All Law & Courts
Bullets vs. rocks? Border Patrol under fire for use of deadly force.An Oct. 10 incident, in which a Border Patrol agent fired his gun in response to rock-throwing, leaving a 16-year-old dead, is drawing attention to the Border Patrol's use-of-force policy.
Jordan Davis killed for loud music: mirror image of the Martin case?Details differ between the shooting of 17-year-old Jordan Davis and unarmed teen Trayvon Martin earlier this year. But in both cases, older armed men initiated arguments with black teenagers and fired deadly bullets when the situation became threatening.
'Stand your ground' laws: Do they put teens in greater danger?Three shooting deaths in the past week raise questions about whether prank-prone and reckless teens are particularly vulnerable under states' 'castle doctrine' and 'stand your ground' laws.
Fugitive in eco-terrorism case turns herself in at US-Canada borderAfter a decade on the run, a Canadian citizen surrendered to the FBI at the border in Washington. An alleged former member of two militant environmental groups, she faces federal arson and conspiracy charges.
Concealed weapons: US court upholds New York state requirement for permitNew York requires gun owners to prove they have a special need for protection to obtain a concealed weapons permit. The 100-year-old law does not violate the Second Amendment, the court ruled.- Obamacare: Supreme Court orders new look at university鈥檚 lawsuitThe Supreme Court on Monday ordered an appeals court to consider the underlying merits of Liberty University鈥檚 lawsuit 鈥� including whether Obamacare violates religious freedom.
Can people record police officers? Illinois ban gets no help at Supreme Court.Supreme Court justices refused to hear an appeal on behalf of Illinois' tough eavesdropping law. A federal appeals court had ruled that the law 'likely violates' free speech guarantees.
Supreme Court rejects Idaho case on prohibiting the insanity defenseIdaho is one of four states that do not permit criminal defendants to claim they are innocent by reason of insanity. On Monday, the US Supreme Court declined to take a case testing whether an insanity defense is a constitutional right.
Death threats against Obama: Did Florida cop 'fan flames'?Many offhand death threats against President Obama, including several by US police, are leading to public scrutiny and concern 鈥� even if they are not leading to legal action.- US appeals court strikes down Michigan ban on affirmative actionWhile the 8-7 ruling on affirmative action did not address the constitutionality of race-conscious admissions to college, the majority said Michigan's prohibition on the policy 'places special burdens on racial minorities.'
BP to pay $4.5 billion in fines for Gulf oil spill. Is legal saga over?A deal on federal criminal charges helps bring legal action over the Gulf oil spill nearer a conclusion. But many more claims remain 鈥� totaling perhaps tens of billions of dollars.
Saudi student in US gets life in prison for bombmaking schemeKhalid Aldawsari, who was convicted in June, came under suspicion when he ordered chemicals. Prosecutors said the key to the case was the role played by citizens who contacted officials.
How will Feds deal with marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington?A potential showdown will probably not target individual users of the drug, instead focusing on new regulations that will make marijuana sales permissible, a violation of federal law.
Voting Rights Act: Why many Southern states are glad of Supreme Court caseAfter minorities played a big role in reelecting President Obama, the US Supreme Court says it will take up the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the issue of federal oversight over voting in mostly Southern jurisdictions.- Can police collect DNA before conviction? Supreme Court to hear case.Many states allow police to collect DNA samples from people who have been arrested. But others see that as a violation of the Fourth Amendment. Now, the Supreme Court will step in.
Supreme Court to consider how and when police can use drug-sniffing dogsThe US Supreme Court considers Wednesday whether the Florida Supreme Court was correct in making it harder for law enforcement to use dogs to discover illicit drugs in a home or vehicle.
Supreme Court turns away case on Oklahoma 'personhood' amendmentDid the Oklahoma Supreme Court act correctly when it struck down a proposed personhood amendment? The US Supreme Court declined to enter the fray Monday.
Did US go too far in its secret surveillance of citizens?Critics say the Bush-era law designed to collect foreign intelligence intrudes on the constitutionally protected privacy and free speech rights of US citizens. The US Supreme Court hears the case Monday.
George Zimmerman judge OKs question: Who was the real Trayvon Martin?The new judge in George Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial allowed defense attorneys to subpoena social media networks and peruse Trayvon Martin鈥檚 school records to determine whether the slain teen had a violent past.
9/11 trial: Did US have improper influence? Lawyer asks judge for help.A defense lawyer in the 9/11 war crimes trial tells a judge that a top prosecutor, asked if there had been improper influence by Defense Department or administration officials, refused to answer at least 25 times.