federal courts news stories on Newser

Court Kills Terrorist's Suit Against Bush Lawyer

Kevin Spak — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:37:05 CDT

Convicted terrorist Jose Padilla can't sue the Bush administration lawyer who helped craft the legal justification for torturing him—nor can any American citizen in the same predicament, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today. Padilla, an American citizen dubbed an "enemy combatant" in 2002, has been trying to...

Mexican-American Studies Are Illegal: Arizona Judge

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:00:00 CST

An Arizona judge has declared that a Tucson Mexican-American ethnic studies program in city high schools violates state law. The ruling backs a determination by controversial state Schools Superintendent John Huppenthal that the program is illegal under a new law banning educational programs that promote ethnic solidarity and provoke "racial...

Whitey Bulger: I Could Afford a Lawyer if...

Polly Davis Doig — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:42:36 CDT

Suspected mobster and longtime flight risk James "Whitey" Bulger will be cooling his heels in lockup after a federal judge denied him bail in his first court appearance yesterday. Bulger, who had $800,000 stashed in his Santa Monica apartment, asked to be declared indigent so that he could get...

Judge: States Can't Ignore Health Care Law—Yet

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:37:46 CST

A federal judge who declared President Obama's health care overhaul unconstitutional ruled today that states must continue implementing it while the case makes its way through the courts. US District Judge Roger Vinson was responding to a request from Obama administration attorneys who sought to ensure Florida and 25 other...

Vacancies Leave Federal Courts in Crisis

Kevin Spak — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:19:52 CST

Republicans’ refusal to allow votes on President Obama’s judicial nominees has pushed courts to the breaking point, particularly in southwestern courts struggling with drug and illegal immigration trials, the Washington Post reports. In Arizona, for example, some judges are handling about 1200 criminal cases simultaneously. The state recently declared a...

Blago Lawyer Walks Off the Job

M. Morris — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:11:00 CDT

Rod Blagojevich's lawyer left a federal courthouse in Chicago today without delivering his closing argument after the judge threatened to cite him for contempt of court, the Tribune reports . Sam Adam Jr. wanted to tell jurors about witnesses the government didn't call and planned to contend that their testimony would...

Palin Hacker Found Guilty on 2 Counts

M. Morris — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:05:19 CDT

A federal jury has convicted a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee student of hacking Sarah Palin's Yahoo email account during the 2008 campaign. David Kernell was acquitted of wire fraud but convicted of a felony, obstruction of justice, and a misdemeanor, unlawful computer access. The jury failed to reach a...

Hutaree Members Denied Bail

Kevin Spak — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:06:33 CDT

A federal judge today ordered all nine defendants in the Hutaree militia case held in jail until their trials. “It is difficult to underestimate the dangers inherent in the crimes charged in this case,” Donald Scheer said. Though appeals are expected, the militia members, who are accused of conspiring to...

Erin Andrews' Stalker Sentenced to 2½ Years

M. Morris — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:23:33 CDT

The Illinois insurance executive who followed Erin Andrews around the country and shot nude videos of her at hotels was sentenced to 2½ years in prison today. The ESPN reporter was in court in Los Angeles to see Michael Barrett, 48, learn his fate. At a December court hearing where...