Law

National

Brooke Astor's Son, Convicted Of Raiding Mother's Fortune, Dies At 90

9:35am December 02, 2014

by Doreen McCallister

Anthony Marshall, son of socialite Brooke Astor, was convicted in 2009 of defrauding his mother. Marshall was sentenced to prison, but appeals delayed him from serving any time until 2013.

National

Attorney General's Talk Doesn't Satisfy Those Troubled By Ferguson

7:44am December 02, 2014

by Michell Eloy

Eric Holder started a U.S. tour with a closed-door discussion with local leaders in Atlanta, but like many activists, some say they're hungry for less chat and more action by the Justice Department.

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At his trial, Elonis argued that he was only exercising his First Amendment free speech rights, which he also says he wrote on his Facebook page.

National

Is A Threat Posted On Facebook Really A Threat?

9:26am December 01, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The Supreme Court is tackling a question of increasing importance in the age of social media and the Internet after a man was convicted of posting threats against his estranged wife and an FBI agent.

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Republican Senator-elect Thom Tillis of North Carolina says he expects his party to challenge the president immediately on immigration, and that he hopes President Obama's Defense and Justice nominees will be acceptable to both parties.

Republicans Debate: Fight The President Now, Or Fight Him Later?

9:16am December 01, 2014

by Lauren Hodges

Congress returns from recess Monday, tasked with funding the government past Dec. 11. Some in the GOP want to tie it to halting Obama's immigration plan, while others aim to avoid a damaging shutdown.

National

Black Friday Gun Sales Soar, Straining Background Checks

12:44pm November 30, 2014

Gun buyers are taking advantage of killer deals, with sales doubling this weekend. The FBI's Kimberly Del Greco tells NPR's Rachel Martin that means processing three background checks per second.

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After The Ferguson Decision, A Poem That Gives Name To The Hurt

6:22pm November 28, 2014

by Syreeta McFadden

This week, a Missouri grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown. Writer Syreeta McFadden turns to Audre Lorde's poetry to make sense of this decision.

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National

Texas Execution Nears For Murderer Whose Competence Was Debated

6:39pm November 26, 2014

by Wade Goodwyn

Next week, Texas is slated to execute Scott Panetti for murder. He has a long history of mental illness but was allowed to defend himself at trial, where he insisted he was a movie character.

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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her court chamber, in July.

National

Justice Ginsburg Recovering After Heart Stent Implant

2:55pm November 26, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The 81-year-old justice had the procedure to clear a blocked right coronary artery. She was expected to be back on the bench when the Supreme Court reconvenes on Monday

Supreme Court police stand guard during a storm in March.

If Supreme Court Strikes Federal Exchange Subsidies, Health Law Could Unravel

2:28pm November 26, 2014

by Julie Rovner

A decision against subsidies would undermine the government-run insurance marketplaces that are backbone of the Affordable Care Act.

A police officer guards a closed street where protesters and looters rampaged businesses following the grand jury decision in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Mo., on Tuesday.

National

The Psychological Effects Of Seeing Police Everywhere In Ferguson

9:31am November 26, 2014

by Elise Hu

A heavy police presence intended to protect Ferguson following a chaotic night of unrest is making some locals even more anxious.