First Read : Courts

SCOTUS clears way for Tues. execution

Mark Murray — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:44:00 GMT

From NBC's Pete WilliamsThe U.S. Supreme Court has turned down an emergency application from lawyers for John Allen Muhammad, the DC-area sniper, clearing the way for his scheduled execution Tuesday. *** UPDATE *** Justices John Paul Stevens and Sonia Sotomayor say states like Virginia should not be allow to rush the Supreme Court into deciding death penalty cases hours or days before scheduled executions. Muhammad's lawyers asked the court to put his execution on hold so that it could consider...(read more)

Court declines to hear 60s cold case

Domenico Montanaro — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:02:00 GMT

From NBC's Pete WilliamsThe U.S. Supreme Court today declined to take up the case of James Ford Seale, a central figure in an infamous racially motivated crime in 1964. Today's action leaves his conviction standing. But two justices said the court should have taken the case, because the issue will come up again in other cold cases from the 1960s. The FBI accused Seale and other Ku Klux Klansmen of kidnapping two black college students in 1964, beating them in a forest, and dumping them, still...(read more)

Court to hear Gitmo detainee case

Domenico Montanaro — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:16:00 GMT

From NBC's Pete Williams
Despite a plea from the Obama administration to stay on the sidelines, the U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to jump squarely into the legal battle over bringing Guantanamo detainees into the United States.

It's the first time the court has agreed to review an Obama policy in the war on terror.

The court said it will hear a constitutional challenge brought by 13 Chinese Muslims now held at Guantanamo Bay but no longer considered enemy combatants. They've asked, and the U.S. has agreed, that they not be sent back to China out of fear that they'd be tortured. But, so far, no other country has agreed to take them. Given all that, a federal judge ruled a year ago that because the government had no basis on which to detain them, and with no other country willing to take them, they should be released into the United States.

...(read more)

Justice Dept announces pot guidelines

Domenico Montanaro — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:44:00 GMT

From NBC's Pete WilliamsFormally announcing its new guidelines to prosecutors on medical marijuana, the Justice Department says "the focus of federal resources should not be on individuals whose actions are in compliance with existing state laws." In a written statement, Attorney General Eric Holder said, "It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate...(read more)

Ginsburg released from hospital

Mark Murray — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:23:00 GMT

From NBC's Pete WilliamsSupreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is out of the hospital and expected back on the job today. ...(read more)

Another 'birther' lawsuit rejected

Domenico Montanaro — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:27:00 GMT

From NBC’s Pete Williams
Another "birther" lawsuit, challenging President Obama's constitutional qualification to be president, has been rejected in federal court. And in tossing the case out, the judge said that Congress seems satisfied that Obama is qualified, based on the unanimous passage of a House resolution dealing with Hawaii.

On July 27th, the House approved, by a vote of 378-0, a resolution to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood. In extolling the state's history, the resolution says, "the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961."

"Congress is apparently satisfied that the President is qualified to serve," says federal judge Clay Land, in dismissing the case. "Congress has not instituted impeachment proceedings, and in fact, the House of Representatives in a broad bipartisan manner has rejected the suggestion that the President is not eligible for office."

...(read more)

SCOTUS watch: Campaign finance

Mark Murray — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:12:00 GMT

For most observers who listened to the Supreme Court hearing yesterday, it seems the consensus is that the court could very well overturn much of the campaign finance system giving corporations and unions more power to spend money. ...(read more)

Big change ahead for money in politics?

Domenico Montanaro — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:30:00 GMT

From NBC's Pete WilliamsThe U.S. Supreme Court appears to be on the verge of permitting a huge change in the mix of money in American politics. Based on the comments from the justices today during an unusual summer argument session, the court appears to be inclined to strike down decades of federal laws and court decisions that have limited who can buy political campaign ads. At stake are laws that ban corporations and labor unions from spending their own money to run ads that attack or support...(read more)

The Supreme Court and change

Domenico Montanaro — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:20:00 GMT

From NBC's Pete WilliamsIn interviews with C-SPAN, several U.S. Supreme Court justices say whenever a new member comes on the court, its entire chemistry is altered. C-SPAN did the interviews earlier this year and made the tape available today to coincide with the arrival next week of Sonia Sotomayor. Both Chief Justice John Roberts and Clarence Thomas say getting a new justice is like living through a change in a family. "You quickly get to view the court as composed of these members, and...(read more)

Obama hails Sotomayor confirmation

Domenico Montanaro — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:06:00 GMT

From NBC's Athena Jones

President Obama today thanked the Senate for confirming Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, calling it a "wonderful day" for America.

The Bronx-born Sotomayor, who was approved by a 68-31 vote, will become the court's first Hispanic justice when she is sworn in Saturday morning by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. She was spending the day in New York, according to the White House, and was not present for the president's comments.

In brief remarks delivered just moments after the vote, Obama declared himself "very happy" with the 68 votes Sotomayor received and said he was filled with pride at this achievement.

Video: President Obama comments on the Senate’s vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"With this historic vote," he said, "the Senate has affirmed that Judge Sotomayor has the intellect, the temperament, the history, the integrity and the independence of mind to ably serve on our nation's highest court."

The Senate's role in confirming judges helped ensure that equal justice under the law was not just a phrase inscribed above the courthouse door, but a description of what happens inside the courtroom each day, the president said.

...(read more)