Law

National

Supreme Court Rules On Obama Appointments, Abortion Protests

2:19pm June 26, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The court ruled on cases involving some of President Obama's recess appointments and a Massachusetts law that created a buffer zone to keep protesters a certain distance away from abortion clinics.

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The Armatix smart gun is implanted with an electronic chip that allows it to be fired only if the shooter is wearing a watch that communicates with it through a radio signal. It is not sold in the U.S.

National

A New Jersey Law That's Kept Smart Guns Off Shelves Nationwide

11:51am June 26, 2014

by Joel Rose

The law says that once "personalized" guns are available in the U.S., all handguns sold in New Jersey must be smart guns. So, to avoid triggering the law, vendors aren't selling them — anywhere.

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Peggy Tomsic (center), attorney for three same-sex couples, claps in celebration after the 10th Circuit Court in Denver rejected a same-sex marriage ban in Utah on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

National

Strike Against Utah Gay-Marriage Ban Paves Way For Supreme Court Ruling

7:25am June 26, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals called marriage a fundamental right that shouldn't be determined at the ballot box. It marks the first time that a federal appeals court has ruled on the issue.

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National

Supreme Court Rules On Aereo, Cellphone Searches

12:48pm June 25, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The court ruled against the technology company Aereo's practice of streaming broadcast TV. It also decided a case involving police searches of individuals' cellphones.

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Report: Jerry Sandusky Case Was Unnecessarily Delayed

3:42pm June 24, 2014

by Jeff Brady

Sandusky, a retired Penn State assistant football coach, was convicted in 2012 of molesting 10 boys. Pennsylvania's attorney general says Sandusky could have been brought to justice sooner.

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With Changes To Guantanamo Trials, A New Feel To Proceedings

6:25pm June 22, 2014

The case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-confessed architect of the Sept. 11 attacks, is moving slowly. NPR's Arun Rath talks with Carol Rosenberg of the Miami Herald about the latest in that legal process and other Guantanamo trials.

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The Supreme Court will look at a case in its upcoming session dealing with what constitutes a "true threat" on Facebook.

Is A Threat On Facebook Real? Supreme Court Will Weigh In

10:48am June 21, 2014

by Aarti Shahani

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving perceived death threats on Facebook. The court and the company could have starkly different approaches to identifying credible threats.

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High Court Ruling Supports Employees In Retaliation Cases

7:29am June 20, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that public employees cannot be fired in retaliation for testifying truthfully on matters of public corruption or public concern.

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National

From Supreme Court, Firm Support For Employee In Retaliation Case

8:20pm June 19, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The justices unanimously ruled that a public employee who testified about corruption should not have been punished for doing so. Going forward, though, some tricky questions are still undecided.

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National

Grappling With Gangs, Salt Lake City Turns To Racketeering Laws

8:05am June 19, 2014

by Whittney Evans

Law enforcement in Utah's capital is using federal organized-crime charges to try to rein in groups like the Tongan Crips. One officer says it's sometimes the only way to send a message to criminals.

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