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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: law

law stories: 57 news summaries

21 - 40 of 57 Stories | << Prev 1 2 3 Next >>

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Calif. Therapists Rake in Millions Under Sex Offender Law 

Billed $24M for 2007 Jessica's Law services

Aug 10, 08 12:17 PM CDT
(Newser) - Psychologists and psychiatrists are cashing in on a California law requiring mental health screening for sex offenders, the LA Times reports. Last year, private contractors billed the state for millions of dollars in prisoner evaluations, with one psychologist bringing home $1.5 million. State officials defend the expense as... More »

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California • law • mental health • sex offenders • psychiatrist • psychologist

ANALYSIS

 Is Killing Liberals a Hate Crime? 

Slate finds few states consider political violence a hate crime

Jul 31, 08 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - The suspect in last weekend’s Knoxville church shooting told police that “liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country.” But Tennessee, like the federal government and most states, doesn’t extend hate-crime law to political affiliation, explains Chris Wilson in Slate. In fact, legal experts... More »

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law • hate crime • Tennessee • liberals • church shootings

 French Fight Ban on
 Insulting Civil Servants

More civil servants
filing suits when slighted

Jul 26, 08 7:40 PM CDT
(Newser) - A Paris publisher has launched a high-profile crusade to legalize an increasingly popular crime: the insulting of public officials, the London Times reports. After being fined €150 for calling a cop a connard—or stupid bastard—Jean-Jacques Reboux got even angrier, and accused civil servants of abusing the law... More »

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law • free speech • France • French government • civil service • insult

 Rome Cracks Down on Revelers 

New ordinance forbids eating, drinking,  noise

Jul 11, 08 5:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - Rome's residents and visitors had best behave themselves for the next 4 months: An experimental ordinance bans eating and drinking in the streets of the Eternal City, and cracks down on hooligans who want to "shout, sing or be noisy," Reuters reports. The newly elected mayor enacted the... More »

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food • law • Italy • wine • Rome • singing • drinks

No Charges for Texas Man Who Shot Neighbor's Burglars

Laws covering deadly force under scrutiny

Jul 1, 08 2:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - A Texas grand jury’s decision to take no action against Joe Horn, who killed two burglars on his front lawn, has focused attention on the state’s “deadly force” laws, the Houston Chronicle reports. Horn’s life was not in danger until he confronted the thieves fleeing his... More »

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Texas • law • gun control • property • protection • vigilante justice • shooting • Joe Horn

analysis

 O'Connor's Imprint Fades 

First female Supreme Court justice's legacy uncertain

Jun 10, 08 4:15 PM CDT
(Newser) - Even as Sandra Day O’Connor public profile as an advocate for Alzheimer’s disease research grows, the legal imprint of the first woman Supreme Court justice is fading, USA Today reports. Since her departure, the Roberts court has shifted course on abortion and retreated from positions supported by her... More »

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Samuel Alito • abortion • John Roberts • law • Sandra Day O'Connor • integration • Samuel A. Alito • US Supreme Court • justices

 Aussies Ditch Dueling Law 

Laws on duels, piracy walk the plank as criminal code is updated

May 3, 08 12:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - There's no longer a law against challenging somebody to a duel in Queensland, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. As part of an effort to get old laws off the books, the Australian state is also scrapping laws against piracy on the high seas, and mayors will no longer have to... More »

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Australia • law • piracy • Queensland • guns

LA Lawmaker Targets Paparazzi

Spears mayhem prompts call for 'personal safety zone' for celebs

Feb 2, 08 6:09 AM CST
(Newser) - A Los Angeles councilman is pushing for a "personal safety zone" for celebs after a 12-cop police escort—cost to the city, $25,000—was needed to get Britney Spears past paparazzi to a hospital this week, the Los Angeles Times reports. Councilman Dennis Zine said camera-toting hoards present... More »

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Britney Spears • Hollywood • law • paparazzi • photographers

31 States Ring In New Laws
for New Year

From minimum wage hikes to approval for  kangaroo-hide shoes

Jan 2, 08 3:15 AM CST
(Newser) - Anyone planning to import shoes made of kangaroo hide into California can legally begin this year—but they'd better not try to sell any foreign-made US flags in Minnesota. Both states are among 31 that launched a host of new laws beginning New Year's Day, some of them rather unusual,... More »

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California • gay marriage • law • New Hampshire • New York • Minnesota • airline passengers

Did Jamie Lynn's Beau Break the Law?

Her pregnancy spurs legal debate on statutory rape laws

Dec 20, 07 6:13 AM CST
(Newser) - The pregnancy of 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears by her 18-year-old boyfriend is sparking renewed debate about the nation's uneven patchwork of statutory rape laws. Teens in some states can be sentenced to jail for having consensual sex with people not much younger than they are. Because prosecution is left to... More »

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California • law • Louisiana • sex offenders • Jamie Lynn Spears • teen pregnancy • celebrity pregnancy • teenager

Judge: Cops Can't Force Defendant to Tell Password

An accused child pornographer has the right to keep his laptop password, and images, private

Dec 15, 07 9:51 AM CST
(Newser) - In what could turn out to be a landmark decision on computer privacy and Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination, a federal judge in Vermont has ruled that a man accused of transporting child pornography across the US border with Canada can’t be forced to turn over his laptop... More »

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law • law enforcement • Canada • computer security • child pornography • computer passwords • passwords

Ads Could Spark Privacy Lawsuits by Facebook Users

Using member's images without consent could violate laws

Nov 9, 07 3:20 AM CST
(Newser) - Facebook's new cutting-edge ads which cherry-pick the names and faces of members who use featured products may violate privacy laws. The ads attach photos and identities of members to products they've purchased or endorsed, but without explicitly obtaining members' consent, reports the New York Times. That could open Facebook to... More »

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law • online advertising • New York • privacy • Facebook • civil lawsuits

Bush's AG Pick Has History With Terror Trials

Blind sheik case gave preview of security issues facing Mukasey

Sep 20, 07 2:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - Before America was paying attention, Judge Michael Mukasey tried a landmark terrorism case. The 1995-96 trial of blind sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, convicted with nine others of plotting a massive "day of terror" at three New York sites, forced Mukasey, now President Bush's nominee for US attorney general, to... More »

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terrorism • law • courts • Michael Mukasey • civil liberties • George W. Bush

Six Arrested in Horrific W.Va. Abuse Case

Woman was kidnapped, tortured and sexually assaulted

Sep 11, 07 4:58 PM CDT
(Newser) - Six people were arrested in a grisly kidnapping and assault case in rural West Virginia, and two others are still wanted. Police say an internet acquaintance delivered 23-year-old Meghan Williams to her assailants, who held her captive for at least a week, while stabbing, burning, and sexually assaulting her. “... More »

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law • crime • kidnapping • hate crime • Charleston • stabbing • West Virginia • assault • Meghan Williams

Jury Convicts 5 in 'Family' Affair

Chicago's top kingpin nailed in 'Family Secrets' case

Sep 10, 07 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - Chicago’s top mob boss was one of five men convicted today in a trial federal authorities dubbed “Operation Family Secrets” after one defendant's relatives offered unprecedented cooperation. Testimony from the son and brother of alleged hit man Frank Calabrese was key in convicting him, along with three Outfit... More »

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Chicago • law • organized crime • mob • court • Mafia • Family Secrets • Joey Lombardo • Frank Calabrese Sr. • James Marcello • Paul Schiro • Anthony Doyle

Craig Moves
 to Retract
 Guilty Plea

Strategy could delay resignation and stave off ethics probe

Sep 10, 07 3:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Toe-tapping Senator Larry Craig will file a motion today to retract his guilty plea to charges linked to allegedly soliciting sex in a public men's room. Minnesota law allows convicts to recant pleas if they can prove they were not intelligently made, but such strategies rarely succeed. The legal proceedings... More »

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law • Senate • sex scandal • Senate Republicans • guilty plea • Larry Craig • retract • political scandal • scandal

No Ifs, Ands,
or Butts:
Town Outlaws Saggy Pants

If your underwear shows, you'll pay for it

Aug 14, 07 6:56 AM CDT
(Newser) - A Louisiana town has taken a stand against saggy pants: starting tomorrow, anyone whose underwear shows will be hit with fines or jail time. And those who want to argue will just have to zip it. "Pull ‘em up or pay up," warned the police chief of... More »

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fashion • law • Louisiana • baggy pants • clothes • pants • Mansfield

$54M Pants Party Helps Pay Legal Fees

Slacks are most famous guest at fundraiser
for dry cleaners

Jul 25, 07 12:40 PM CDT
(Newser) - A guard stood watch over the most expensive pair of pants in the world at a fundraiser yesterday evening in Washington. Guests sipped cocktails, nibbled appetizers, and took photos with the notorious garment, which was so important to its original owner that he sued his dry cleaners for $54 million.... More »

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law • dry cleaners • lawsuit • pants • Chungs • lawyer • tort • tort law • tort law reform • free enterprise • custom cleaners • fundraiser

Democrats Lose Withdrawal Vote

Republicans hold out against Iraq exit measure

Jul 18, 07 1:04 PM CDT
(Newser) - Senate Democrats failed to collect enough votes this morning to pass a bill that would force President Bush to begin pulling troops out of Iraq within 120 days. After a spirited all-night debate, 52 voted in favor of the measure and 47 against, but rules require 60 "yes" votes... More »

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Iraq • Congress • Democrats • Republican • law • Senate • Harry Reid • GOP • legislation • troop withdrawal • Norm Coleman • filibuster • cloture • vote

New Court Overturns O'Connor

Dahlia Lithwick writes on the jurist's fast- dismantled legacy

Jul 10, 07 6:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - Justice Sandra Day O'Connor legal legacy is one of the first casualties of the new Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts, Slate's Dahlia Lithwick writes. After being hailed as the most powerful women in America, the former justice has seen her judgments "explicitly minimized" or "stepped distastefully... More »

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abortion • John Roberts • law • campaign finance • Sandra Day O'Connor • affirmative action • US Supreme Court

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