All Law & Courts
The ExplainerCalifornia has the most gun-control laws in US. Do they work?Under Ronald Reagan, California became the birthplace of modern gun control. But how effective are its laws – and can they stop mass shootings like the one in San Jose?
First LookTennessee leads political shift right with anti-transgender lawsTennessee has passed five new laws targeting transgender people this year, ranging from participation in girls’ sports, when sex education should be taught, and who can use public restrooms. Conservative lawmakers nationwide have introduced similar bills.
First Look'It wasn't me – it was the mob,' Capitol rioters pleadSocial scientists have long observed that when part of large crowds, people often act in ways they would not have if they were alone. But will that be considered a valid excuse in a court of law for the rioters who swarmed the United States Capitol on Jan. 6?
First LookUS extends temporary protected status for over 50,000 HaitiansThe Biden administration, citing conditions in Haiti, is allowing eligible Haitian nationals in the U.S. to apply anew for temporary protected status.
What Supreme Court’s jettisoning of precedent may mean for futureThe Supreme Court is showing a greater willingness to toss precedent – even when not asked to do so – with ramifications for abortion, guns, and LGBTQ rights.
FocusFrom LA jail, two inmates pioneer care for mentally ill peersFrom the Los Angeles County jail has emerged a model for how to address mental illness among inmates. The secret? Care, on a daily basis.
First LookSupreme Court case reinvigorates debate over legal abortionsThe U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a Mississippi case this fall that could take a first step toward unraveling Roe v. Wade. The outcome is likely to galvanize voter turnout for close 2022 midterm elections in several swing states.
First LookJustice Thomas found his voice. Will the Supreme Court change?Arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court are usually rough-and-tumble affairs, with lawyers peppered with questions by judges sometimes competing to get a word in. The use of teleconferencing, however, has required a more orderly process.
On the Supreme Court docket: Fairness, textualism, and crack cocaineA crack cocaine dealer’s case will be heard Tuesday at the Supreme Court. His supporters include prosecutors, judges, lawmakers, and the White House.
First LookTransparency push to release police disciplinary recordsTo prevent cops with bad records from moving to different communities, lawmakers in 20 states are seeking more transparency and accountability.
First LookSupreme Court: Should schools regulate teens’ speech off-campus?Cyberbullying often happens off-campus, but so do a lot of exchanges that happen online. A new Supreme Court case will examine how much leeway U.S. public schools have in disciplining students’ rants on social media – especially in a time of remote learning.
Cover StoryCSI Houston: How a Texas lab has remade the science of forensicsA crime lab in Texas is restoring public trust in the flawed science of forensics – and becoming an international model.
Chauvin convicted: Why this big trial broke from patternSometimes the law and justice are two different things, as several other “trials of the century” have shown.
FocusWith trial over, what next for racial justice?For much of the country, it has felt like racism itself was on trial in Minneapolis. What does the verdict say about where America goes from here?
First LookDerek Chauvin found guilty in murder of George FloydFormer Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of all three charges of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, and could face decades in prison.
First LookIndianapolis shooter bought two rifles. Did red flag laws fail?Indianapolis mass shooting suspect Brandon Scott Hole bought two rifles just months after a shotgun was seized by police for mental health reasons.
First LookAs trial wraps, why didn't Derek Chauvin testify?As the trial of Derek Chauvin – facing murder and manslaughter charges for George Floyd’s death – comes to an end, the jury will have to try to reach a verdict. But they won’t have testimony from Mr. Chauvin himself.
FocusNo badges. No guns. Can violence interrupters help Minneapolis?Is violence something that can be cured? A new Minneapolis program sends out unarmed residents, rather than police, to de-escalate situations.
The ExplainerAre vaccine passports legal in the US? Five questions.Vaccine passports have become the latest question to divide the U.S., raising charged legal and ethical questions.
First LookThree questions Derek Chauvin's trial seeks to answerThe trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd opened this week in Minneapolis. Jurors are tasked with sorting through testimonies and evidence to answer why and how an encounter with police escalated.
