NPR Topics: Law http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1070&ft=1&f=1070 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. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:57:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Law http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1070&ft=1&f=1070 Feds To Drop Charges Against Blackwater Guard The Justice Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:57:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120634425&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120634425&ft=1&f=1070 The Justice Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday.

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]]> Leader Of Sears Tower Plot Sentenced To 13 Years Narseal Batiste, who faced a maximum of 70 years in prison, was convicted in May of conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaida, plotting to blow up buildings and conspiracy to wage war against the U.S. Officials acknowledged the plot never got past the discussion stage and the group never acquired the means to carry it out. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:21:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120631602&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120631602&ft=1&f=1070 Narseal Batiste, who faced a maximum of 70 years in prison, was convicted in May of conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaida, plotting to blow up buildings and conspiracy to wage war against the U.S. Officials acknowledged the plot never got past the discussion stage and the group never acquired the means to carry it out.

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]]> Army Mom Refuses To Deploy Army Specialist Alexis Hutchinson is facing a special court martial for missing her deployment to Iraq. The army says Hutchinson went AWOL. But she says she deliberately didn't4 go because she couldn't find adequate child care for the year that she would be away. Host Michel Martin speaks to Hutchinson’s civilian attorney Rai Sue Sussman about the charges. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608132&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608132&ft=1&f=1070 Army Specialist Alexis Hutchinson is facing a special court martial for missing her deployment to Iraq. The army says Hutchinson went AWOL. But she says she deliberately didn't4 go because she couldn't find adequate child care for the year that she would be away. Host Michel Martin speaks to Hutchinson’s civilian attorney Rai Sue Sussman about the charges.

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]]> Smoker Wins $300M Judgment Against Philip Morris The bookkeeper in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., won a $300 million jury verdict against the tobacco giant. Philip Morris' parent, Altria Group, called the judgment "fundamentally unfair" and said it will seek a court review. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114408183&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114408183&ft=1&f=1070 The bookkeeper in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., won a $300 million jury verdict against the tobacco giant. Philip Morris' parent, Altria Group, called the judgment "fundamentally unfair" and said it will seek a court review.

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]]> Katrina Ruling Could Lead To Class-Action Lawsuit A federal judge ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for some of the flooding during Hurricane Katrina, and ordered the government to pay more than $700,000 to five plaintiffs. Mark Schleifstein, a reporter at the <em>New Orleans Times-Picayune</em>, says of the 470,000 people who filed claims, about 100,000 are in the two areas where this lawsuit appears to have set a precedent. They will, he says, be able to go back to the court and ask for the case to be turned into a class action. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583704&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583704&ft=1&f=1070 A federal judge ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for some of the flooding during Hurricane Katrina, and ordered the government to pay more than $700,000 to five plaintiffs. Mark Schleifstein, a reporter at the New Orleans Times-Picayune, says of the 470,000 people who filed claims, about 100,000 are in the two areas where this lawsuit appears to have set a precedent. They will, he says, be able to go back to the court and ask for the case to be turned into a class action.

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]]> Do Long Island Police Ignore Hate Crimes? With the Latino population booming in Suffolk County, N.Y., so is anti-immigrant sentiment. Illegal immigrants see a rise in the kind of violence that took Rosario Lucero's son, but often won't report it for fear of the police and deportation. Now the Justice Department is probing whether local police are turning a blind eye. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:37:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120569458&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120569458&ft=1&f=1070 With the Latino population booming in Suffolk County, N.Y., so is anti-immigrant sentiment. Illegal immigrants see a rise in the kind of violence that took Rosario Lucero's son, but often won't report it for fear of the police and deportation. Now the Justice Department is probing whether local police are turning a blind eye.

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]]> Rebuilding New Orleans Parish – For Whites? St. Bernard Parish is attracting more minorities to the largely white parish. Long time residents want to bar low income housing, saying they it will destroy the neighborhood and discourage former residents from returning. Now a federal judge has weighed in. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:51:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568168&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568168&ft=1&f=1070 St. Bernard Parish is attracting more minorities to the largely white parish. Long time residents want to bar low income housing, saying they it will destroy the neighborhood and discourage former residents from returning. Now a federal judge has weighed in.

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]]> New Yorkers Disagree Over Plans For Sept. 11 Trial Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will be tried in a civilian court in New York City. Some argue it will open old wounds, while others insist it will provide closure. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120576418&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120576418&ft=1&f=1070 Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will be tried in a civilian court in New York City. Some argue it will open old wounds, while others insist it will provide closure.

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]]> Trying Sept. 11 Suspects In U.S. A Political Gamble Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try the alleged Sept. 11 conspirators in federal courts has elicited sharply divided responses from Capitol Hill, the American public and victims' families. Holder says his decision is driven by evidence, not politics. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120546400&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120546400&ft=1&f=1070 Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try the alleged Sept. 11 conspirators in federal courts has elicited sharply divided responses from Capitol Hill, the American public and victims' families. Holder says his decision is driven by evidence, not politics.

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]]> Ruling May Spur More Katrina Flood Lawsuits For the first time, the government has been found at fault for damage caused during Hurricane Katrina four years ago. A judge has awarded more than $700,000 to five plaintiffs. Attorneys say the ruling opens the door for some 100,000 people and thousands of businesses to sue the government. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:38:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120563031&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120563031&ft=1&f=1070 For the first time, the government has been found at fault for damage caused during Hurricane Katrina four years ago. A judge has awarded more than $700,000 to five plaintiffs. Attorneys say the ruling opens the door for some 100,000 people and thousands of businesses to sue the government.

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]]> Judge: Corps' Negligence Caused Katrina Flooding Flood victims argued that the widening of a navigation channel maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers and subsequent loss of protective wetlands turned the channel into a speedway for the hurricane's storm surge. A federal judge in New Orleans agreed and awarded damages of about $720,000 to four people and a business. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120555447&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120555447&ft=1&f=1070 Flood victims argued that the widening of a navigation channel maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers and subsequent loss of protective wetlands turned the channel into a speedway for the hurricane's storm surge. A federal judge in New Orleans agreed and awarded damages of about $720,000 to four people and a business.

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]]> S.C. Panel Finds Governor Should Face Ethics Charges The State Ethics Commission said probable cause exists on several allegations tied to a three-month investigation into Mark Sanford's travel and campaign finances. Details of the charges &mdash; which should include whether the accusations involve civil or criminal allegations &mdash; were expected to be released next week. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120553753&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120553753&ft=1&f=1070 The State Ethics Commission said probable cause exists on several allegations tied to a three-month investigation into Mark Sanford's travel and campaign finances. Details of the charges — which should include whether the accusations involve civil or criminal allegations — were expected to be released next week.

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]]> Sen. Lieberman: Panel Will Probe Fort Hood Lapses The Connecticut senator says the homeland security committee will try to determine whether the deadly shooting at the U.S. Army post in Fort Hood, Texas, could have been prevented. Lieberman acknowledges it will be difficult to proceed without the Obama administration's cooperation but says he is confident the issue can be resolved. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545591&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545591&ft=1&f=1070 The Connecticut senator says the homeland security committee will try to determine whether the deadly shooting at the U.S. Army post in Fort Hood, Texas, could have been prevented. Lieberman acknowledges it will be difficult to proceed without the Obama administration's cooperation but says he is confident the issue can be resolved.

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]]> Holder: 'We Need Not Cower' From Terrorism Trial Attorney General Eric Holder appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to defend his decision to put alleged Sept. 11 terrorists on trial in New York. He says the public and the nation's intelligence secrets can be protected during a public trial in civilian court. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120530053&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120530053&ft=1&f=1070 Attorney General Eric Holder appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to defend his decision to put alleged Sept. 11 terrorists on trial in New York. He says the public and the nation's intelligence secrets can be protected during a public trial in civilian court.

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]]> Offshore Tax Evaders Take Advantage Of IRS Amnesty Tax cheats are coming clean. The Internal Revenue Service says nearly 15,000 tax evaders responded to its recent offer of limited amnesty. The program covered undisclosed foreign bank accounts and other assets. The response was far greater than expected. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527458&ft=1&f=1070 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527458&ft=1&f=1070 Tax cheats are coming clean. The Internal Revenue Service says nearly 15,000 tax evaders responded to its recent offer of limited amnesty. The program covered undisclosed foreign bank accounts and other assets. The response was far greater than expected.

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