federal courts

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Sentence Cuts In Store for 19,500 Crack Convicts

Federal commission mulls rule change

(Newser) - The federal panel that sets sentencing guidelines for judges may decide as soon as tomorrow to cut at least 2 years off the sentences of 19,500 inmates convicted of using crack, the LA Times reports. New rules introduced this month equalize crack and powdered cocaine sentences, and tomorrow will...

Senate OKs Judge Opposed by Civil Rights Groups

He'll serve on federal court in the South

(Newser) - The Senate today confirmed a judge opposed by civil rights groups to a seat on a federal appeals court in the South. Judge Leslie Southwick will serve on the 5th Circuit, which comprises Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, the New York Times reports. A civil rights leader called the appointment  “...

Green Eggs and Slammer: NH Judge Channels Seuss

Inmate can't keep quiet about his prison diet

(Newser) - When a New Hampshire state prison inmate used a hard-boiled egg to illustrate his grievance with his institutional diet, the federal judge overseeing the case sought lofty counsel—Dr. Seuss. "I do not like eggs in the file. I do not like eggs any style," James Muirhead responded,...

Court Forces US to Divulge Gitmo Info

Federal judges reject Justice's security claim, orders cases unveiled

(Newser) - A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that the US government must release information on Guantanamo Bay detainees fighting their imprisonment, the Times reports. The decision will be a boon for detainees and their lawyers, who have previously found themselves blindsided in military tribunals where evidence was hidden before the proceedings...

US Multinational Faces Human Rights Trial

Mining company accused of playing role in Colombian murders

(Newser) - A landmark trial addressing corporate culpability for human-rights violations committed on foreign soil gets under way this week, testing whether an 18th-century antipiracy law applies to modern business practices. At issue is the 2001 murder of three Colombian mining-union leaders, the Wall Street Journal reports, and under scrutiny is the...

Soldier Sues Over Fifth Deployment
Soldier Sues Over Fifth Deployment
Jul 9, 2007 8:22 AM CDT

Soldier Sues Over Fifth Deployment

Reservist takes Army to court over tour he says could cost him home, job

(Newser) - A 26-year-old sergeant is suing the army to prevent his fifth deployment to Iraq, claiming that the Army follows inconsistent policies in mobilizing reserves. The military wants reservist Erik Botta return to Iraq next week, the Miami Herald reports, but Botta is suing to stop the order he says will...

Bush Won't Say No to Libby Pardon
Bush Won't
Say No to
Libby Pardon
Jul 3, 2007 4:22 PM CDT

Bush Won't Say No to Libby Pardon

Sentence commutation may not be last chapter of CIA leak story

(Newser) - President Bush will not eliminate the possibility of a full pardon for Scooter Libby, he said today. Under fire from supporters for not pardoning the VP's ex-chief of staff and from critics for commuting the 30-month prison sentence—a decision he described as "very difficult"—he said he...

No-Name Jury Awaits Chicago Mob Trial

'Family Secrets' case will go before anonymous panel

(Newser) - Five elderly men accused of running the Chicago mob go on trial this week before a jury of their peers—but the defendants and their lawyers won't know the names of those peers. The Chicago Tribune explores the issue of juror anonymity as a federal court begins assembling a panel...

Federal Court Orders Military to Free Civilian

Ruling rebukes Bush administration, which plans to appeal

(Newser) - The US may not keep a civilian believed to be an enemy combatant in military custody, a federal appeals court ruled today, finding that President Bush "cannot eliminate constitutional protections with the stroke of a pen." The administration quickly announced its intention to appeal the decision that Ali...

Autism-Vaccine Link Becomes Federal Case

Hearing into possible connection gives families day in court

(Newser) - Nearly 8 years after the government asked vaccine makers to reduce the use of a preservative that contains mercury, hearings began today to probe the connection between autism and childhood vaccines. If the U.S. Court of Federal Claims finds a link, the plaintiffs could qualify for compensation through a...

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