Law 2004 Archive | PBS NewsHour

ABOUT US \| LOCAL TV LISTINGS EMAIL PRINT

LAW


	2004 DECEMBER Dec. 24, 2004 Political Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks Discuss the Week's News Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks analyze the week in the news with Terence Smith, including Iraq, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and federal court nominees.

	Dec. 17, 2004 Augusto Pinochet, Former Chilean President Is Indicted for Humanitarian Abuses In part two of a two-part series, Elizabeth Farnsworth reports on the indictment of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for kidnapping and murder.

	Dec. 16, 2004 Massachusetts Judge Sues the Boston Herald for Article and a Reporter's Remarks Terence Smith leads a debate about a Massachusetts' judge defamation and libel lawsuit against the Boston Herald and its broader implications for reporters appearing on television.

	Dec. 14, 2004 Augusto Pinochet Indicted on Humanitarian Abuse Charges Elizabeth Farnsworth reports on the indictment of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet on charges of human rights violations in part one of a two-part series.

	Dec. 7, 2004 Wine Shipments Correspondent Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW-Chicago reports on the case currently before the Supreme Court regarding states' importation of wine. Then, Jan Crawford Greenburg of the Chicago Tribune joins correspondent Jeffrey Brown to discuss the arguments.

	Dec. 3, 2004 Ukraine Supreme Court Allows New Run Julian Manyon of Independent Television News reports on the Ukrainian Supreme Court's decision to hold a new presidential run-off election. Then, Ray Suarez speaks with Frank Brown, who is in Kiev as a special correspondent for Newsweek.

	Dec. 1, 2004 Ukraine Election Results Debated in Courts Julian Manyon of Independent Television News gives the latest on the disputed presidential election in Ukraine. Then, Margaret Warner speaks with Steven Lee Myers of The New York Times, who is covering the story in Kiev.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 30, 2004 Reporter Talks About the Charges About Prisoner Abuse at Guantanamo Bay Terence Smith speaks with Neil Lewis, the New York Times reporter who broke the story about alleged prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay.

	Nov. 29, 2004 Supreme Court Watch Two California patients who use marijuana under the supervision of their doctors are arguing the federal government should not be allowed to overule the state law that permits the use of the drug in their treatment. After a report on the case, a Supreme Court expert discusses Monday's court session.

	Nov. 26, 2004 Ukraine's Supreme Court Rules Election Invalid Jonathan Miller of Independent Television News reports from Ukraine on the government negotiations over the disputed presidential election. Then, Terence Smith speaks with Washington Post reporter Peter Finn about the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine.

	Nov. 19, 2004 Aftermath of the Fallujah Assault Ray Suarez leads a panel discussion on the aftermath of the assault on Fallujah, where things stand now and what lies ahead as the election scheduled for January approaches.

	Nov. 16, 2004 War Images The U.S. military began investigating the videotaped shooting of an unarmed and wounded man in Fallujah by a Marine. Ray Suarez leads a discussion about what ramifications the footage will have on the U.S. military in Iraq and the Arab world.

	Nov. 11, 2004 John Ashcroft Leaves Behind Controversial Legacy as Attorney General Law professors from Georgetown University join Ray Suarez for a look back at John Ashcroft's tenure as attorney general.

	Nov. 10, 2004 President Bush Nominates Alberto Gonzalez as Attorney General Gwen Ifill speaks with Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., about President Bush's nomination of White House counsel Alberto Gonzales to replace Attorney General John Ashcroft.

	Nov. 10, 2004 President Bush Nominated Alberto Gonzalez to Serve as Attorney General Less than 24 hours after making public Attorney General John Ashcroft's resignation, President Bush nominated White House counsel Alberto Gonzales to serve as the nation's top law enforcement official.

	Nov. 9, 2004 Judicial Decision Rendering Guantanamo Trials Invalid John Hendren, Pentagon correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, joins Ray Suarez to discuss the judicial decision rendering invalid the ongoing Guantanamo military trial.

	Nov. 8, 2004 Experts Discuss the Ongoing Debate Over Gay Marriage Voters in eleven states voted to ban same-sex marriage on Election Day. Margaret Warner leads a debate on the gay marriage issue with Shannon Royce, executive director of the Marriage Amendment Project and Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

	Nov. 4, 2004 A Plaintiff Suing Merck The following is an extended transcript of Susan Dentzer talking with Lisa Williams and her attorney Tom Kline about their lawsuit against Merck.

	Nov. 1, 2004 Chief Justice Absence Could Influence Immediate Court Decisions Jan Crawford Greenburg, Supreme Court reporter for the Chicago Tribune, joins Ray Suarez for a look at how the absence of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who is getting treatment for thyroid cancer, could affect the court's latest session.



	OCTOBER Oct. 13, 2004 The Teen Brain New research on physical and developmental differences between the brains of adolescents and adults may explain why some teenagers behave erratically. The findings could have a major impact on U.S. court cases, especially those that deal with minors and the death penalty.

	Oct. 13, 2004 Juvenile Justice The U.S. Supreme Court considered arguments Wednesday on the constitutionality of the death penalty for juveniles. A reporter discusses the high court's debate over executing juvenile criminals.

	Oct. 4, 2004 Politics of Judicial Appointments Margaret Warner speaks to two former Justice Department insiders about the potential impact of the presidential election on the judiciary.

	Oct. 4, 2004 Supreme Court Begins New Term A reporter takes a look at what's on the docket for the Supreme Court's new term.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 23, 2004 CBS Fined Record Amount for Superbowl Halftime Broadcast Is over-the-air programming too offensive? Terence Smith leads a debate over whether the government should enact tougher laws against over-the-air programming deemed indecent.

	Sept. 21, 2004 Opening Arguments Begin in Federal Government's Lawsuit Against Tobacco Industry Opening arguments began Tuesday in Washington in the $280 billion civil trial of America's major tobacco manufacturers for fraud and racketeering. Ray Suarez discusses the trial with a reporter who has covered the case since 1999.

	Sept. 15, 2004 Police Organizations Tout Tasers as Nonlethal Weapons Many police organizations tout Tasers as nonlethal weapons that allow officers to subdue suspected criminals and suicidal people, but community groups in several cities argue that stun guns are overused and often lead to police abuse. Lee Hochberg investigates the debate over police stun gun usage in Portland, Ore.

	Sept. 13, 2004 Federal Assault Weapons Ban Expires A 10-year-old law banning 19 types of semiautomatic weapons expired today. Jim Lehrer gets two perspectives in the debate over the need for the law from Seattle police Chief Gil Kerlikowske and Wayne LaPierre, CEO and executive vice president of the National Rifle Association.

	Sept. 9, 2004 Federal Assault Weapons Ban Set to Expire The federal assault-weapons ban, which outlaws 19 types of semiautomatic weapons, is set to expire Monday if Congress does not renew it. Margaret Warner gets two perspectives on whether Congress should renew the ban from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. and Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

	Sept. 7, 2004 Scientists Call Air Pollution Global Problem Air pollution is difficult to track and prevent because plumes of impurities that originate in one country can drift half a world away, ultimately affecting the climate and human health on different continents. Betty Ann Bowser looks at global efforts to overcome geopolitical hurdles in clearing the air.

	Sept. 3, 2004 Commandos Storm a Russian School Where Militants Held Hundreds Hostage Commandos stormed the school in southern Russia today where Chechen rebels had held hundreds of hostages. Jonathan Miller of Independent Television News reports that more than 150 people died and over 500 were injured in the battle.

	Sept. 3, 2004 Commandos Storm A Russian School Where Militants Held Hundreds Hostage Commandos stormed the school in southern Russia Friday where militants had held hundreds hostage. Ray Suarez gets an update from a journalist on the bloody end to the standoff that killed at least 150 people. Margaret Warner follows up in a discussion.



	AUGUST Aug. 25, 2004 The Second Report on Prisoner Abuse at Abu Ghraib Gwen Ifill discusses a second report released by the military Wednesday on the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal with Scott Horton, president of the International League for Human Rights, and retired Army Lt. Gen. John Le Moyne.

	Aug. 24, 2004 Ineffectual Leadership and Poor Training at Abu Ghraib Tuesday's high-level panel report on the Abu Ghraib prison scandal found that poor training, ineffectual leadership and ignored warning signs all contributed to the now well-documented abuse that occurred there. Gwen Ifill speaks with two members of the commission behind Tuesday's report.

	Aug. 24, 2004 Pre-trial Hearing of the Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Tuesday's pretrial hearing marked the first time any of the nearly 600 detainees at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, naval base has faced formal charges. Margaret Warner speaks with New York Times reporter Neil Lewis, who was inside the courtroom.



	JULY July 16, 2004 Martha Stewart Sentenced A federal judge sentenced home design guru Martha Stewart on Friday to five months in prison and two years probation after a jury convicted the former CEO of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators about a stock deal. Ray Suarez discusses the decision.

	July 14, 2004 British Intelligence Failures on Iraq WMDs A British intelligence inquiry reported today that the country's prewar estimates of Iraq's weapons capabilities had "serious flaws" and were partially based on "unreliable" sources, but the report found no evidence of deliberate distortion on the part of the Blair government.

	July 14, 2004 Gay Marriage Debate After a background report, Senators discuss the rejected bid to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, likely tabling the measure for the rest of this election year.

	July 12, 2004 Athletes on Trial Gold-medal sprinter Marion Jones has avoided indictment in the BALCO performance-enhancing drug investigation, but she failed in another high-profile trial, the U.S. Olympic qualifying race for the 100-meter dash on Saturday in Sacramento, Calif. Ray Suarez discusses the doping scandal with sports reporter Elliott Almond.

	July 8, 2004 Kenneth Lay's Indictmnet Former Enron head Kenneth Lay surrendered to the FBI Thursday and pleaded not guilty to 11 federal criminal counts stemming from the 2001 collapse of the once giant energy trading company.

	July 8, 2004 'Enemy Combatants' to Begin Court Hearings The nearly 600 prisoners the Department of Defense has detained at Guantanamo Bay as "enemy combatants" may begin to challenge their designation in federal court for the first time next week.

	July 5, 2004 Wal-Mart Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Paul Solman reports on the Wal-Mart sex discrimination lawsuit, the largest employment discrimination case to head to court.

	July 5, 2004 War Crimes Trials: Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein Two former dictators, Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Saddam Hussein of Iraq, face charges of war crimes. Milosevic's trial may be ending early due to his health problems while Saddam's is just getting started. Diane Orentlicher speaks with Jim Lehrer about the Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein trials.

	July 2, 2004 Report on Saddam's Arraignment The New York Times reported that Saddam Hussein has not yet provided any useful intelligence to U.S. authorities about his purported possession of weapons of mass destruction or his regime's alleged links to al-Qaida. Margaret Warner discusses Saddam's court appearance with New York Times Baghdad bureau chief John Burns.

	July 2, 2004 Perspectives on Saddam's Trial The high-profile court appearance of the former Iraqi dictator has sparked mixed reactions in Iraq. Three experts analyze the Arab world's reaction to Saddam's trial and Iraq's interim government.

	July 1, 2004 Charging Saddam Saddam Hussein was defiant today at his first court appearance, where he refused to sign a list of charges against him. Correspondent Kwame Holman looks at what Saddam said in his defense. Margaret Warner discusses the arraignment with Newsweek magazine's Babak Dehghanpisheh.



	JUNE June 30, 2004 Judicial Review The Supreme Court concluded its 2003 term with decisions supporting the legal rights of enemy combatants and free speech on the Internet. Margaret Warner reviews the judicial opinions of the recent term with Douglas Kmiec, a professor at Pepperdine University Law School, and Harold Koh, dean of Yale University Law School.

	June 30, 2004 Analysis of Legal Road Ahead for Saddam Hussein Iraq assumed legal custody over Saddam Hussein Wednesday, reducing him to a criminal defendant in the land he once ruled. The former dictator and 11 of his top lieutenants are no longer prisoners of war, but they remain in U.S. physical custody.

	June 29, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court suspended enforcement of a 1998 federal law designed to shield minors from Internet pornography, saying it likely violates the constitutional right to freedom of speech. Margaret Warner discusses the decision with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle.

	June 29, 2004 Court Strikes Down Internet Porn Law, Rejects Foreigner's Human Rights Case The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended enforcement of a 1998 federal law designed to shield minors from Internet pornography, saying it likely violates the constitutional right to freedom of speech.

	June 28, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court dealt a setback to the Bush administration's war against terrorism, ruling that U.S. citizens and foreigners seized as potential terrorists can challenge their treatment in U.S. courts. Ray Suarez discusses the decisions with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle.

	June 28, 2004 Detainee Decisions The Supreme Court said Monday the Bush administration has the authority to hold "enemy combatants" indefinitely, but the terror suspects have the basic right to a day in court. Two legal experts assess the impact the decisions will have on the legal efforts to combat terrorism.

	June 24, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court ruled that Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force does not have to release its records. The high court also refused to overturn the sentences of over 100 death-row inmates. Margaret Warner discusses the cases with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle.

	June 23, 2004 Controversy Continues Over White House Role in Abuse Senate Democrats and Republicans Wednesday debated the Bush administration's declassification of legal documents related to the abuse of prisoners in U.S. custody. Two experts discuss the documents and the implications of their release.

	June 21, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court ruled that patients do not have the right to sue health insurers or HMOs in state courts and that people may not withhold their identity from police. Correspondent Jeffrey Brown discusses today's decisions with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle, who attended the hearings.

	June 21, 2004 Abu Ghraib Defendants Seek Government Documents on Detainees Human rights activists and attorneys for the soldiers accused in the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal argue internal government memos outlining possible legal justifications for harsh treatment of prisoners may have lead to torture. Legal experts discuss the meaning of the memos.

	June 15, 2004 Saudi Arabia's Security Challenge A recent wave of kidnappings and killings of Americans in Saudi Arabia has heightened concerns about the security of foreign citizens and international oil interests there.

	June 14, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court refused to remove the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, rejecting a California atheist's right to sue his daughter's school district because he does not have exclusive custody of the child. Margaret Warner discusses the decision with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle.

	June 8, 2004 Senate Judiciary Committee Grills Ashcroft on Justice Dept. Memo The Senate Judiciary Committee questioned Attorney General John Ashcroft about allegations of a memo that suggests the president is not bound by international treaties prohibiting the torture of prisoners. Margaret Warner speaks with Jess Bravin about the controversial department memo and the heated congressional hearing.

	June 1, 2004 U.S. Outlines Case Against Terror Suspect Padilla Terrorism suspect Jose Padilla plotted to use natural gas to blow up U.S. apartment buildings, according to newly declassified documents released by the Justice Department Tuesday. Margaret Warner discusses the government's case against Padilla with New York Times reporter Eric Lichtblau.



	MAY May 31, 2004 California Parole System Spencer Michels examines changes in the California parole system.

	May 27, 2004 Arrest of Islamic Cleric Abu Hamza al London police arrested Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri on suspicion that he may be linked to alleged al-Qaida terror cells in the northwestern United States. Ray Suarez discusses the arrest with experts.

	May 19, 2004 Court-Martial of Spc. Jeremy Sivits A court-martial sentenced Spc. Jeremy Sivits to the maximum penalty today for charges in connection with the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad. Terence Smith discusses the court-martial with New York Times correspondent Dexter Filkins in Baghdad.

	May 17, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court ruled today that states are not exempt from provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act which require elevators and ramps in public facilities. Margaret Warner discusses the 5-4 decision with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle.

	May 17, 2004 Brown v. Board of Education 50 Years Later The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case desegregated America's public schools, but most minority students still attend schools where they are the majority. Gwen Ifill talks to four experts about the ways Brown has brought about change, and the ways it has failed to do so.

	May 17, 2004 Gay Marriage: A New Era Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Monday. Correspondent Spencer Michels reports on the ceremonies and controversy in the Bay State.

	May 13, 2004 Bending the Rules:International Law and the Treatment of Prisoners Recent images of Iraqi prisoner abuse have raised questions in Congress about whether the Department of Defense created a climate for abuse by sidestepping established international treaties on the appropriate treatment for prisoners of war. Kwame Holman reports on the controversy.

	May 13, 2004 Interrogation or Abuse of Iraqi Detainees Recent images of Iraqi prisoner abuse have raised questions about whether the Department of Defense created a climate for abuse by sidestepping international standards on the treatment for prisoners of war. Experts debate whether the U.S. military broke rules of the Geneva Convention in its interrogation of Iraqi detainees.

	May 12, 2004 Brown v. Board of Education In May of 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. KTWU, the Topeka PBS station, produced a look back at the decision through the eyes of some of the people who made it happen.

	May 11, 2004 Emmitt Till The Department of Justice has reopened an inquiry into the 1955 murder of Mississippi teenager Emmett Till after two new documentaries suggested the initial investigation and subsequent acquittal were flawed.

	May 11, 2004 Essay: With All Deliberate Speed Essayist Clarence Page reflects on the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision on desegregation, but he insists modern-day African-Americans have only as much integration as they can afford.

	May 10, 2004 Legal Options for Prosecuting U.S. Military Members Accused of Iraqi Abuse With one trial already set, the U.S. departments of Defense and Justice are devising a plan to divide additional prosecutions of American military personnel and civilian defense contractors involved in the alleged abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

	May 4, 2004 Former Banker Convicted A New York jury convicted former Credit Suisse First Boston banker Frank Quattrone of obstructing a 2000 government investigation into how initial public offerings were allocated. Ray Suarez discusses the case and its outcome with New York Times business reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin and former federal prosecutor Zachary Carter.



	APRIL April 30, 2004 The Defense of Marriage Act The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a federal law designed to give states the right to refuse recognition of a same-sex marriage approved by another state. It also defines marriage as a union between a man and woman for the purposes of federal law.

	April 28, 2004 War And Liberties The Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases Wednesday that may set how far the executive branch can go in detaining U.S. citizens without trial in the ongoing war against terrorism. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal helps interpret the arguments.

	April 28, 2004 High Court Considers Enemy Combatant Detentions The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in two precedent-setting cases that ask whether in the war on terrorism President Bush can order American citizens held indefinitely in a military jail without charges, a hearing or access to a lawyer.

	April 27, 2004 Policy And Privacy The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether Vice President Dick Cheney has the right to keep his energy task force papers secret, another key case that will test the limits of executive branch power. Gwen Ifill discusses the details of the debate with a National Law Journal reporter who attended the hearing.

	April 20, 2004 War and Liberties The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on behalf of Afghan war detainees held in a military camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba who want the right to challenge their detentions in the U.S. court system.

	April 20, 2004 High Court Hears Appeal from Guantanamo Detainees The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether courts have the jurisdiction to hear appeals from terror suspects held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in one of the first major constitutionality tests of the Bush administration's anti-terrorism policies.

	April 2, 2004 Tyco Mistrial The corporate corruption trial of two former Tyco executives ended in a mistrial today after an apparent holdout juror received a threatening letter. Ray Suarez discusses the decision and the future of the case with New York Times reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin and former federal prosecutor Robert Mintz.



	MARCH March 29, 2004 Abortion Law Abortion rights activists filed challenges Monday to a new federal law that bans late-term abortions. Judges will hear evidence in three separate trials about the law's constitutionality. Two experts discuss the reasons for the challenges.

	March 29, 2004 Tyco Trial A New York judge rejected a defense motion for mistrial today in the corporate corruption case of former Tyco executives Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz. Gwen Ifill discusses the case and continuing deliberations with New York Times business reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin.

	March 25, 2004 Antitrust Ruling The European Union fined Microsoft more than $600 million yesterday for antitrust violations, and it ordered the software giant to take steps to allow more competition in the operating-systems market. Ray Suarez looks at the impact of the ruling.

	March 24, 2004 One Nation, Under God The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today over whether the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance violates the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. Gwen Ifill discusses the case with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle, who attended the hearing.

	March 24, 2004 High Court Weighs Pledge of Allegiance Dispute The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case involving a dispute over the words "under God" in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

	March 19, 2004 Weekly Analysis of Shields and Brooks Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news, including the controversy over the Medicare bill and the one year anniversary of the Iraq war.

	March 18, 2004 Scalia Rejects Recusal Request in Cheney Case A defiant Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia refused a request Thursday to remove himself from a case involving his friend, Vice President Dick Cheney, dismissing suggestions of a conflict of interest.

	March 10, 2004 Essay: Hard to Change Essayist Roger Mudd proposes a new constitutional amendment.

	March 8, 2004 Corporate Executives Face New Scrutiny Martha Stewart was convicted for lying to prosecutors over a personal stock trade. Other CEOs are facing criminal prosecution for defrauding their companies or increased public scrutiny of their management techniques. Margaret Warner gets perspectives from three business experts.

	March 8, 2004 Unrest in Haiti The former chief justice of the Haitian Supreme Court was sworn in as the new president of Haiti. But Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who fled an armed rebellion more than a week ago, insisted that he is still president. Ray Suarez gets an update from New York Times correspondent Lydia Polgreen.

	March 8, 2004 Essay: American Family NewsHour essayist Richard Rodriguez offers some thoughts about gay marriage.

	March 5, 2004 The Blackmun Tapes In part two of a special report on the released tapes of the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, two legal experts discuss what the Blackmun papers say about the inner-workings of the Supreme Court.

	March 5, 2004 The Blackmun Tapes In the second report on the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun's oral history tapes, the justice talks about two key decisions during his tenure and some of his colleagues in the court's chambers

	March 5, 2004 Martha Stewart Verdict A federal jury in New York City found home decorating guru and publisher Martha Stewart guilty of four counts of conspiracy, making false statements and obstructing justice. Terence Smith speaks with New York Times correspondent Constance Hays about the verdict.

	March 5, 2004 Shields and Brooks Jim Lehrer continues the discussion about the Blackmun papers, the troubling situation in Haiti and election 2004 with syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks.

	March 4, 2004 The Blackmun Tapes In the first of two NewsHour reports about the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, Ray Suarez speaks with Blackmun's former clerk Harold Koh, who conducted extensive interviews with Blackmun at the time of his retirement. Then, in his own words, Blackmun gives an inside view of past Supreme Court cases.

	March 3, 2004 Gay Marriage The mayors of Portland, Ore., and Nyack, N.Y., said today that they would begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Kwame Holman reports on the recent controversy over same-sex marriage in America.

	March 2, 2004 Called to Account A federal grand jury indicted former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers this week in a multibillion dollar corporate accounting scandal. Gwen Ifill discusses the case with FBI Assistant Director Pasquale D'Amuro and Deborah Solomon of the Wall Street Journal.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 27, 2004 Political Wrap Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist William Safire discuss the presidential campaign and the debate over gay marriage. Then, presidential historian Michael Beschloss joins a discussion on the historical influence of independent candidates, like Ralph Nader, on presidential elections.

	Feb. 27, 2004 Church in Crisis In a new report, a Catholic review board called bishops' inability to stop decades of sexual abuse against minors "shameful."

	Feb. 27, 2004 Robert Bennett A Catholic review board on Friday released a report on molestation problems in the U.S. Catholic Church, finding more than 10,000 cases of assault on minors from 1950 to 2002. Margaret Warner discusses the findings with the review board's research committee chairman, Robert Bennett.

	Feb. 26, 2004 Offensive Behavior After several women accused University of Colorado football players of raping or sexually assaulting them at recruitment parties, a special prosecutor will be named to launch an investigation into whether the university used alcohol and sex parties to recruit star athletes to its football team. Spencer Michels reports.

	Feb. 25, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that states may deny academic scholarships to divinity students. Gwen Ifill discusses the decision with Marcia Coyle, Washington bureau chief for the National Law Journal.

	Feb. 25, 2004 High Court Upholds State Ban on Religion Scholarships The Supreme Court upheld Wednesday government scholarship restrictions that bar any taxpayer money for college students who pursue a degree in theology, an important legal marker in the rules of church-state separation.

	Feb. 24, 2004 Conspiracy Charges The Pentagon announced today that it is going to try two prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay in military tribunals. Ray Suarez discusses the decision with Eugene Fidell, the founder of the National Institute of Military Justice.

	Feb. 24, 2004 Gay Marriage President Bush announced Tuesday that he is in favor of amending the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as a union of a man and woman, essentially banning same-sex marriages. Gwen Ifill discusses the issue with two constitutional scholars.

	Feb. 19, 2004 Called to Account Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling pleaded not guilty to 40 federal counts of fraud, conspiracy and insider trading today in Houston. Spencer Michels offers an update on the continued fallout from the Enron collapse.

	Feb. 19, 2004 Called to Account Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling pleaded not guilty to 40 federal counts of fraud, conspiracy and insider trading Thursday in Houston. Margaret Warner and legal experts discuss the former executive's role in the historic accounting scandal.

	Feb. 18, 2004 Marriage Test San Francisco's City Hall spent Valentine's Day weekend granting marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, despite a California state law forbidding same-sex marriage. Spencer Michels reports on the rush to the altar and the legal challenges aimed at stopping the same-sex marriage licenses from being recognized.

	Feb. 17, 2004 Immigration Reform Correspondent Ted Robbins of KUAT-Tucson gets perspectives on President Bush 's proposed immigration reform plans from some of those whom it will affect the most -- the Latin-American immigrant population in the American Southwest.

	Feb. 13, 2004 Gay Marriage Legislators and courts in several states are debating whether same-sex couples may legally marry. Ray Suarez gets two perspectives on the issue from Matt Daniels of the Alliance for Marriage and Cheryl Jacques of the Human Rights Campaign.

	Feb. 13, 2004 Shields and Brooks Jim Lehrer speaks with syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks about same-sex marriage and the 2004 presidential campaign.

	Feb. 13, 2004 The Detainees Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced that the 660 or so alleged al-Qaida and Taliban fighters, who are being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may apply annually for release. Margaret Warner discusses the policy change.

	Feb. 4, 2004 Immigration Reform The guest worker program President Bush recently proposed has sparked heated debate in California. Some labor groups in the state oppose the plan, but most businesses support it.



	JANUARY Jan. 16, 2004 Shields and Brooks Jim Lehrer speaks with syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks about the Iowa caucuses, Paul O'Neill's take on the White House and President Bush's appointment of Charles Pickering to a federal appeals court.

	Jan. 14, 2004 Fastows Reach Plea Deal in Enron Case Former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy Wednesday in connection with the collapse of that energy company in 2001. Jim Lehrer discusses the case with New York Times correspondent Kurt Eichenwald and former assistant U.S. attorney Robert Mintz.

	Jan. 13, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The U.S. Supreme Court authorized police roadblocks to collect tips about unsolved crimes, and the justices also agreed to hear arguments about the rights of the disabled to sue states that have not complied with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

	Jan. 12, 2004 The Power of One: Background The current U.S. Supreme Court is increasingly being called the "O'Connor Court" for the pivotal fifth vote Justice Sandra Day O'Connor often casts. Kwame Holman looks at the unique power of the court's first woman justice.

	Jan. 12, 2004 The Power of One The current U.S. Supreme Court is increasingly being called the "O'Connor Court" because of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's tie-breaking swing votes. Legal experts discuss the first woman justice's pivotal role on the nation's top court.

	Jan. 9, 2004 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Jim Lehrer to discuss the upcoming Iowa caucus, the Democratic presidential candidates and the Halliburton scandal.

	Jan. 9, 2004 Supreme Court Accepts Case Testing Enemy Combatant Detention The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide whether a U.S. citizen seized abroad can be kept indefinitely in a military jail, the latest in a series of legal challenges to the Bush administration's antiterrorism policies.

	Jan. 7, 2004 Parmalat Probe An Italian journalist discusses the investigation into the collapse of Italian food conglomerate Parmalat, which is facing an investigation into whether its founder Calisto Tanzi invented paper assets, funneled money to family companies and used extensive fraud to disguise growing losses.

	Jan. 7, 2004 Immigrant Workers: President Bush's Remarks President Bush proposed today that Congress grant temporary legal status to illegal immigrants who have found work in the United States. The president also said the United States should increase the number of green cards that it issues.

	Jan. 7, 2004 Immigrant Workers Experts and lawmakers discuss President Bush's proposal to extend legal status to all immigrants who have found work in the United States and match potential foreign workers with American employers.

	Jan. 6, 2004 Crucial Card Jeffrey Kaye looks at how the wide acceptance of identification cards issued by Mexican consulates has blurred the line between legal and illegal immigrants in the United States.

	Jan. 1, 2004 Interrogating Saddam Since the capture of Saddam Hussein, U.S. interrogators have been questioning the former Iraqi leader seeking information on the anti-coalition insurgency, weapons of mass destruction and other matters. Two intelligence experts assess what Saddam might know and how American officials should question him.