Law

National

The Voting Rights Act: Hard-Won Gains, An Uncertain Future

6:21pm July 21, 2013

by NPR Staff

The Supreme Court overturned a key provision of the civil rights-era legislation in June. Free of past restrictions, some states acted quickly to change their voting laws, and it is now up to Congress to figure out where the act goes from here and how to continue to protect voters from discrimination.

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In Full Upright and Locked Position aviation consultant Mark Gerchick looks at post-Sept. 11 air travel.

Flying High And Low In 'Full Upright And Locked Position'

8:26am July 21, 2013

by NPR Staff

In a new book, aviation consultant Mark Gerchick writes that "the magic of air travel has morphed into an uncomfortable, crowded and utterly soulless ordeal." He talks about how it's gotten so bad, why there are so many hidden fees and if there actually is less leg room than there used to be.

National

Florida Governor Stands Firm On 'Stand Your Ground' Law

8:30pm July 19, 2013

by Greg Allen

Since the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Marton, there's been a renewed call to repeal Florida's stand your ground self-defense law. But despite some talk of boycotts that could hurt Florida's economy, Gov. Rick Scott says he won't ask the Legislature to revisit the law.

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Federal Judge Green Lights Suit Against Private Equity Firms

6:00am July 19, 2013

by Chris Arnold

The investor lawsuit claims the companies, including Blackstone, Carlyle and Bain Capital, colluded to drive down prices on hundreds of billions of dollars in takeovers.

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A Year After Colo. Shooting, Trial Still Far Off

6:00am July 19, 2013

by Ben Markus

One year ago Saturday, James Holmes allegedly opened fire on a crowded theater in Aurora, Colo. Within minutes, 12 people were dead and dozens more injured. The Holmes trial is many months away. How have the city and state responded to the killings over the past year?

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National

Ex-FISA Court Judge Reflects: After 9/11, 'Bloodcurdling' Briefings

4:52pm July 18, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

Royce Lamberth, the retiring judge who led the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 1995 to 2002, says he has no regrets when he talks about that court's business. In his view, another attack, in some form or other, is inevitable.

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Tsarnaev Pleads Not Guilty To Boston Marathon Bombing

4:52pm July 18, 2013

by Tovia Smith

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to 30 counts Wednesday, including using a weapon of mass destruction in the bombings. Three people were killed and more than 260 wounded.

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National

Holder: It's Time To Examine 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

5:08am July 17, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was speaking at the NAACP's annual convention in Orlando, Fla., a short distance from where unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed last year. More than two dozen states have laws that allow people to use deadly force to defend themselves if they believe they are under attack.

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National

Zimmerman Verdict Feels Personal For Some In Service Sorority

7:54pm July 15, 2013

The verdict in the Travyon Martin case is reverberating at the annual gathering of Delta Sigma Theta, a prominent service sorority that has long focused on African-American civil rights.

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Pennsylvania's Voter ID Law Gets Its Day In Court

11:13pm July 14, 2013

by Mary Wilson

On Monday a judge will rule on the constitutionality of requiring all Pennsylvania voters to show state-issued photo identification. Supporters say it's a common-sense remedy for voter fraud, but opponents counter it's an attempt to disenfranchise minorities.

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