All Law & Courts
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.聽
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.
The ExplainerShould the census ask about citizenship? Supreme Court to weigh in.The Supreme Court will weigh the constitutionality of a census question requesting that residents declare their citizenship status on April 23.
First LookWikiLeaks co-founder Assange faces US hacking chargeSeven years after fleeing the U.S., Julian Assange was arrested Thursday at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, partly due to a U.S. extradition request. Mr. Assange has faced scrutiny for years over WikiLeaks' role in publishing U.S. government secrets and in the 2016 presidential election.
Cover StoryNative justice: How tribal values shape Judge Abby鈥檚 courtWhen Judge Abby Abinanti聽joined the Yurok Tribal Court in 2007, it operated like a normal California court but on a much smaller scale. Today, Judge Abinanti's court practices a more communal and rehabilitative form of justice.
Why Chief Justice Roberts is moving to the center of the courtChief Justice Roberts is now the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 ideological 鈥榮wing vote.鈥� How he rules on cases like partisan gerrymandering will be watched closely.
First LookPhilando Castile's mom helps develop crisis tool kitA police officer shot elementary school cafeteria worker聽Philando Castile at a traffic stop聽in 2016. His mother has teamed up with a prosecutor and others to help police assess their preparedness for responding to crises after a police shooting.聽
California shuts down death row. Signs a red state may be next.California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a halt to executions in the state with the country鈥檚 largest death row, a move that follows similar actions by governors in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
In California, two proposed laws with one aim: saving livesA year after two officers fatally shot Stephon Clark, California lawmakers are weighing a pair of proposals to reform police conduct.
Criminal charges for school leaders? Florida eyes as tool for school safety.Since last year鈥檚 shooting in Parkland, activists have been focused on gun control. But Florida鈥檚 creation of a grand jury to investigate school officials suggests a new avenue for prevention: holding individuals accountable.聽
A big player in becoming a US citizen? Your ZIP code.
First LookNew York, feds fund testing of 100K rape kits around USMore than 100,000 untested rape kits are finally getting examined with funding from a New York prosecutor and federal authorities, resulting in more than 1,000 arrests.聽Addressing the backlog could mean better access to justice for survivors.
