All Law & Courts
Supreme Court declines case accusing Donald Rumsfeld of tortureThe Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal arguing the US government violated the constitutional rights of citizen José Padilla by detaining and subjecting him to harsh interrogation as an enemy combatant suspected of having links to Al Qaeda.
Supreme Court deals blow to Guantánamo prisoners challenging their detentionSupreme Court refuses, without comment, to take up multiple appeals examining whether Guantánamo detainees have a 'meaningful opportunity' to challenge the legality of their detention.
New Jersey Muslims sue NYPD to end surveillanceThe plaintiffs say the NYPD's program to monitor Muslims on the basis of their religion is a constitutional violation. The NYPD says it's a necessary safeguard against future terrorism.
Prop. 8: appeals courts set stage for Supreme Court review of gay marriageThe Ninth Circuit on Tuesday declined to reexamine a ruling overturning California's Prop. 8 gay marriage ban as unconstitutional. The decision sets the stage for a Supreme Court showdown.
- Supreme Court sides with Secret Service agents in free-speech case
A Colorado man said Secret Service agents arrested him in retaliation for his political comments about former Vice President Dick Cheney. The Supreme Court said the agents had probable cause.
George Zimmerman back to jail for 'falsehoods.' Will they influence trial?The judge in the Trayvon Martin case revoked George Zimmerman's bond and ordered him to jail after prosecutors showed he had lied about his personal finances during his bond hearing.
Why the John Edwards prosecution went down in flamesAt the outset, the government's election-fraud case against John Edwards appeared open and shut. But vague laws, a shaky star witness, and political overtones all undercut the prosecution.
Is John Edwards verdict the last straw for campaign finance?A jury found John Edwards not guilty of the most serious charge, and the judge declared a mistrial on the others. The verdict is part of the changing landscape of campaign finance, experts say.
- Why a federal court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act
The First Circuit wrote that the federal Defense of Marriage Act intruded on states' rights and that the act's defenders failed to justify its impact on gay couples. But the court acknowledged that 'only the Supreme Court can finally decide this unique case.'
- Appeals court strikes down DOMA: Tradition doesn't justify unequal treatment
A three-judge panel from the federal appeals court in Boston unanimously ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional for denying federal benefits to 'same-sex couples lawfully married in Massachusetts.'
Etan Patz case: Will self-admitted killer's prayer group confession hold up?If charges are brought against Pedro Hernandez for the killing of Etan Patz, the case could turn on whether confession made to a prayer group is confidential like that made to a priest.
- Was Taser use on pregnant woman excessive force? Supreme Court declines case.
The Supreme Court refused the case of a pregnant woman who was ticketed for speeding in a school zone in Seattle. When she refused to get out of her car, police used a Taser to shock her three times.
The unusual confessor who broke the Etan Patz cold caseKilling Etan Patz in 1979 may have been the only time alleged killer Pedro Hernandez hurt someone. While he avoided detection for 33 years, the secret took enough of a toll that Hernandez broke down in tears as he confessed, appearing remorseful and ‘relieved.’
Gay marriage: Judge overturns DOMA, stepping up pressure on Supreme CourtA federal judge struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which precludes gay couples from receiving federal marriage benefits. She is the third federal judge to do so, suggesting that the Supreme Court might need to step in soon to clarify its position.
Etan Patz case: Despite confession, a trial would be trickyIf Pedro Hernandez sticks to his confession and is found to be mentally competent, a judge will simply sentence him for killing schoolboy Etan Patz in 1979. But if he were to recant, prosecutors would face a hard decision.
Etan Patz killing: Motive is a puzzle for police, and potentially, a juryPedro Hernandez has said he killed Etan Patz 33 years ago because he 'felt the urge to kill,' raising questions for behavioral scientists. He is hospitalized and reportedly under suicide watch.
Major gay marriage cases in federal court and where they stand Battles over same-sex marriage have been raging in the federal courts for several years. Two could reach the US Supreme Court within a year: one challenging California's ban on gay marriage under Proposition 8, and the other seeking to invalidate the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Here are the cases to follow.
Patrick Fitzgerald, nemesis of Rod Blagojevich, steps downUS Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald on Thursday ruled out two options for his next career move, saying he’s not wired to run for office and quipping, 'Can you see me as a defense attorney?'
John Edwards verdict could become part of Citizens United backlashA diverse panel of North Carolinians is currently considering whether John Edwards committed campaign fraud in 2008, but the verdict could also reverberate nationally if it is at odds with the Supreme Court's landmark Citizens United ruling.
Why Dharun Ravi got 30 days in jail in Rutgers webcam spying caseDharun Ravi committed 'reprehensible' acts in setting up a webcam to spy on his Rutgers roommate's gay relationship, but they did not reach the level of a hate crime, the judge said.
