All Law & Courts
Will report on FBI killing of Boston bomber pal quell conspiracy theories?Transparency has been a problem in the case of an associate of alleged Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev killed while in FBI custody. An independent report Monday may clear the air – or not.
Same-sex marriage: Court shoots down yet another state banFederal judges in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Texas have ruled that state amendments and laws banning gay marriage violate the US Constitution. Michigan now joins that group.
General Motors recall: How badly might it hurt GM's nascent turnaround?General Motors recall, linked to a dozen deaths going back more than a decade, is fueling more lawsuits as well as questions about whether GM misrepresented the issue in its 2008 bankruptcy.
Can military try sexual assault cases? Critics decry general's plea deal.Advocacy groups say the plea deal, in which sexual assault charges were dropped against Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair, shows why military commanders should not have authority over such cases.
Judge calls Tenn. gay marriage ban historical 'footnote': Do Southerners now agree?The South remains the most hard-line US region opposing same-sex marriage. But a recent shift in public attitudes – even in the Bible Belt – suggests that may be changing.
- N.J. judge cites women's rights in barring unwed dad from child's birth
Patients alone get to decide who is at their bedsides, a New Jersey judge has ruled. Fathers have no court-established right to be in delivery rooms – or even be notified – when their children are born, he said.
In CIA-Senate dispute, Feinstein levels serious legal charges against agencySen. Dianne Feinstein, long a champion of the US intelligence mission, said the CIA, in allegedly spying on Senate oversight staff, may have violated separation of powers principles and the Fourth Amendment.
State capitols turn into battlefields over the arming of AmericaWhile proponents of gun control have launched a 'spring and summer offensive' targeting stand-your-ground statutes, the NRA is putting its lobbying machine back in high gear.
Student free speech prevails, as Supreme Court refuses 'boobies' bracelet casePennsylvania students have a free speech right to wear 'i ♥ boobies' bracelets to school to support breast cancer awareness, a US appeals court had ruled. The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear an appeal, letting that decision stand.
Too drunk to lose $500,000 in Vegas? Lawsuit may not be such a long shot.A California businessman says in a lawsuit that the Downtown Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino served him about 20 free drinks – a tactic to fleece him while he was drunk. He may have a case.
US, siding with Muslim officer, sues school district over beard policyThe Philadelphia public school district’s policy on beards clashed with the religious beliefs of a school police officer. But overall in the US, more efforts are being made to accommodate the faithful in such situations.
Court rejects BP claim that Gulf oil spill settlement is unfairBP argues that people are fraudulently claiming business losses related to the Gulf oil spill under the settlement reached last year. But a federal appeals court has backed the claimants.
No Supreme Court review for local laws against harboring illegal immigrantsThe Supreme Court on Monday refused two cases dealing with city ordinances aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from obtaining local housing or jobs. That lets stand lower-court rulings that the laws are impermissible.
Supreme Court: Can Florida execute 'mentally retarded' prisoner?On Monday, the court is scheduled to hear a Florida case involving the death penalty as applied to those deemed to be mentally retarded – in this case, Freddie Lee Hall, who has a low IQ.
School can nix American-flag clothing to ease racial tension, US court saysA California school did not improperly abridge student free speech by requiring students to remove American-flag-inspired clothing they wore to a Cinco de Mayo event, a US appeals court ruled. Some see a sad commentary on racial tension in schools; others see cultural appeasement.
Was vetoed Arizona bill misrepresented? What constitutional scholars say.Before Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed SB 1062 Wednesday evening, 11 constitutional scholars wrote her to say the legislation had been 'egregiously misrepresented by many of its critics.'
US judge strikes down Texas gay marriage ban as 'state-imposed inequality'Texas is the fourth conservative state since December to have a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage struck down by a federal judge, joining Utah, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
Supreme Court narrows right to object to a police search of suspect's homeWalter Fernandez objected to a police search of his home. His girlfriend, after his arrest, did not. US Supreme Court rules the search was constitutional. Three dissenting justices say it diminishes Fourth Amendment rights.
Mexico's capture of ‘El Chapo’: How likely is extradition to US?Federal officials in Chicago and Brooklyn have already said they will seek the extradition of drug kingpin Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán. The Obama administration hasn't taken an official position on the matter.
Did EPA overstep in tackling global warming? Supreme Court sharply split.Justice Kennedy could hold the decisive Supreme Court vote on whether the EPA exceeded its authority when it sought to use the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
