Courts

Torturing the Law to Argue that Obamacare is Unconstitutional

It should be a pretty easy law to uphold. But will conservative justices overturn it anyway?

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| Mon Mar. 26, 2012 8:13 AM PDT
obamacare

What the Supreme Court Could Do About Obamacare, Explained

We game out the possible outcomes of the challenges to the Affordable Care Act—as the high court hears arguments.

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| Mon Mar. 26, 2012 12:08 AM PDT
stand your ground laws

The NRA Wants the Law Protecting Trayvon Martin's Killer in All 50 States

Thanks to the powerful gun lobby, "shoot first" laws are spreading nationwide, and "justifiable homicides" have skyrocketed in Florida—as this map and chart show.

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| Wed Mar. 21, 2012 3:27 PM PDT
civil rights march selma alabama 1965

Liberals Started the Culture War, and We Should Be Proud of Continuing It

We're no more willing to stop than conservatives are, and we shouldn't be.

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| Mon Mar. 19, 2012 12:12 PM PDT

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Virginia Supreme Court Ends Cuccinelli's Case Against Climate Scientist

Virginia Attorney General's attack on climate science hits a brick wall.

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| Fri Mar. 2, 2012 4:05 PM PST

Federal Judge's Racist Email May Have Violated US Ethics Code

Richard Cebull's offensive email disparaging Obama apparently broke rules for federal judges. Is his apology to the president sufficient?

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| Thu Mar. 1, 2012 2:40 PM PST
richard cebull

See the Racist Email About Obama Sent by a Federal Judge

A federal judge has a few yuks over a joke implying black people are animals.

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| Thu Mar. 1, 2012 12:08 PM PST
Farmer Keith Smith

"It's Just Not Right": The Failures of Alabama's Self-Deportation Experiment

What happens when outside agitators work with state politicians to pass the nation's most draconian anti-immigrant law yet? The Cotton State learned the hard way.

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| Thu Mar. 1, 2012 4:00 AM PST

How Did Harsh Immigration Laws Spread to Your Statehouse?

Hint: The conservative American Legislative Exchange Council and legal experts like Kris Kobach had a lot to do with it.

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| Thu Mar. 1, 2012 4:00 AM PST
Anti-immigration law map

Is Your State Hostile to Obama's Mini-DREAM Act?

Plus: four other maps tracking the anti-immigrant movement nationwide.

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| Thu Mar. 1, 2012 4:00 AM PST
us supreme court

Will the Roberts Court Kill Affirmative Action Once and for All?

The justices will rule on whether University of Texas policies discriminated against a white woman.

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| Thu Feb. 23, 2012 4:30 AM PST

Undie Bomber Gets Life

Looking back, Umar Abdulmutallab's attempt to "terrorize" the American people was a success.

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| Thu Feb. 16, 2012 1:46 PM PST
barack obama

What War on Religion?

If Obama is hell-bent on waging battle with religious institutions—as his critics allege—he sure has a funny way of showing it.

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| Thu Feb. 16, 2012 4:00 AM PST
equality for all

Court: Prop 8 Is Unconstitutional

A three-judge panel said the only purpose of Prop 8 was to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

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| Tue Feb. 7, 2012 12:42 PM PST
Scott Walker

Scott Walker Unveils Legal Defense Fund to Cope With Criminal Probe

It's the strongest sign yet that the Wisconsin governor may be directly implicated in an ongoing secret "John Doe" investigation.

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| Tue Feb. 7, 2012 4:00 AM PST
gavel

Defending Climate Scientists

Scientists officially launch a new fund to cover legal fees for climate scientists.

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| Thu Jan. 26, 2012 1:44 PM PST
rick perry

Another Reason To Be Glad Rick Perry Won't Be President

A new study finds that the Texas Supreme Court under Gov. Rick Perry rarely sees a corporate defendant it doesn't love.

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| Thu Jan. 26, 2012 1:08 PM PST
vince foster murder

Prosecutor: Campaign Worker's Arrest Not Obama's Watergate

Zachary Edwards is charged with a serious crime. That doesn't mean the president was involved.

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| Thu Jan. 26, 2012 4:00 AM PST
obama-bush

Report: Obama Team to Break Silence on Killings of American Terror Suspects

A story by Newsweek's Daniel Klaidman reports that the Obama administration is poised to explain why it should be allowed to kill Americans without charge or trial.

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| Tue Jan. 24, 2012 10:55 AM PST
kansas

Gay Sex Still Illegal in Kansas

Despite the 2003 SCOTUS decision, Kansas still criminalizes sodomy.

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| Mon Jan. 23, 2012 3:01 PM PST