News Feeds

NPR Topics: Legal Affairs

NPR stories on legal issues, court rulings, Supreme Court hearings, new laws, and government investigations. Download the NPR Justice Talking podcast and subscribe to the Legal Affairs RSS feed.

Sen. Stevens Wins Alaska's GOP Primary Six Republicans have fallen short in their attempt to unseat Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. Stevens won the GOP primary with 63 percent of the vote. He faces what looks like a tough challenge from the mayor of Anchorage in November. Investigators Downplay Alleged Obama Threat Officials say there was no "credible threat" to Barack Obama from a man arrested on weapons and drug charges Sunday in Denver. Obama will be in the Mile High City this week to accept the Democratic nomination for president. Doctors Fear Effects Of Illegal Immigrant's Arrest The recent arrest of a popular woman who happens to be an illegal immigrant has some North Carolina doctors concerned. The woman's immigration status apparently was turned over to authorities after she received medical care. Doctors worry that illegal immigrants will be afraid to seek care, which might lead to public health problems. Appeals Court OKs Oil Firms' Billion-Dollar Award A federal appeals court has affirmed a ruling awarding oil companies a billion dollars for breach of contract. The case involves leases off the California coast that were sold to the oil firms a quarter of a century ago. Civilian Trial For Marine Starts Former Marine Sgt. Jose Luis Nazario began standing trial for manslaughter in Riverside County, Calif. It's the first time that a former service member has stood trial in a civilian court for crimes said to have occurred during the war in Iraq. Future Of Brutalist-Designed Church Not Concrete Members of a Christian Science church are suing Washington for declaring their sanctuary a historical landmark, preventing them from tearing it down to build a new one. The city wants to preserve the building as an example of Brutalist architecture. Sen. Stevens' Bid To Move Trial To Alaska Fails Sen. Ted Stevens has lost a bid to move his corruption trial from Washington to his home state of Alaska. The Republican lawmaker had said both the witnesses and his campaign for re-election were in Alaska. The trial is due to start next month. Calif. Requires Hybrid Cars To Make Some Noise Electric hybrid cars are quiet, and all-electric cars are even quieter. While all that's nice for passengers, it can be dangerous for pedestrians. California's legislature has passed a bill to ensure that the vehicles make enough noise that they'll be heard by sight-impaired people crossing the street. FBI Details Science Tying Ivins To Anthrax Mailings The FBI has revealed new details about the scientific findings that led them to suspect Army scientist Bruce Ivins was responsible for the 2001 anthrax mailings that killed five people. Ivins committed suicide last month. The case against Ivins rests in part on a complex genetic technique. FBI Reveals Case Against Ivins The FBI has revealed details of the science that led it to believe Army scientist Bruce Ivins was behind the 2001 anthrax mailings. Ivins committed suicide last month. At a news conference, the FBI connected the dots in the case against Ivins. Exactly How Legal Is Medical Marijuana? California's medical marijuana law conflicts with federal law, which says the growth and sale of the drug is illegal. But taxing marijuana could provide hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for state and federal governments. Parents, Social Services Implicated in Child Neglect Gruesome photographs of the scarred and starved body of Danieal Kelly, a Philadelphia girl who suffered from cerebral palsy, sparked citywide outrage when she died in 2006. Now, her parents face criminal charges related to her death, and so do social service workers who allegedly ignored warning signs. Philadelphia reporter Elizabeth Fiedler says the city is taking a second look at its attentiveness to children at-risk. Are Medical Marijuana Riches Just a Pipe Dream? At Oaksterdam University in Oakland, Calif., students learn how to cultivate, sell and use medical marijuana the "safe way." A day in an intro class shows that this often requires thinking like a lawyer while acting like a drug dealer. Lenders, Service Members Clash Over Law Attorneys say disputes over the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a World War II-era law designed to protect active duty service members from foreclosures, repossessions, evictions and other financial misfortunes, are becoming more common. Knights Templar 'Heirs' Sue Pope For Billions A group of people claiming to be the heirs of the legendary Knights Templar are suing Pope Benedict XVI, seeking more than $150 billion for assets seized by the Catholic Church seven centuries ago. Fiona Govan, who wrote about the lawsuit for London's Daily Telegraph, discusses the case.