Legislation & Lobbying

Motor Voter Law a Fast Track to Crime

Proudly proceeding on a fast track toward legal residency and eventual U.S. citizenship, Beth Keathley was so excited about having had a chance to vote in her first American election that she mentioned the milestone to her immigration officer. The next thing she knew, she had been charged with a…

Dec 3, 2007 9:45 PM CST

December 5, 1933

Prohibition Repealed

Dec 1, 2007 8:50 PM CST

Getting Out—and Staying Out

Support builds for bill to help former inmates avoid return trips to prison

Dec 1, 2007 4:44 PM CST

Justices Appear Ready to Overturn Maine Tobacco Law

During oral arguments yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court appeared inclined to overturn a Maine law regulating the delivery of cigarettes purchased over the Internet, the New York Times reports. The law requires companies that sell tobacco directly to consumers to use delivery services that check the age of the buyer.…

Nov 29, 2007 5:59 PM CST

Ex-Judiciary Committee Chair Henry Hyde Dies

Henry Hyde, a former chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has died at the age of 83. The longtime Illinois congressman led the impeachment effort in the House against President Bill Clinton and sponsored the amendment that banned federal funding for abortions, the Chicago Tribune reports. His committee voted to…

Nov 29, 2007 3:44 PM CST

Cuomo’s Doctor-Ranking Model Gains Political Traction

Top lawmakers in New York have agreed to support state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to codify a doctor-ranking system. The Doctor Ranking Model Code is meant to be a consumer protection mechanism that also sets standards for insurers. “It is imperative that New Yorkers aren’t steered to certain ‘preferred’…

Nov 26, 2007 11:01 PM CST

Judge: Put Capital Appeals in Lower Calif. Courts; Lawyers: Pay Us More

In an effort to deal with a backlog of death penalty appeals and speed up the appellate process, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court is calling for a constitutional amendment to allow some of the appeals to be shifted to lower state courts. It now reportedly takes more…

Nov 21, 2007 7:57 PM CST

New N.Y. Law School in Binghamton?

A possible plan to establish a new public law school in Binghamton, N.Y., is being discussed by two existing universities there. If established, it would be the third public law school in the state. Under preliminary plans being discussed, the law school apparently would be a joint venture of Binghamton…

Nov 21, 2007 1:19 AM CST

Obscure Ore. Law: Don’t Dig for Artifacts

An Oregon bottle collector had no idea that his seemingly innocent hobby of looking for old glass around outhouses could violate state law. But then local media featured him in news reports. Soon afterward, 44-year-old Dale Mlasko received a letter from the Oregon State Preservation Office, reports the Mail Tribune,…

Nov 21, 2007 1:02 AM CST

New Look at Case of Teen’s Suicide Over Web Bullying

Authorities in Missouri initially said no laws appeared to have been broken by at least one adult allegedly responsible for an Internet hoax that reportedly bullied a 13-year-old girl into committing suicide a year ago. But now prosecutors are looking into the situation further following a public outcry after recent…

Nov 21, 2007 12:09 AM CST

Bills Would Allow Bankruptcy Judges to Modify Home Loans

Legislation pending in Congress would allow bankruptcy judges to help stave off foreclosures on primary homes by adjusting the mortgage terms and even forgiving part of the debt. The bills would allow judges to reduce the principal debt to the property’s fair market value, lower the mortgage interest rate, or…

Nov 20, 2007 12:57 PM CST

Bill Would Give Free Housing Lawyers to N.Y. Elderly

“Would you send your grandmother to court without a lawyer?” That is the question displayed on signs held by supporters of a proposed law to give older residents facing eviction or foreclosure a right to a lawyer in New York City’s housing court. Councilwoman Rosie Mendez has introduced the bill…

Nov 16, 2007 4:01 PM CST

Mortgage Protection Bill Passes House

The U.S. House has passed a bill that helps protect homeowners from risky home loans, but the legislation faces some opposition in the Senate. The bill would fine lenders who steer borrowers to risky loans when other financing is available, the Associated Press reports. It would also bar excessive fees…

Nov 16, 2007 3:41 PM CST

BBC: No Judges in Many Pakistan Courts

As hundreds of lawyers in cities throughout the U.S. joined in peaceful protests today to support fellow attorneys in Pakistan, the legal system there continues in a chaotic state, particularly at the appellate level. “More than half the courtrooms have no judges. Most lawyers who are still free are refusing…

Nov 14, 2007 10:27 PM CST

Warren Buffett: Superrich Have Enough, So Don’t Repeal Estate Tax

The superrich have already made out like bandits under current tax law during the past 20 years. So the last thing Congress should do is further enhance their financial good fortune by repealing the current estate tax, the world’s third-richest man told legislators at a hearing today. As the average…

Nov 14, 2007 5:55 PM CST