
Etan Patz case: Will self-admitted killer's prayer group confession hold up?If charges are brought against Pedro Hernandez for the killing of Etan Patz, the case could turn on whether confession made to a prayer group is confidential like that made to a priest.- Was Taser use on pregnant woman excessive force? Supreme Court declines case.The Supreme Court refused the case of a pregnant woman who was ticketed for speeding in a school zone in Seattle. When she refused to get out of her car, police used a Taser to shock her three times.
The unusual confessor who broke the Etan Patz cold caseKilling Etan Patz in 1979 may have been the only time alleged killer Pedro Hernandez hurt someone. While he avoided detection for 33 years, the secret took enough of a toll that Hernandez broke down in tears as he confessed, appearing remorseful and 鈥榬elieved.鈥�
Gay marriage: Judge overturns DOMA, stepping up pressure on Supreme CourtA federal judge struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which precludes gay couples from receiving federal marriage benefits. She is the third federal judge to do so, suggesting that the Supreme Court might need to step in soon to clarify its position.
Etan Patz case: Despite confession, a trial would be trickyIf Pedro Hernandez sticks to his confession and is found to be mentally competent, a judge will simply sentence him for killing schoolboy Etan Patz in 1979. But if he were to recant, prosecutors would face a hard decision.
Etan Patz killing: Motive is a puzzle for police, and potentially, a juryPedro Hernandez has said he killed Etan Patz 33 years ago because he 'felt the urge to kill,' raising questions for behavioral scientists. He is hospitalized and reportedly under suicide watch.
Major gay marriage cases in federal court and where they stand Battles over same-sex marriage have been raging in the federal courts for several years. Two could reach the US Supreme Court within a year: one challenging California's ban on gay marriage under Proposition 8, and the other seeking to invalidate the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Here are the cases to follow.
Patrick Fitzgerald, nemesis of Rod Blagojevich, steps downUS Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald on Thursday ruled out two options for his next career move, saying he鈥檚 not wired to run for office and quipping, 'Can you see me as a defense attorney?'
John Edwards verdict could become part of Citizens United backlashA diverse panel of North Carolinians is currently considering whether John Edwards committed campaign fraud in 2008, but the verdict could also reverberate nationally if it is at odds with the Supreme Court's landmark Citizens United ruling.
Why Dharun Ravi got 30 days in jail in Rutgers webcam spying caseDharun Ravi committed 'reprehensible' acts in setting up a webcam to spy on his Rutgers roommate's gay relationship, but they did not reach the level of a hate crime, the judge said.
Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide.The US Supreme Court agreed to examine whether a group of US-based lawyers, activists, and journalists can challenge a Bush-era law authorizing broad surveillance overseas.- What causes wrongful convictions? Lies, mistaken eyewitnesses top the list.Researchers examined 873 wrongful convictions and found that perjury or false accusations were responsible for more than half. New report offers insight into what leads to miscarriages of justice.
Cover StoryUS prison inmates returning to society: How will they be received?States, eager to save money and adopt alternatives to incarceration, release inmates in record numbers. Is society ready for the surge?聽
Geraldo Rivera (again) says Trayvon Martin's 'thug wear' got him profiledGeraldo Rivera insisted again Friday that Trayvon Martin鈥檚 hoodie represented a kind of 鈥榯hug wear鈥� that could have alarmed George Zimmerman, who shot Martin to death. The hoodie debate is not over.- Appeals court upholds key provision of Voting Rights Act. Supreme Court could loomA federal court on Friday rejected an Alabama county's argument that a key part of the 1965 Voting Rights act is outdated. That could set the stage for a Supreme Court hearing.聽
Latest evidence in Trayvon Martin case: Does it help George Zimmerman?A trove of evidence from the Trayvon Martin shooting released Thursday may buttress George Zimmerman's claims of self-defense, some analysts say. But one finding undergirds the prosecution: The shooter could have avoided the situation.- Upset patient charged with using mercury as chemical weapon against hospitalMartin Kimber apparently had a billing dispute after receiving treatment at Albany Medical Center. According to court documents, he spread liquid mercury at the hospital on four occasions.
