Connecticut gun control law challenged in federal court
May 23, 2013
Several groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of a new Connecticut gun control law. The new law expanded the firearms banned as "assault weapons" under existing state law. It also limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds. The complaint alleges these new requirement are ove....... [more] 
President Adams pardoned participants of Pennsylvania rebellion
May 21, 2013
On May 21, 1800, US President John Adams issued a pardon to the participants in the 1799 Fries' Rebellion that occurred in southeastern Pennsylvania. The rebellion, motivated by citizen disdain over a federal property tax, resulted in protestors descending on Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in March 1799 t....... [more]
Supreme Court rules defendant not entitled to federal habeas relief
May 20, 2013
The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday in Metrish v. Lancaster that respondent Burt Lancaster is not entitled to federal habeas relief. Lancaster was convicted of murder in a Michigan state court. At the time the crime was committed, the Michigan appeals court recognized "diminished capacity....... [more]
Federal appeals court rules crack cocaine offenders have right to resentencing hearing
May 19, 2013
The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on Friday ruled that people convicted of crack cocaine offenses have a right to resentencing hearings under the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA). The case was brought by two incarcerated defendants seeking retroactive relief from racially discriminatory, 10-ye....... [more]
Wells Fargo ordered to pay $203 million for misleading customers
May 16, 2013
A federal judge on Tuesday reinstated a $203 million penalty against Wells Fargo in a class action suit alleging that the bank affirmatively misled customers and then charged excessive overdraft fees. Rather than processing purchases in a chronological order, as is the common practice, the bank proc....... [more]
Holder orders criminal investigation of IRS
May 15, 2013
US Attorney General Eric Holder announced Tuesday that the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into allegations that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) unfairly scrutinized tax-exemptions for conservative groups. The agency initially singled out groups with applications containing....... [more]
California governor appeals order to curb prison overcrowding
May 15, 2013
California Governor Jerry Brown and various state prison officials on Monday filed a notice of appeal to the US Supreme Court from an April order requiring the governor to reduce California's prison population. In their April order, a panel of federal judges refused to vacate or modify their 2010 or....... [more]
Vermont legislature votes to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana
May 13, 2013
The Vermont State Legislature on Monday gave final approval to a bill that replaces criminal penalties with civil fines for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of hashish. As the law currently stands, possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor that can lead to a six-month pr....... [more]
Pakistan court declares US drone strikes illegal
May 9, 2013
Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan of the High Court of Peshawar ruled Thursday that US drone strikes in the region are illegal. The justice also directed Pakistan's Foreign Ministry to introduce a resolution against such attacks in the UN. The decision stems from a lawsuit filed by the Foundation for....... [more]
Germany authorities arrest alleged Nazi guard
May 7, 2013
German authorities on Monday arrested a 93-year-old man for allegedly serving as a guard at Auschwitz and assisting in the mass murder carried out at the death camp. Hans Lipschis, who was deported from the US in 1983 for lying about his Nazi affiliations, has acknowledged being assigned to an SS gu....... [more]
Phoenix police holds gun buyback before gun resale law takes effect
May 5, 2013
The Phoenix, Arizona police department on Saturday held the first of three gun buyback programs in an attempt to complete the buyback before a law signed by Governor Jan Brewer on April 29 that requires surrendered weapons to be sold instead of destroyed takes effect. The law will take effect on Jul....... [more]
DOJ warns Kansas on new gun law
May 3, 2013
US Attorney General Eric Holder has warned Kansas that a recently enacted law intended to block enforcement of federal gun regulations is unconstitutional, according to a letter released Thursday. According to Holder, SB 102, also known as the "Second Amendment Protection Act," "directly conflicts....... [more]
Schwarzenegger approved program to ease prison overcrowding
May 3, 2013
On May 3, 2007, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill with bipartisan support that designated $7.7 billion to remedy the state's overcrowded prisons. The Public Safety and Offender Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007 attempted to streamline the prison infrastructure system b....... [more]
Florida top court rules warrantless cell phone searches unconstitutional
May 2, 2013
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that police need a warrant to search a defendant's cell phone at the time of arrest. The court ruled 5-2 that officers were permitted to confiscate the defendant's cell phone, but that they should have obtained a warrant before looking at pictures on the phon....... [more]
Maryland governor signs bill repealing death penalty
May 2, 2013
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley on Thursday signed into law a bill to repeal the death penalty. The legislation, which makes Maryland the eighteenth US state to repeal the death penalty, was approved by the state legislature in March. Prior to the bill, Maryland's capital punishment laws were amon....... [more]
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