All Law & Courts
Boston bombing trial: Can 'Svengali' defense save Tsarnaev?If accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is convicted, as expected, the jury will hear arguments over whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. The case of Beltway sniper Lee Boyd Malvo may be instructive.
San Francisco moves to fire cops for racist texts: How deep the damage?San Francisco prosecutors now have to decide whether racist and homophobic comments tainted as many as 1,000 criminal cases over the 10 years in which the officers testified.
Has Boston bombing trial changed perceptions of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev?Accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has cut a lonely and aloof figure in the courtroom during his trial. Now, it's the defense's job to offer a more human portrait.
Cross-dressing man killed by NSA had lengthy recordNo one has explained why the man and his passenger ended up in a restricted NSA area in Fort Meade, but the FBI has ruled out terrorism. A new timeline suggests they may have simply taken a wrong turn.
Does barbaric Georgia prison cell photo depict an American Abu Ghraib?A cell phone photograph showing cellblock brutality has raised new awareness of problems in the Georgia prison system. What are prison officials – and American society more generally – doing to root out prison barbarism?
GPS monitoring of sex offenders for life? Supreme Court reverses N.C. caseThe US Supreme Court reversed lower court rulings that upheld a North Carolina law allowing a sex offender to be put under GPS monitoring for the rest of his life.
Does wearing American flag incite violence? Supreme Court lets stand ruling.The court Monday declined to hear a First Amendment case, letting stand a ruling that a school can censor students' free speech rights if the expression could incite other students.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence scrambles to 'clarify' new religious freedom lawIndiana Gov. Mike Pence has been under fire for the ‘religious freedom’ law he signed, which critics say is discriminatory – especially against gay people. Now, Gov. Pence says he wants to legislatively ‘clarify the intent’ of the law.
Grandmother’s punishment for girl's running death tests death penalty in AlabamaThe jury in Joyce Hardin Garrard’s trial recommended life in prison for killing her granddaughter. But the Alabama county judge in the case could send Ms. Garrard to death row.
Arkansas follows Indiana into 'religious freedom' fightFrom the NCAA to Wal-Mart and Apple, businesses around the country are objecting to Indiana’s new 'religious freedom' law, which critics say is discriminatory. Arkansas is about to pass a similar law.
Indiana religious freedom act: how big a backlash?Despite an outcry from businesses and organizations, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the 'Religious Freedom Restoration Act,' which critics say discriminates against gay Hoosiers and those visiting the state.
Chicago-area cousins accused of planning US terrorist attackThe two men were arrested on charges of conspiring with the self-described Islamic State. They had allegedly planned to carry out a shooting attack on a US military base.
Debra Milke: Why freedom feels so elusive to death row exonereesReleased after spending 22 years on Arizona’s death row, Debra Milke called her exoneration 'bittersweet.' Legal experts say the plight of exonerees such as Milke has played into how juries view the ultimate sanction.
Marathon bombing trial jury hears testimony on explosives Tsarnaevs usedProsecutors contend the bombs were stuffed with gunpowder taken from commercial fireworks and shrapnel.
Why Supreme Court sent key voting rights case back to AlabamaIn his majority opinion, Justice Breyer said Wednesday the Alabama redistricting plan appeared to improperly rely on race as a predominant factor in drawing new voting district lines in 2012.
Supreme Court rules in favor of protecting pregnant women in UPS caseIn a decision being hailed as a victory by women's groups, a divided Supreme Court revived the case of a female driver who sued UPS for refusing to offer an accommodation during her pregnancy.
Should UVA frat sue Rolling Stone for debunked rape story?Phi Kappa Psi may have a case against Rolling Stone for their now-debunked report of a gang rape at the University of Virginia fraternity house. But it may not want to invite the kind of public scrutiny that comes with such cases.
Why Philadelphia police need reforms in wake of shootingsWhile the Justice Department probe into 394 shootings since 2007 was critical of the training officers receive, it did not find evidence of systemic racial bias.
Could Texas have Nazi license plates? Supreme Court hears free speech case.A Texas group wants to put the Confederate battle flag on specialty Texas license plates. But the state doesn't. The Supreme Court case could have curious consequences.
Texts, laptop files in focus at Boston Marathon bombing trialOn Monday, the jury saw text messages that the prosecution says accused Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sent to a friend after the deadly 2013 attack.
