All Law & Courts
First LookEpstein case shows two different views of applying justiceWhile a Florida U.S. attorney's 2008 plea deal for sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was widely criticized, some say federal prosecutors should respect a deal. But a New York federal attorney indicted Mr. Epstein on Monday, saying the Florida deal doesn't apply in New York.
First LookSeattle judge blocks Trump policy to lock up asylum-seekersJudge Marsha Pechman ruled that asylum-seekers detained after entering the country illegally are eligible for bond hearings. In April, Attorney General William Barr announced that the government would no longer offer bond hearings.
In the shadows: Supreme Court鈥檚 offstage moves may matter moreThe Supreme Court ruling on gerrymandering grabbed headlines, but the court also considered cases on abortion, DACA, 鈥淥bamacare,鈥� and more.
With redistricting decision, high court draws line on political line-drawingThe Supreme Court ruled that federal courts are powerless to rule on political gerrymandering. But states are moving toward reform on their own.
Census case: Why a measure of citizenry won鈥檛 add a query on citizenshipIn a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday blocked the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
Overruled: Is precedent in danger at the Supreme Court?As this year鈥檚 term closes, the conservative-majority United States Supreme Court is placing a shrinking value on legal precedent.
Can a 40-foot cross be secular? Supreme Court says yes.The Bladensburg Peace Cross, a religious symbol erected to honor World War I casualties, may remain on public land, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
First LookFather of Sandy Hook victim wins defamation lawsuitLenny Pozner won a defamation lawsuit against authors of a book that claimed the Sandy Hook school shooting never happened. Others who lost family members in the 2012 Connecticut shooting say they are continually harassed by hoaxers and conspiracy theorists.
As universities push for names, assault survivors fight for anonymityUniversities want courts to make public the names of survivors of sexual assault, but advocates warn the result could be a chilling effect on campus.
First LookIn a divided Court, many small signs of agreement, respectJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Clarence Thomas, a liberal icon and a conservative bastion, have balanced political disagreement with a genuine mutual regard. And in the past two 5-4 decisions, they have aligned.听
First LookJudge: White supremacist group's actions protected by free speechA Los Angeles judge decreed that members of a white supremacist group were protected by constitutional free speech despite their advocacy for violence. Anti-racist organizations fear the ruling could empower the group.
Rethinking mental health for cops: When 鈥榞ood intentions鈥� aren鈥檛 enoughAfter traumatic incidents, are police officers and firefighters receiving what mental health professionals consider the best short-term care?
The ACLU attorney who fights to reunite migrant familiesLee Gelernt is the lead ACLU attorney on efforts to track down and reunite thousands of separated migrant families.
The ExplainerAmid growing concerns about 2020, a primer on Russian election interferenceThe Mueller report provides new details about Russia鈥檚 interference in the U.S. in 2016. Here鈥檚 an overview of what happened.
What equals justice for opioid crisis: Help victims or punish Big Pharma?Three recent lawsuits against opioid manufacturers point to different models of justice, from guilty verdicts to payout without admitting wrongdoing.
FocusDeath penalty with dignity? Supreme Court reopens debate.The new Supreme Court appears more supportive of the death penalty. At issue for some is the balance between justice and dignity.听
First LookTo keep former inmates out of prison, states find them housingIn a new transitional state prison in Atlanta, Georgia, inmates receive training to ensure they leave prison with a job and a home. Government officials in other states are starting to see housing as key to tackling recidivism.
Citizenship and the census: What鈥檚 at stake in Supreme Court caseOn Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in what is likely to be one of the biggest decisions of this term.
First LookCalifornia state legislature weighs competing police reform billsCalifornia is set to enact the country's first statewide guidelines on police use of lethal force, but state legislators still remain divided over when police can shoot with intent to kill.
Cover StoryLong shot lawyer: Defending migrants in US鈥檚 toughest immigration courtStewart Detention Center, in rural Georgia, rejects more than 90% of applicants. Marty Rosenbluth helps migrants here apply for asylum.
