Federal Judges Order New Orleans Courts to Stop Shaking Down Citizens with Fees, High Bail
When half of a court's funding comes from criminal defendants, incentives get twisted.
Courts
TSA Screeners Can't Be Sued for Abuse, Federal Court Rules
The court admits the victims of TSA abuse "will have very limited legal redress."
Is Membership in a Conservation Organization Proof of Criminal Intent to Harm Cattle?
Prosecutors in southern Utah have argued that they can prove that the closing of a corral gate was the crime of attempted wanton destruction of livestock by pointing to a defendant's membership in a conservation organization. Today I argue to the Utah Court of Appeals that it should review the First Amendment implications of the prosecutors' maneuver.
Federal Judge Rules Against Suspending Poor People's Driver's Licenses for Unpaid Court Fines
"[A]s applied to indigent drivers, the law is not merely ineffective; it is powerfully counterproductive."
Federal Judge Dismisses Climate Change Damage Lawsuits Against Big Oil
Is it really fair for we who benefited from fossil fuels to blame for global warming on those who supplied what we demanded?
Stossel: Junk Science Locks Up Innocent People
DNA testing reveals that long-used forensic methods are error-riddled.
She Was Caught Shoplifting When She Was 12. Why Is There a Warrant Out for Her Arrest 25 Years Later?
The now working mother says the fine is bizarre, unfair.
The Unpublished Dissent in Cooper v. Aaron
"Of all the tribunals this is the one that should stick to the rules."
Jeff Sessions Doesn't Like Nationwide Injunctions, Except When He Does
When it comes to this powerful legal tool, everyone's a hypocrite.
The Guantanamo Defense Lawyers Quit Because They Found Microphones in Their Office Walls
The USS Cole defense team came to believe their meetings with their client were being bugged.
Workplace Discrimination Against Gays Is Covered Under the Civil Rights Act, Says a Second Federal Court
A third court disagrees. The Supreme Court had the chance to take on the case to resolve the conflict, but it declined.
Justice Bagenstos?
A prominent progressive law professor seeks a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court
Supreme Court Ruling Means More People Who Plead Guilty Can Appeal
A self-proclaimed "constitutional bounty hunter" is unlikely to be freed, but his case sets a significant precedent for criminal appeals.
In Civilian Court, Terrorist Sentenced After 17 Months; At Guantanamo Tribunal, Still No Trials After 17 Years
And yet we supposedly need Gitmo because civilian courts aren't up to the task.
Two Baltimore Police Officers Found Guilty of Armed Robbery, Racketeering
The trial of two Gun Trace Task Force members sheds light on a deeply dysfunctional department.
Felons Who Want Their Voting Rights Back Are Getting Unconstitutionally Screwed, Says Judge
The state uses a panel of partisan officials with absolute discretion to determine who gets to vote again
Baltimore Cops on Trial for a Criminal Conspiracy That Looks a Lot Like Everyday Policing
Armed robbery, extortion...and keeping the money for themselves.
Judge Says Defense Department Can't Transfer U.S. Citizen Without Her Permission
The Pentagon must give the ACLU an opportunity to contest any proposed transfer before it happens.
The Feds Are Just 'Safeguarding' Money Seized Through Asset Forfeiture and Civil Fines
U.S. prosecutors in Northern Georgia alone helped collect millions in asset forfeiture actions, civil and criminal fines last year.
Judge Issues Temporary Order Blocking DOD Transfer of U.S. Citizen to Foreign Custody
Pentagon argues it does not need to provide a legal basis for deciding to transfer the unidentified detainee.
Sanctuary Churches Take in Immigrants and Take on Trump
With deportations on the rise, hundreds of houses of worship are joining the resistance.
Punishing Low-Income Drivers for Being Poor
A judge says Michigan's license suspension scheme is probably unconstitutional. But the state government wants to keep it.
Victory in the 'Kettle Falls Five' Case
Charges dismissed, convictions vacated for family convicted of growing legal medical marijuana
Senate Confirms Libertarian-Minded Jurist Don Willett to Federal Judgeship
Willett confirmed to a seat on the 5th Circuit by 50-47 vote.
Texas Justice Don Willett Is One Step Closer to Being Confirmed to the Federal Bench
Senate Judiciary Committee votes 11-9 to advance Willett's nomination to the Senate floor.
Not Content Punishing its Own Students, RPI Goes After a Visitor
School fails to make Obama-era Title IX rules stick to the former boyfriend of a student.
Seattle's Income Tax Ruled Illegal
The city council's desire to 'tax the rich' collided with the plain text of Washington state law.
The Senate Democrats' Pathetic Attack on Justice Don Willett
The 5th Circuit nominee faces the Senate Judiciary Committee.
ACLU Accuses Poultry Processing Prison Camp of Human Trafficking
Court-ordered program provides slave labor to private companies says new ACLU of Oklahoma lawsuit.
Judge Threatens Arizona Prison Officials With Contempt For 'Pervasive and Intractable Failures'
The threat comes three years after officials agreed to improve the disastrous lack of healthcare.
Federal Judge Restores Drivers' Licenses to Two With Unpaid Traffic Tickets; May Be First Ruling of its Kind
Civil liberties groups say suspending drivers' licenses for unpaid court fines traps poor people in debt spiral. A federal judge appears to agree.
The Real 'Modern Slavery'? Inside America's Court-Ordered Corporate Labor Camps
Under the guise of getting addicts treatment, courts are ordering people to do dangerous and unremunerated labor in "diversion" factory farms.
Trump Nominates Libertarian-Minded Texas Justice Don Willett to U.S. Appellate Court
Willett picked to fill vacancy on U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
Janice Rogers Brown, America's Most Libertarian Federal Judge, Is Retiring
The possible replacements include Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett.
Connecticut Reaffirms Right to Curse at Supermarket Clerks
"Hate speech" is not a crime, Connecticut Supreme Court reminds overzealous prosecutors.
When Cops Lie
After being falsely labeled a sexual predator, a man gets justice. But why is the officer still working?
After 'Inebriated' Hook Up, Student Gets Expelled Without Due Process
But a California court says he was was denied a fair hearing
Student Agreed to Orgy, But Later Called It Sexual Assault, Lawsuit Claims
Judge says that University of California, Santa Barbara, may have denied accused male student due process
Jurors Convict Man for Telling Jurors About Jury Nullification
Handing out pamphlets gets treated as a crime.
Trump Announces 10 Judicial Nominations to Lower Federal Courts
The president's list includes executive power enthusiasts and a free-market advocate.
Federal Court Ruling Forbidding Antigay Job Discrimination Potentially a Very Big Deal
If the decision holds, it would essentially add LGBT protections to existing laws.
Christians Started the Wedding Wars
Defenders of traditional marriage used the law to persecute polygamists. Now they're the ones under attack.
Oklahoma Jury Rules in Favor of Army Vet Who Died in Jail Due to Neglect
Tulsa County owes $10.2 million in damages.
First Amendment Lawyers Ask New Calif. Attorney General to Drop 'Abusive' Crusade Against Backpage and User-Info Dragnet
A subpoena calls for copies of all Backpage ads posted over several years, all billing records, and the identities of all of the website's users.
