Law

Death row inmates Stacey Johnson (left) and Ledell Lee are both scheduled to be put to death Thursday, though court rulings have put those executions on hold for now.

National

Court Rulings Block 2 Scheduled Executions Today In Arkansas

3:01pm April 20, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

Arkansas' attempt to carry out a spate of executions before the end of the month has so far been thwarted by a dizzying series of court decisions. The state is still preparing to execute the two men.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary McCord speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department on March 15. McCord told staff members she will be leaving next month.

Leader Of Justice Department National Security Division On The Way Out

2:43pm April 20, 2017

by Carrie Johnson

Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary McCord told staff this week she is leaving to pursue other opportunities. McCord has led the probe into Russian election meddling.

Arkansas Faces More Legal Roadblocks To Planned Executions

6:56am April 20, 2017

by Jacob Kauffman

Arkansas suffered more legal setbacks in its bid to execute prisoners this month. The state Supreme Court spared an inmate, and a judge ruled against the use of one of the drugs for lethal injection.

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American Oversight, a group of Democratic lawyers, is suing the Justice Department and FBI over President Trump's tweeted allegation that he was wiretapped by then-President Barack Obama.

Trump's Wiretap Tweets Bring Lawsuit Seeking Proof

8:55pm April 19, 2017

by Peter Overby

American Oversight, a watchdog group that includes former Obama administration lawyers, is using the Freedom of Information Act to keep tabs on the Trump administration's agencies.

Children play on the playground at the Trinity Lutheran Child Learning Center in Columbia, Mo.

Playground Case Could Breach Barrier Between Tax Coffers, Religious Schools

8:13pm April 19, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

The Supreme Court hears arguments today on whether Missouri should provide a grant to a church preschool, or if that violates the state's constitution. The state's new governor has abandoned the rule.

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David Cortman of the Alliance Defending Freedom speaks after representing Trinity Lutheran Church before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Concerned Women for America hosted a rally in support of the Missouri church on the court steps.

In Church-State Playground Brawl, Justices Lean Toward The Church

8:11pm April 19, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

At Wednesday's oral arguments, a clear majority of justices seemed troubled by a Missouri policy that bars state money from going to religious schools for playground improvements.

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Supreme Court Considers Separation Of Church And State In Playground Case

5:12pm April 19, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

A request for Missouri state funds to resurface its playground landed before the Supreme Court Wednesday because that preschool is part of a church ministry.

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National

Los Angeles Police Institute De-Escalation Policy To Avoid Shootings

5:12pm April 19, 2017

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks with Joe Domanick, associate director of the Center of Media, Crime and Justice at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, about the decision by the Los Angeles Police Commission to require officers to try to de-escalate tensions before they shoot.

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National

Massachusetts Prosecutors Move To Dismiss Thousands Of Tainted Drug Cases

5:12pm April 19, 2017

by Deborah Becker

Prosecutors in Massachusetts have a court imposed deadline this week to decide how many cases they will dismiss because of a drug lab scandal that potentially tainted 24,000 criminal cases. They estimate that fewer than 1,000 cases will be re-prosecuted. The scandal involved a former state chemist found guilty of tampering with evidence.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks about crime to local, state and federal law enforcement officials in St. Louis on March 31.

Justice Department Veterans Warn Federal Money Could Have 'Strings Attached'

5:12pm April 19, 2017

by Carrie Johnson

A new review announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions could have big consequences for local jurisdictions that refuse to follow federal immigration and marijuana laws.

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