All Law & Courts
First LookLife in prison for smashing windows? Utah charges BLM protestors.Salt Lake City prosecutors justified the use of gang-related charges, saying protesters worked together to cause damages. Critics say the potential life sentence doesn't fit the alleged crime.
FocusTwo cities, a spike in crime, and the federal responseFederal law enforcement鈥檚 deployment to Portland and Chicago poses risks for cop-community relations. But some hope it could prompt reform.
Reparations is a nonstarter in Congress. Not in this Southern city.A reparations ordinance in Asheville, North Carolina, is among a growing number of local initiatives to tackle racial inequities.听
As a statue falls, Texas Rangers are cast as heroes and villainsThe removal of a statue at a Dallas airport is part of a larger grappling with historic racism against Black and Latino communities in Texas.听
First LookOpposing federal agents, violent protests erupt in US citiesProtests took a violent turn in several U.S. cities over the weekend, including Seattle; Oakland, Calif.; Richmond, Virginia;聽 Austin, Texas; and Baltimore.听
The feds take their Portland approach on the road. Three questions.The deployment of the federal officers to Portland 鈥� and their questionable tactics 鈥� appear to have just been the start of a multi-city program.
First LookWhy Democrats want federal agents out of Portland, OregonAfter a weekend of violent protests, top Democratic lawmakers want an investigation into the use of federal law enforcement agencies in Portland, Ore.听
鈥楯ustice needs to be served鈥�: Minneapolis businesses put principles firstIn a Minneapolis neighborhood hit hard by protests following George Floyd鈥檚 death, a desire for racial justice unites independent business owners even as they face an uncertain recovery.
FocusWhy libertarians are joining BLM calls to defund policeIn New Hampshire,聽Carla Gericke is a聽Republican running for state Senate 鈥� with an agenda that includes reducing police budgets.
In Oklahoma tribal decision, 鈥榬ule of the strong鈥� falls to rule of lawIn McGirt v. Oklahoma, the U.S Supreme Court held that as much as half of the state of Oklahoma may now, legally, be Indian Country.
Amid spike in crime, a question of who owns the streetsSeveral cities have seen a spike in violent crime. Coronavirus lockdowns, new policing measures, and tumult within PDs could all be factors.
First LookFirst US federal execution held in 17 years. Here's why.Daniel Lewis Lee, who claimed innocence in his last moments, was the first person to be federally executed in 17 years.听Executions on the federal level are rare, and the government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988.
First LookOregon releases police misconduct records, others to follow suitOregon made public the names of officers whose certification has been revoked or suspended, the first state to take this step toward transparency since the death of George Floyd. Several other states are signing into law their own public registries.
鈥楲aw School 101鈥�: How Supreme Court ended its termSupreme Court justices emphasized the importance of the rule of law and the fact that presidents are subject to it, in two big end of term cases.
Religious liberty鈥檚 big week at the Supreme CourtSupreme Court ruled in favor of religious liberty in three cases, prioritizing the rights of 海角大神s over the rights of women and LGBTQ citizens.
A police chief鈥檚 message to community: Help us 鈥榙o a better job鈥�Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best, the first Black woman to lead the department, reflects on the city鈥檚 CHOP protest and activists鈥� calls for change.
Focus鈥榃e need to keep speaking out鈥�: Racial justice in rural AmericaA groundswell of support for Black Lives Matter has swept across small towns, an eruption of activism not seen since the civil rights era.
First LookHalf of Oklahoma ruled reservation land by Supreme CourtHalf of Oklahoma is Native American reservation land, the Supreme Court decided in a ruling Thursday. Tribe members living in the territory will be subject to federal 鈥� instead of state 鈥� criminal law, and will be exempt from certain state obligations.
First LookSupreme Court: Trump tax records open for DA, not Congress 鈥� yetRejecting arguments that the president is immune from investigation, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Manhattan district attorney access to President Trump's tax returns, but blocked Congress from accessing his financial records.
First LookSupreme Court: religious schools can discriminate when hiringThe Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to protect religious schools against employment discrimination lawsuits, citing the schools' constitutionally guaranteed religious independence.听
