Recent Updates
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High Court sides with Guantanamo detainees again
Lawyer Blogs 06/12/2008The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that foreign terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have rights under the Constitution to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts.In its third rebuke of the Bush administration's treatment of prisoners, t...
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Ex-Nazi guard now in Pa. loses deportation appeal
Lawyer Blogs 06/11/2008A retired steelworker who served as a Nazi guard should be deported even though the United States mistakenly granted him a visa in 1956, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.Anton Geiser's work as a guard meets the type of persecutory conduct banned...
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Court will again review $79.5M award in tobacco case
Lawyer Blogs 06/10/2008The Supreme Court said Monday it will review a $79.5 million punitive damages judgment against Marlboro-maker Philip Morris for the third time.The justices have twice struck down the award to the family of a longtime smoker of Marlboros, made by Altr...
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Justices rule against public employee who lost job
Lawyer Blogs 06/10/2008Individual government workers generally cannot make a constitutional case out of their workplace discrimination claims, the Supreme Court said Monday in a ruling that leaves public employees with fewer legal options than those in the private sector.T...
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Justices allow RICO lawsuit in Illinois case
Lawyer Blogs 06/09/2008The Supreme Court on Monday allowed businessmen to use a powerful law enforcement tool in a lawsuit alleging fraud in tax sales in Cook County, Ill.The unanimous decision came in a case involving the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizat...
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High court rules against multiple royalties
Lawyer Blogs 06/09/2008The Supreme Court has limited the ability of companies to collect multiple royalties on their patents.The unanimous decision Monday was helpful to customers of Intel Corp. and is the latest step by the justices to scale back the power of patent-holde...
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Court: Vt. ruling stands in lesbian custody case
Lawyer Blogs 06/07/2008The Virginia Supreme Court says that a Vermont court's ruling should stand in a child visitation dispute between two former lesbian partners.Friday's decision is a victory for Janet Jenkins, who entered a civil union with Lisa Miller in Vermont in 20...
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Court: Vt. ruling stands in lesbian custody case
Lawyer Blogs 06/06/2008Virginia's highest court ruled Friday that the state must enforce a Vermont court order awarding child-visitation rights to a mother's former lesbian partner.The Virginia Supreme Court rejected Lisa Miller's claim that a lower court improperly ignore...
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Calif. court refuses to stay gay marriage ruling
Lawyer Blogs 06/05/2008California's highest court Wednesday refused to stay its decision legalizing same-sex marriage in the state, clearing the final hurdle for gay couples to start tying the knot this month.Conservative religious and legal groups had asked the California...
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Calif. court refuses to stay gay marriage ruling
Lawyer Blogs 06/04/2008California's highest court has refused to stay until after the November election its decision legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.Conservative religious and legal groups had asked the California Supreme Court to stop its order from becoming eff...
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Court rules for defendants on money laundering
Lawyer Blogs 06/03/2008The Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal prosecutors have gone too far in their use of money laundering charges to combat drug traffickers and organized crime.In two decisions — one a 5-4 split, the other unanimous — the justices found that money ...
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Justices rule for defendants on money laundering
Lawyer Blogs 06/02/2008The Supreme Court on Monday ruled against the government in two money laundering cases, making it more difficult for prosecutors to use an important weapon in the war on drugs and organized crime.In a unanimous decision, Justice Clarence Thomas said ...