June 26, 2008
In Landmark Ruling, Divided High Court Strikes Down Gun Ban
The Supreme Court rejected a District of Columbia handgun ban in a 5-4 vote Thursday, the first time the court has issued a major ruling on gun rights. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal discusses the case.

Read the court's full ruling in District Columbia v. Heller. [PDF]

June 26, 2008
Attorneys Debate Effects of Gun Ban Override
The Supreme Court's landmark decision overturning the gun ban in the District of Columbia Thursday may have far reaching effects. Peter Nickles, D.C. Attorney General, and Ted Cruz, former Texas Solicitor General, debate the impact of the decision.

June 26, 2008
Slideshow: Supreme Court Overturns D.C. Handgun Ban
The Supreme Court overturned the District of Columbia's 32-year ban on handguns, affirming for the first time the Second Amendment right of individuals to keep and bear arms. The Online NewsHour spoke to Washington, D.C., residents about their reactions to the ruling.

June 25, 2008
Justices Cut Exxon Valdez Damages, Rule on Child Rape
The Supreme Court rejected use of the death penalty for those convicted of child rape Wednesday and cut the punitive damages awarded for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle recaps the decisions.

Read the court's full ruling in Kennedy v. Louisiana. [PDF]

June 25, 2008
High Court Slashes Damages on '89 Exxon Valdez Spill
Almost twenty years since the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Supreme Court decided Wednesday to reduce victims' compensation in Alaska. Two journalists who have covered the story discuss the decision and how the impact of the accident still lingers in the region.

Read the court's full ruling in Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker. [PDF]

June 19, 2008
Supreme Court Rules for Workers in Age Discrimation Case
In a 7-1 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that when older workers are disproportionately affected by an employment decision, the employer bears the burden of explaining whether there was a reasonable explanation other than age for the action.

Read the full ruling in Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. [PDF]

June 12, 2008
Justices Rule Gitmo Prisoners May Challenge Detentions
The Supreme Court has ruled that foreign terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have rights under the Constitution to challenge their detention in civilian courts. By a 5-4 vote, the high court overturned a ruling that upheld a Bush administration-backed law passed in 2006 that took away the habeas corpus rights of the terrorism suspects to seek full judicial review of their detention.

Read a transcript of the decision in Boumediene v. Bush. [PDF]

May 19, 2008
Supreme Court Upholds Penalties for Promoting Child Porn
The Supreme Court upheld a criminal provision of a 2003 federal law making it a crime to promote or present material as child pornography. In a victory for the Bush administration, the high court ruled in a 7-2 vote to reject the argument that one part of the law illegally infringed on free-speech or other rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Read a transcript of the decision in U.S. v. Williams. [PDF]

April 28, 2008
Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID Law in Indiana
The Supreme Court ruled that states can require voters to show photo identification without violating their constitutional rights, backing a push for stricter voter ID laws. More than 20 states require some form of identification at the polls. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal examines the implications of the voter ID decision.

Read a transcript of the decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. [PDF]

April 16, 2008
Supreme Court Votes 7-2 to Allow Lethal Injection
The Supreme Court voted Wednesday to uphold Kentucky's use of lethal injection, allowing the continuation of executions on hold since September. The court also heard arguments on the legality of the death penalty for child rapists. Marcia Coyle discusses the cases.

Read the court's full ruling in Baze v. Rees, Kentucky Department of Corrections. [PDF]

March 25, 2008
Justices Rule on Texas Case, Hear Detainee Rights Appeal
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Texas does not have to give a new hearing to a Mexican on death row for rape and murder, announcing its decision in a case that called presidential power, capital punishment and international treaties into play.

February 27, 2008
Justices Consider Exxon Challenge of Valdez Punitive Award
The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a civil suit filed by thousands of fishermen and small business owners who were awarded $2.5 billion in punitive damage for the 1989 shipwreck of the Exxon Valdez off the coast of Alaska.

Read the full ruling of the high court arguments in the Exxon Valdez case. (PDF)

January 9, 2008
Justices Appear Divided Over Case Testing Voter ID Laws
In a politically sensitive case, the Supreme Court appeared reluctant Wednesday to strike down an Indiana law requires voters to photo identification before they cast ballots as a voter-fraud deterrent. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle details the arguments in the case and the potential impact on the 2008 presidential vote.

Read a transcript of Monday's high court oral arguments in the voter ID case. [PDF]

December 10, 2007
Justices Give Judges More Leeway in Drug Sentencing
Judges can override federal sentencing guidelines and issue lighter sentences for defendants in crack cocaine cases, the Supreme Court ruled in December. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle offers analysis of the court's decision.

December 5, 2007
High Court Takes New Look at Rights of Gitmo Detainees
The Supreme Court probed Wednesday whether terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have constitutional rights to challenge their detention.  The case marks the first time the court is considering whether Guantanamo prisoners have habeas corpus rights under the Constitution to seek a judicial review. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle recaps the day in court and experts debate the state of U.S. policy on detained terror suspects.
RealAudio | MP3: Part One of Oral Arguments in Boumediene v. Bush
RealAudio | MP3: Part Two of Oral Arguments in Boumediene v. Bush

November 20, 2007
High Court Agrees to Hear Pivotal Gun Case
The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear a case testing the legalities of a handgun ban in Washington, D.C. The appeal could provide the basis for a landmark high court ruling defining the limits of the Second Amendment. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle explains the background of the case and its potential impact on gun laws.

October 30, 2007
Court Considers Legalities of Child Pornography Statute
The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in case questioning whether a law that bans the promotion of online child pornography infringes too heavily on free speech rights. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle takes us through the day at the high court.

October 10, 2007
Court Mulls Limits of Treaties, Rules in Education Case
The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case testing how states' rights apply to international treaties and ruled in suit examining whether public school systems should have to pay for private school special education. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle recaps the day at the high court.

October 9, 2007
Court Weighs Corporate Fraud Liability, Rejects Torture Case
The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on limiting lawsuits by shareholders over corporate fraud scandals. The court also rejected hearing an appeal from a German man who alleges that the CIA kidnapped and tortured him.

October 1, 2007
Supreme Court to Weigh Education Law, More in New Session
The U.S. Supreme Court opened its new term Monday with a docket that includes cases on reimbursement for private education, election law and the rights of Guantanamo Bay detainees. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle previews the term and potential challenges for the court.