Fourteenth Amendment

Ex-felons in Florida who can’t afford fees and fines are entitled to vote, 11th Circuit says

Ex-felons in Florida who can’t afford to pay outstanding fees and fines are entitled to vote under a state constitutional amendment restoring voting rights, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

Feb 19, 2020 12:32 PM CST

Justice Ginsburg calls for renewed effort to pass Equal Rights Amendment

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg celebrated Monday evening the centennial of the 19th Amendment that gives women the right to vote as a “miracle” and a “first step towards equal citizenship stature for women.” But she still holds out hope for another goal of the suffragist movement—the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Feb 11, 2020 10:43 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sues over Hillary Clinton gripe; court order doesn’t stop deportation

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sues Hillary Clinton for ‘Russian asset’ comment about unnamed candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidate, has filed a defamation suit against Hillary Clinton for her podcast comments about “somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary” being groomed to be a third-party candidate.…

Jan 23, 2020 4:36 PM CST

Over 200 federal lawmakers urge SCOTUS to reconsider Roe; DOJ takes narrower stance

More than 200 members of Congress filed an amicus brief Thursday that encouraged the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider and possibly overrule Roe v. Wade when it decides a case on a restrictive Louisiana abortion law.

Jan 6, 2020 3:27 PM CST

Sotomayor voices concerns in case stemming from court staffer’s suicide note about pro se appeals

A court staffer’s suicide note and the response by an appeals court in Louisiana led U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to raise due process concerns in a statement Monday regarding cert denial in a prisoner’s case.

Dec 9, 2019 12:42 PM CST

Woman claims lewdness law is unconstitutional after she’s charged for appearing topless in front of stepkids

Lawyers are asking a judge to overturn Utah’s lewdness law and to toss charges against a Utah woman who appeared topless in front of her stepchildren.

Nov 22, 2019 11:30 AM CST

Class action says Mississippi’s DA’s office has a pattern of wrongfully excluding black jurors

A federal lawsuit filed on Monday claims a Mississippi district attorney and his prosecutors are wrongfully using peremptory challenges to exclude potential black jurors more frequently than whites.

Nov 20, 2019 2:13 PM CST

Judge rules woman who joined ISIS is not US citizen based on birthright citizenship exception

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled from the bench Thursday that an Alabama woman who joined the Islamic State group and traveled to Syria is not a U.S. citizen because of an exception to the Constitution’s grant of birthright citizenship.

Nov 15, 2019 11:31 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: FBI probes slaying of US lawyer overseas; liberal group’s SCOTUS short list released

FBI to aid probe into slaying of US lawyer in Micronesia The FBI is aiding the investigation into the Monday shooting death of U.S. lawyer Rachelle Bergeron, who was acting attorney general of Yap State in the Pacific nation of Micronesia. A friend, Amos Collins, said he doesn’t know who…

Oct 16, 2019 4:11 PM CDT

Settlement provides for right to counsel in 2 municipal courts; ACLU hopes other cities take note

A federal judge in Charleston, South Carolina, has approved a $250,000 settlement that also ensures the right to a lawyer for some municipal court defendants.

Oct 11, 2019 10:48 AM CDT

SCOTUS opens new term with criminal law cases addressing insanity defense and unanimous juries

The U.S. Supreme Court has several blockbuster cases in its new term—on gay and transgender rights, federal immigration enforcement and gun regulation. But before it gets to any of those, the court on the first day of the term will take up two criminal law cases raising significant questions, even though only a handful of states are affected by each.

Oct 3, 2019 5:03 PM CDT

Want encouragement in the justice arena? Think about what’s changed, says Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The country has come a long way, said U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and that’s what keeps her optimistic for the future. “It can be hard to do anything as a loner, but if you get together with like-minded people, you can be a force for change,” Ginsburg said at a discussion Monday at the University of Chicago.

Sep 10, 2019 3:15 PM CDT

Law student among plaintiffs challenging state law requiring couples getting married to identify race

A law student at Washington and Lee University who is planning an October wedding is challenging a Virginia law that requires couples getting married to list their race.

Sep 9, 2019 2:33 PM CDT

11 landmark SCOTUS cases that changed American education (gallery)

With school finally back in full swing across the country, it’s a great time for a history lesson in American education. Landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, Tinker v. Des Moises and the more recent Forest Grove School District v. T.A. have forever changed…

Sep 5, 2019 1:00 PM CDT

Fines-and-fees system that helps fund court budget is unconstitutional, 5th Circuit rules

A federal appeals panel has ruled that a system of criminal fines and fees in the New Orleans criminal court was unconstitutional because the money is used to support a general fund overseen by the court’s judges.

Aug 30, 2019 10:32 AM CDT