Constitutional Law

Successful Second Amendment Legal Team Seeks $3.5M in Fees

The legal team that won a U.S. Supreme Court Second Amendment ruling is seeking $3.5 million in legal fees. Lawyer Alan Gura says in a motion filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., that he and two other lawyers worked more than 3,000 hours on the case, Legal Times reports.…

Aug 27, 2008 5:54 PM CDT

Judge Cites ‘Weak’ Privilege Claim, Refuses Stay in Miers Case

Former White House counsel Harriet Miers could be required to appear before the House Judiciary Committee as early as next month under a federal judge’s ruling yesterday. U.S. District Judge John Bates refused to stay an earlier ruling in which he found that Miers and former White House chief of…

Aug 27, 2008 11:41 AM CDT

Young Protester in Denver Finds 1st Arrest a Daunting Experience

Arrested for the first time in his life while protesting in Denver on Monday night, as the Democratic National Convention was getting into gear, a young Colorado man identified as “Martin” says he didn’t do anything wrong. “I was marching to make people aware that they should be worried about…

Aug 26, 2008 11:31 PM CDT

Jury Awards $900K in Texas Jail Medical Neglect Case

A federal jury in Texas has awarded $900,000 to a man who says he suffered a stroke while jailed in Dallas County because of medical neglect. The verdict is the largest ever awarded against the county in such a case, reports the Dallas Morning News. Attorney Don Tittle represented the…

Aug 26, 2008 7:51 PM CDT

Texas School District is 1st to Let Teachers Pack Heat in Classrooms

When the school year started yesterday, a small district in Texas reportedly made history as the first in the country to allow teachers to carry concealed firearms. “Teachers who wanted to participate had to be approved by the school board, obtain their concealed carry license, and complete extensive training in…

Aug 26, 2008 4:43 PM CDT

Wrangling Over Restoration of Judges Intensifies in Pakistan

Lawyers in Pakistan are planning new protests, starting Thursday, as wrangling among the country’s ruling parliamentary coalition intensifies over whether to restore to office all 60 of the appellate judges removed by then-President Pervez Musharraf in November after he declared a state of emergency and imposed what many considered martial…

Aug 25, 2008 3:35 PM CDT

Discussions Taking Place in White House Subpoena Case

The parties in the subpoena standoff between Congress and two former White House officials have held two meetings in an effort to resolve their differences. A status report filed in the case on Friday said the parties have met twice since a federal judge rejected a claim that the officials…

Aug 25, 2008 12:29 PM CDT

More Key Senators Seek to Delay AG’s Planned Investigative Guidelines

Four senior Democratic senators joined today with leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee in calling for further public review before new investigative guidelines planned by Attorney General Michael Mukasey become effective. The guidelines, which Mukasey says are needed to fight terrorism effectively, are now set to be finalized by the…

Aug 20, 2008 11:08 PM CDT

Judges Still a Divisive Issue for Pakistan’s New Leaders

Even as a suicide bombing that killed perhaps 25 people served as a tragic reminder of the need for decisive leadership in Pakistan, those in charge of the country’s ruling coalition continued to wrangle today over whether some 60 appellate judges removed from office last year by now-former President Pervez…

Aug 19, 2008 11:12 PM CDT

As Clock Ticks, Defendant Seeks Evidence of Judge’s Alleged Affair

Having escaped the death penalty at almost the last minute in June, Charles Dean Hood has a good chance of actually meeting his maker on his next scheduled execution date in September. However, lawyers for the convicted murderer, who insists he is innocent, are trying an unusual tactic to attempt…

Aug 19, 2008 10:51 PM CDT

Judge Sides With MIT Students, Lifts Gag Order in Transit Case

A federal anti-hacking law wasn’t intended to prohibit the disclosure of public information about computer security flaws and hence doesn’t prohibit three MIT students from discussing with fellow academics how they learned to circumvent the Boston transit fare system, as part of a class project. That’s what a federal judge…

Aug 19, 2008 8:31 PM CDT

Calif. Supreme Court Rules for Gay Couple Denied Fertility Treatments

The California Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s anti-discrimination law bars two physicians from refusing to provide artificial insemination to a lesbian couple because of their sexual orientation. “The First Amendment’s right to the free exercise of religion,” the court said, “does not exempt defendant physicians here from conforming…

Aug 19, 2008 10:55 AM CDT

As Musharraf Exits, Pakistan Lawyers Seek Trial and Restoration of Judges

As Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, resigned from office today, lawyers whose protests for over a year helped achieve this situation celebrated. They also called for the restoration to office of dozens of appellate court judges he removed last November. “Hundreds of lawyers gathered in the courtyard of the Lahore High…

Aug 18, 2008 10:29 PM CDT

Supreme Court Doesn’t Act on Request to Rehear Rape-Death Penalty Decision

There’s no indication today whether the U.S. Supreme Court will rehear a decision that overlooked a military law. The U.S. Supreme Court issued several orders today but didn’t act today on a request to rehear its decision in Kennedy v. Louisiana barring the death penalty for child rape, SCOTUSblog reports.…

Aug 18, 2008 3:30 PM CDT

Pakistan’s Musharraf Says He Will Resign Today

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has announced he will step down today, following more than a year of lawyer-led protests. Musharraf said he is putting national interest above “personal bravado,” the New York Times reports. “I am leaving with the satisfaction that whatever I could do for this country I did…

Aug 18, 2008 10:33 AM CDT