All Law & Courts
Alleged theater shooter stays in jail: Did judge agree with 'ticking bomb' theory?Judges traditionally show deference to police officers. But in the case of former police captain Curtis Reeves, charged with fatally shooting Chad Oulson in a Florida movie theater dispute, the judge denied bail.
Florida movie theater shooting: More details come out in bond hearingA Florida judge is deciding whether to allow Curtis Reeves, a retired police captain in his early 70s, to post bail and go free until his trial for the shooting death of a father who was texting a baby sitter.
No jail in 'affluenza' case: Does sentence lift chances of rehabilitation?A Texas judge reaffirms her decision to send teenager Ethan Couch to a treatment facility rather than to prison for killing four while driving drunk. During trial, the defense had argued that Ethan, from a wealthy family, exhibited poor judgment because of 'affluenza.'
California egg law, pro-chicken, is unfair to Missouri farmers, lawsuit allegesCalifornia egg law mandates that eggs sold in the state, as of next year, can't come from chickens who live in 'factory' cages. Missouri is suing in federal court, arguing that California is interfering with interstate commerce.
Feds launch criminal probe into West Virginia chemical spillA federal grand jury has launched a criminal investigation into last month's chemical spill in West Virginia amid concerns from residents that the water still may not be safe to drink.
Michael Dunn trial starts in Florida: How similar to Trayvon Martin case?The murder trial of Michael Dunn, which began Monday, puts Florida's 'stand your ground' law front and center again. Mr. Dunn, who is white, is charged with killing a black teen in Jacksonville after jousting over loud music.
Same-sex marriage: Four Wisconsin couples challenge state banLawyers for the four Wisconsin couples are also asking to permanently block a 'cruel' state statute that makes it a crime to travel elsewhere for same-sex marriage.
In decline of prison populations, convict moms may be a key beneficiaryCongress is moving on sentencing reform, which could further ease the pressure on female prisoners with children. Here is a look at some of the distinct challenges facing these women.
Boston Marathon bombing: US seeks death penalty for Dzhokhar TsarnaevAttorney General Eric Holder authorized federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. In most such cases, the result is life imprisonment.
Missouri execution: Supreme Court lifts execution stay in lethal drug disputeMissouri execution: The Supreme Court rejected an 11th-hour appeal to block the execution of Herbert Smulls, a Missouri death row inmate. Wednesday night, state officials administered a lethal dose of the drug pentobarbital.
- Did airline unfairly report angry pilot to TSA? Supreme Court rules.
A jury decided that Air Wisconsin was reckless in telling the TSA that one of its pilots could be armed and mentally unstable, resulting in his detainment. But the Supreme Court reversed the ruling.
Judge orders end to life-support for 'brain-dead' Texas womanA Texas judge has ordered hospital authorities to remove life-support devices from Marlise Muñoz, a pregnant woman who has been declared 'brain-dead.' It's an important test of laws written to protect unborn children.
Obamacare and contraceptives: Supreme Court hands nuns temporary victoryThe Supreme Court blocked enforcement of Obamacare's contraceptive mandate and said the nuns were not required to use the procedure set up by the government as an accommodation for religious groups.
Once the hunter, Chris Christie is now the prey in Bridge-gate probeChris Christie's successor as US Attorney for the District of New Jersey has expanded the probe of Bridge-gate, issuing subpoenas to his reelection campaign and the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
Case of brain-dead pregnant Texas woman takes complicating turnA Texas hospital says state law requires it to keep a pregnant brain-dead woman on life support. Lawyers for the family, who want life support removed, now say the fetus has suffered trauma.
Virginia attorney general drops defense of gay marriage banVirginia Attorney General Mark Herring says his office will not defend the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage in court, following similar moves by two other states and the Obama administration.
- Child porn: $3.4 million for two photos? Court grapples with restitution.
The US Supreme Court hears arguments on whether consumers of child pornography should pay full restitution for the harm caused the child victim – or some proportional share.
Documents offer rare inside look at Chicago priest sex abuseThousands of documents from the Archdiocese of Chicago dealing with child sex abuse by members of the Catholic Church were released Tuesday.
Same-sex couples challenge Florida ban on gay marriageSame-sex couples claim that the Florida ban on gay marriage is a 'government-imposed stigma' that fosters 'private bias and discrimination.' Same-sex marriage is banned in 30 states.
FocusWhen does life end? Two emotional cases probe the complexities.Two young women – teenager Jahi McMath in California and mother Marlise Munoz in Texas – have both been deemed brain-dead, a final state according to statutes. But both cases have spawned legal fights.
