federal courts

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Judge: States Can't Ignore Health Care Law—Yet

They must continue implementing it while it winds through courts

(Newser) - A federal judge who declared President Obama's health care overhaul unconstitutional ruled today that states must continue implementing it while the case makes its way through the courts. US District Judge Roger Vinson was responding to a request from Obama administration attorneys who sought to ensure Florida and 25 other...

Vacancies Leave Federal Courts in Crisis

Republican holds on judicial nominees taking a toll

(Newser) - Republicans’ refusal to allow votes on President Obama’s judicial nominees has pushed courts to the breaking point, particularly in southwestern courts struggling with drug and illegal immigration trials, the Washington Post reports. In Arizona, for example, some judges are handling about 1200 criminal cases simultaneously. The state recently declared...

Blago Lawyer Walks Off the Job

After dispute over closing argument, Sam Adam Jr. departs

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich's lawyer left a federal courthouse in Chicago today without delivering his closing argument after the judge threatened to cite him for contempt of court, the Tribune reports . Sam Adam Jr. wanted to tell jurors about witnesses the government didn't call and planned to contend that their testimony would...

Palin Hacker Found Guilty on 2 Counts

David Kernell convicted of obstruction of justice, unlawful email access

(Newser) - A federal jury has convicted a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee student of hacking Sarah Palin's Yahoo email account during the 2008 campaign. David Kernell was acquitted of wire fraud but convicted of a felony, obstruction of justice, and a misdemeanor, unlawful computer access. The jury failed to reach a...

Hutaree Members Denied Bail
 Hutaree Members Denied Bail  
Apr 2, 2010 2:06 PM CDT

Hutaree Members Denied Bail

Barring appeal, militia members to be held until trial

(Newser) - A federal judge today ordered all nine defendants in the Hutaree militia case held in jail until their trials. “It is difficult to underestimate the dangers inherent in the crimes charged in this case,” Donald Scheer said. Though appeals are expected, the militia members, who are accused of...

Erin Andrews' Stalker Sentenced to 2½ Years

ESPN reporter sought harsher punishment for peeping tom

(Newser) - The Illinois insurance executive who followed Erin Andrews around the country and shot nude videos of her at hotels was sentenced to 2½ years in prison today. The ESPN reporter was in court in Los Angeles to see Michael Barrett, 48, learn his fate. At a December court hearing where...

Apple Sues HTC for Aping iPhone

Says smartphone maker violated 20 patents

(Newser) - Apple has filed a lawsuit against HTC, one of its biggest competitors in the smartphone market, saying it infringed on 20 iPhone-related patents. “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it,” Steve Jobs said in a statement. “...

Zazi Pleads Guilty in NYC Subway Terror Plot

Airport shuttle driver points finger at US actions in Afghanistan

(Newser) - A former Denver airport shuttle driver today admitted to a plot to bomb the New York City subways, saying he was recruited by al-Qaeda in Pakistan for a "martyrdom plan" against the US. Najibullah Zazi, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to commit...

Judge Gives Bernard Kerik 4 Years in Jail

Term for former NYPD chief is harsher than prosecutors sought

(Newser) - A federal judge sentenced disgraced NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik to four years in prison today, berating him for trying to exploit 9/11. The sentence was harsher than the 27 to 33 months the prosecutor had recommended in Kerik’s plea bargain, in which he admitted to eight charges, including lying...

Judge Hearing Prop 8 Case Is Gay
Judge Hearing Prop 8 Case
Is Gay
Feb 8, 2010 1:21 PM CST

Judge Hearing Prop 8 Case Is Gay

Not that there's anything wrong with that ... at least for now

(Newser) - The judge who will rule on the constitutionality of California’s gay marriage ban is gay. Vaughn Walker, who drew the assignment at random, has a reputation as a conservative and libertarian. Gay activists say his sexual orientation isn't an issue, but a rep for the group that sponsored the...

Gay Marriage Worth Millions to California: Economist
Gay Marriage Worth Millions to California: Economist 
PROP 8 TRIAL
Jan 15, 2010 10:12 AM CST

Gay Marriage Worth Millions to California: Economist

Wedding spending, lower health costs help city, he says at trial

(Newser) - The Proposition 8 trial took a break from intangibles like constitutional rights and discrimination yesterday to focus on cold, hard economic facts: Gay marriage is a moneymaker, argued San Francisco’s top economist. Because married people are on average healthier and wealthier than singles, legalizing gay marriage would reduce health...

Conservatives to GOP: Stop Gitmo 'Scaremongering'

Bob Barr, others write letter supporting Obama's plan

(Newser) - Three leading conservatives sought to quash what they called “scaremongering” by Republican politicians over plans to relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees to a prison in Illinois. In a joint statement, Bob Barr, David Keene, and Grover Norquist said the prison was secure enough to hold the detainees. “The federal...

Ex-Rep. Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years
 Ex-Rep. Jefferson 
 Sentenced to 
 13 Years  
cold hard cash
Nov 13, 2009 5:19 PM CST

Ex-Rep. Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years

Pol busted with $90K in freezer betrays little emotion

(Newser) - A federal judge sentenced former Congressman William Jefferson to 13 years in prison today, less than the 27-plus years prosecutors called for but more than the 10-year term the Louisiana Democrat's lawyer wanted. Jefferson, who was convicted in August of 11 of the 16 counts relating to the public corruption...

9/11 Plotters Will Face Death: Holder

New York trial represents proper US tradition, AG says

(Newser) - Confessed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his four co-defendants will face the death penalty, Eric Holder confirmed today, and the AG leapt to defend the decision to try them in a civilian court in New York. They will “answer for their alleged crimes in a courthouse just blocks...

Kerik Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case

Plea bargain carries suggested sentence of 2-3 years

(Newser) - Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded guilty today to lying to the White House and said he would also admit to tax crimes. The plea bargain, which applies to an anticipated eight charges, includes the prosecution's suggestion that the sentence be between 27 to 33 months in...

Republicans Stonewall Obama's Judges
Republicans Stonewall Obama's Judges
Doug Kendall
Oct 26, 2009 2:13 PM CDT

Republicans Stonewall Obama's Judges

Procedural maneuvers help Senate GOP stall confirmation process

(Newser) - Despite the 95 yawning vacancies on the federal bench, Senate Republicans are blocking virtually all of President Obama’s nominees. Only three of Obama’s 22 nominees have been confirmed, as Republicans take the “partisan war over the courts into uncharted territory,” writes Doug Kendall for Slate. Both...

Kerik Trial Pushed Back After Leak
Kerik Trial Pushed Back After Leak
Oct 23, 2009 2:35 PM CDT

Kerik Trial Pushed Back After Leak

No new date set; ex-NYPD commish will remain in jail

(Newser) - Bernard Kerik has more time in jail to look forward to. The former NYPD commissioner’s federal corruption trial was postponed today, with no new date set for jury selection. Kerik’s trial was supposed to begin on Monday, but a delay was widely expected after a judge revoked his...

Erin Andrews' Alleged Stalker Makes Bail

Michael David Barret must submit to home confinement

(Newser) - The traveling salesman who allegedly taped Erin Andrews in her hotel room and attempted to sell nude images of the ESPN reporter will be released on bail but confined to his home and forbidden to use the Internet. Michael David Barrett appeared in federal court in Chicago today and will...

Failed Execution Cited in Stay for Another Man

Judge: halted lethal injection raises issues about Ohio protocol

(Newser) - A federal appeals court today halted the execution of an Ohio inmate three weeks after problems with a lethal injection foiled another man's execution. The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to grant a stay to 43-year-old Lawrence Reynolds Jr., who had been sentenced to die for strangling...

Zazi Charged With Plotting Bomb Attacks in US

Terror suspect will face charge in New York after Denver court date

(Newser) - Terror suspect Najibullah Zazi has been indicted on a charge of trying to detonate bombs in the United States. The new charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction was filed today in New York. Authorities plan to transfer him to federal court there to face the new charge...

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