All Law & Courts
After historic Van Dyke verdict, Chicagoans look to the future
FocusPartisanship and the high court: Can Kavanaugh overcome the hearings?During his first and second hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh showed two distinct sides: a cool-headed umpire and a fiery partisan. The question now is, which one is likely to show up at the Supreme Court?
First LookFor some immigrants, judge ruling is 'light in the dark tunnel'US District Judge Edward Chen granted a request Oct. 3 to block the Trump administration's plans of ending the temporary protected status of some immigrants. For the individuals affected, it's another chance to continue living out their dreams.
First LookFund helps working class women pursue sexual harassment casesWhile the #MeToo movement began with high-profile women in entertainment, media, and politics, the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund is helping everyday women seek legal recourse for sexual harassment.聽
First LookPolice officer's testimony reveals striking differences in perceptionChicago police officer Jason Van Dyke has testified his version of what happened in October 2014 when he killed Laquan McDonald. A video of the evening's events shows a striking discrepancy between Mr. Van Dyke's perspective and what the video recorded.聽聽
The Supreme Court and beyond, how partisan are America's judges?The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh has exposed questions of judicial partisanship like never before, legal experts say. Judges have never just mechanically applied the law, but is how they use their discretion changing?
First LookCosby case demonstrates complexity of race, gender, and justiceBill Cosby 鈥� a once-beloved actor and philanthropist 鈥� was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison for a 2004 sexual assault. Some call it the first legal victory of the #MeToo era, while others consider it evidence of racism in the United States' justice system.
Amid debate on prison reform, rising voices from the insideWhen it comes to conditions inside prisons, should prisoners have a voice? That's one of the questions raised by a three-week strike by inmates in more than a dozen states.
Cover StoryIndian territory again? An old Oklahoma murder case spotlights tribal sovereigntyA Supreme Court ruling on one man鈥檚 death penalty could embolden claims by Native Americans across the US, affecting states鈥櫬燾ontrol over not only people, but oil and gas lands.聽
Supreme Court hearings are broken, both parties say. How they can be fixed.Senators of both parties complain that Supreme Court hearings today yield little useful information, with nominees wary of saying anything that might look like prejudging a case. But experts cite past examples that could foster greater insight 鈥� and greater civility.
With parking-lot shooting, Florida 'stand your ground' law takes the standWhen is it acceptable for one citizen to take the life of another? That question has erupted anew as Floridians grapple with聽what constraints, if any, should be placed on the use of force in self-defense.
At Kavanaugh hearings, questions of how much power a president should holdThe question of how much power a president should have has roiled American politics in recent years. The nominee for the Supreme Court comes to the issue from a unique vantage point.
First LookKavanaugh's record on civil rights scrutinized by advocacy groupsAs the date of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's first Supreme Court confimation hearing approaches, civil rights organizations have been sifting through his 300-plus federal court opinions and other documents 鈥� and they say his record on racial justice raises red flags.
First LookCops are rarely convicted. Here's why an ex-Texas cop just was.The recent conviction of former Texas police officer Roy Oliver for聽the murder of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards was an extreme rarity. Fewer than 90 officers have been convicted in on-duty shooting cases for murder or manslaughter since 2005.聽
First LookCalifornia becomes first state to eliminate bailPretrial detention policies will now be set by each county's superior court based on suspects likelihood of returning to court and the danger they pose to the public. Most suspects accused of nonviolent felonies will be released within 12 hours of booking.聽
First LookJudge halts online distribution of 3-D printed plastic gun blueprintsA US district judge placed a temporary restraining order on a Texas company which will prevent it from posting online blueprints for an untraceable 3-D printed plastic gun, citing the potential harm the weapons could cause the state.
Manafort guilty: Courtroom win bolsters special counsel's credibilityPaul Manafort was the first person to stand trial of 32 individuals charged by the special counsel鈥檚 office in the Trump-Russia investigation.
Teaching police to holster their emotionsFatal shootings of people diagnosed with mental illness have spurred advocates of de-escalation training to call for a slower, smarter approach to policing that could save lives.
Desperate for officers, a Georgia police chief hits the roadFrom Atlanta to Los Angeles, brass are shuffling schedules, burning overtime, and watching response times rise as the numbers of qualified recruits have slowed to a trickle. More than 80 percent of US police departments are operating below budgeted 鈥渁uthorized force.鈥� First in a three-part series.
First LookIn crash investigations, police upgrade from chalk, tape measures to dronesDrones already have varied uses from mail delivery to storm tracking. Now, US state and local police are using the unmanned aerial vehicles' bird's eye photos to reconstruct car crashes more efficiently, accurately, and safely.聽
