Law

Kentucky Sen. and Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul has said the USA Freedom Act doesn't go far enough in reforming U.S. surveillance programs.

Senate Approves USA Freedom Act, Obama Signs It, After Amendments Fail

9:48pm June 02, 2015

by Bill Chappell

The vote comes two days after controversial provisions of the Patriot Act expired because the Senate was unable to overcome maneuvers by Sen. Rand Paul, who voted against the bill Tuesday.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter Resigns Amid Corruption Scandal

6:35pm June 02, 2015

by Tom Goldman

The embattled FIFA president announced he would resign Tuesday, days after the U.S. Justice Department indicted 14 people on corruption charges connected to the international soccer organization.

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Samantha Elauf outside the Supreme Court after the court in February 2015.

Justices: Retailer Can't Refuse To Hire Someone Because She Wears Hijab

1:31pm June 02, 2015

by Nina Totenberg

Samantha Elauf wore a headscarf to a job interview at an Abercrombie & Fitch store and was denied a position because of it. On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that that was clearly wrong.

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who wrote for the court majority, said Moones Mellouli's crime should not be considered enough to remove someone from the country under federal law. In dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote he sees "nothing absurd about remov

Supreme Court Sides With Immigrant Caught With Pills In His Sock

10:46pm June 01, 2015

by Carrie Johnson

The court ruled Monday that a law requiring the deportation of immigrants who violate any kind of drug regulation did not justify deporting a man who was caught with Adderall in his sock.

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Samantha Elauf (right) stands with her mother, Majda, in February outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Supreme Court Rules For Woman Denied Abercrombie & Fitch Job Over Headscarf

4:53pm June 01, 2015

by Brian Naylor

Samantha Elauf had applied for the sales job in Tulsa, Okla., and was recommended for hire by an interviewer. But Abercrombie has a "look policy" that bars the wearing of caps by its salespeople.

No. 2 At Justice Warns Growing Prison Budget Detracts From Public Safety

3:49pm June 01, 2015

by Carrie Johnson

The federal government spends $7 billion a year to incarcerate about 200,000 inmates. That's money Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates says could pay for more FBI agents and local police.

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The case of Anthony Elonis, who was convicted in 2010 of making violent threats on Facebook, was argued at the Supreme Court in December. Here, an advocate for victims' rights speaks with reporters about the case.

National

Supreme Court Tosses Out Man's Conviction For Making Threats On Facebook

3:25pm June 01, 2015

by Bill Chappell

The messages Anthony Elonis posted to Facebook prompted his now ex-wife to get a state protection order against him, and led his bosses to fire him.

Examining Gang Enhanced Sentences In California's Legal System

12:56am June 01, 2015

NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates talks to Daniel Alarcon about his reporting on gang enhanced charges and sentencing. California law gives the prosecution the chance to increase the penalty in gang cases.

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License plate scanners have helped police locate stolen vehicles and have even assisted in murder investigations. But with their ability to track a person's every move, skeptics worry about privacy.

National

Questions Remain About How To Use Data From License Plate Scanners

9:05pm May 30, 2015

by Martin Kaste

The scanners are standard equipment for police, but what's not settled is what happens to all the data collected. That data can link people to certain addresses and flag unusual activity.

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Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert addresses the Illinois House in 2013. Hastert is due next week to be arraigned on charges of structuring payments to an accuser and lying to the FBI.

Hastert Due To Be Arraigned Next Week

12:49pm May 30, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The Los Angeles Times reports that the FBI spoke with two individuals who made accusations of sexual abuse against the former Speaker of the House.