All Law & Courts
First LookMichigan Supreme Court cracks down on 'pay or stay' imprisonmentThe court has proposed adopting a standard rule to assess whether defendants can pay fines. In many cases, judges jail those who cannot, but the practice is illegal.聽
First Look鈥楳aking a Murderer鈥� blurs line between justice and entertainmentAfter recent release of the popular Netflix documentary miniseries, 'Making a Murderer,' viewers are calling for the president to pardon Steven Avery.
Why Seattle is scoring victories against labor traffickersUS Attorney General Loretta Lynch has called the Seattle antitrafficking task force an 'extraordinary partnership' that in a decade of operations had investigated more than 140 cases. Part 11 in a series on solutions to labor trafficking.
GM ignition switch trial in NYC: The first of six big casesGM knew about the faulty ignition switches for more than a decade but did not recall them until February 2014. The company paid nearly $600 million to settle 399 claims made to a fund it established.
When a prison closes, what happens to the prison town?Amid a bipartisan push to reduce mass incarceration, rural towns that have been economically reliant on prisons are learning聽鈥� quickly聽鈥� how to adapt when the facilities close.- 'Ag-gag' laws head to court: So far, animal rights activists are winningA Wyoming judge allowed a case to go forward this week challenging the state's two new data trespass laws, saying he had 'serious concerns and questions about the constitutionality of various provisions.'
Texas 'affluenza' teen won't be back in US soon, official saysEthan Couch and his mother were taken into custody Monday after authorities said a phone call for pizza led to their capture in a Mexican resort city.
Bill Cosby arraigned on sexual assault chargeThe actor and comedian had no comment on his way in and out of court as he was arraigned on a charge of aggravated indecent assault, punishable by five to 10 years behind bars and a $25,000 fine.
Why 'calls for calm' in Tamir Rice case strike black activists as condescendingMany black Americans perceive a greater concern for civil calm and the protection of property than for the lives of those who were killed, including Tamir Rice in Cleveland.
Chicago police officer pleads not guilty in Laquan McDonald shootingJason Van Dyke faces six counts of first-degree murder and one of official misconduct in the death of the Chicago teenager last year.
With 'affluenza' teen's capture, questions about justice in AmericaThe case of Ethan Couch, who was sentenced to parole after a drunk driving incident that killed four people, symbolized the extent to which class and race play a role in the justice system, some observers say.
Backlash against Tamir Rice shooting decision. Are grand jury reforms ahead?Many struggled to accept an Ohio grand jury's decision not to bring charges against a Cleveland police officer who shot Tamir Rice, age 12, last year. Proposed changes may make grand jury proceedings more transparent.聽
Ethan Couch detained in Mexico: Would a black teen get probation?The Ethan Couch 'affluenza' defense highlights disparities in聽criminal sentencing between white and black teens.聽
James Edward Coe caught after nearly 30 years as fugitiveJames Edward Coe聽had escaped a North Carolina prison on June 23, 1986. He was arrested for shoplifting Sunday in聽Surfside Beach, South Carolina.- Ethan Couch: 'Affluenza' teen found with mom in Puerto VallartaEthan Couch failed to keep a mandatory appointment with his probation officer on Dec. 10, leading authorities to issue an arrest warrant for him.
No charges filed against police officer in Tamir Rice caseTamir Rice's family condemned the decision but echoed the prosecutor in urging those disappointed to express themselves "peacefully and democratically."
In the United States, anxiety is up, but crime is downFelony crime declined nationwide in 2015, continuing a historic drop. But mass shootings in San Bernardino, Calif., and Charleston, S.C. 鈥� as well as a slight uptick in the number of murders 鈥� have contributed to the feeling of unease.
Chicago police fatally shoot 2 as force faces growing scrutinyThe Chicago Police Department is already under a federal civil rights investigation that will look into patterns of racial disparity in the use of force.
Sweep of immigrant families in US illegally comes at poignant momentA new report suggests the US will deport hundreds of immigrant families ordered to leave by a judge. Some see the move as only scratching the surface. Others see it as a virtual death sentence for those sent home.聽
First LookMuslim family barred entry to US: Are Trump's comments shaping policy?British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to investigate the case of a British Muslim family who were unexpectedly told their right to fly to the US had been revoked, prompting concerns from lawmakers and Muslims about discrimination.
