courts news stories on Newser

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...

Judges Really Like to Quote Bob Dylan

Matt Cantor — Sun, 15 May 2011 17:44:05 CDT

When judges want to give their opinions a lyrical flourish, many turn first to Bob Dylan. He’s the most-cited musician in court opinions and briefs, experts tell the Los Angeles Times . That’s because his early songs give voice to political and legal concerns—and they emerged when today’s judges were...

Court: German Bosses Can Demand Women Wear Bras

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:05:33 CST

German bosses can order female workers to wear bras, and even dictate the length of their fingernails, a court has ruled. "Being told to wear a bra and to keep fingernails to shorter than half a centimeter does not impinge on personal rights," ruled the Cologne court. Bosses also have...

Sign of the Times: Foreclosures-Only Courts

John Johnson — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:28:39 CDT

Pretty much all you need to know about how bad Florida's housing mess is: The state has set up a system of foreclosures-only courts to deal with its backlog of cases. Otherwise, they'd clog up the normal court system. The goal is to cut the backlog by 62% in a...

All Over New Orleans, Saints Fans Go Marching Out

Nick McMaster — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:20:00 CST

Best of luck to the candidates in tomorrow's New Orleans mayoral primary—they have the attention of just about no one. "The race isn't at the top of anyone's mind," says one candidate, understating the Super Bowl fever sweeping the Big Easy. In ordering the postponement of a trial, one...

Sorry, Nancy Grace, You Will Be Filmed in Court

Jane Yager — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:37:56 CST

Despite her protests, Nancy Grace will have to smile for the camera when she gives a court deposition this week: A judge has thrown out the TV host's request to keep the video cameras away from her testimony. Grace will be defending herself against a wrongful death suit by the...

Your Boss Can't Read Your Email, Courts Say

Kevin Spak — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:42:40 CST

No matter what your employers tell you, they probably can’t spy on your emails without telling you, recent court rulings suggest. While in the past courts have often sided with corporations on issues of email privacy, lately they’ve been more sympathetic to employees, the Wall Street Journal reports. Earlier this...

Dutch Abortion Ship Hits Rough Waters

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:55:54 CDT

A change in the law is threatening to scuttle a Dutch ship's mission to provide abortions to women throughout the world, reports the Independent . Dr. Rebecca Gomperts has delivered "abortion pills" that cause miscarriages to women in nations where abortion is illegal. She has skirted local laws by docking outside...

150 Maldive Women to Be Flogged for Affairs

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:27:44 CDT

A criminal court in the Maldives has ruled that 150 women will be flogged for having affairs in the Muslim country, reports the Independent . Some 50 men face the same punishment. Earlier this month an 18-year-old woman fainted after being flogged 100 times for having sex with two men, who...