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 | 2005 DECEMBER Dec. 30, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Discuss 2005 Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss Jack Abramoff's legal troubles, the winners and losers of 2005 and the year's most significant events, including Hurricane Katrina and the rise of political Islam.

  

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 | Dec. 28, 2005
 Enron Plea Deal Former Enron chief accounting officer Richard Causey pleaded guilty Wednesday to a security fraud charge. A reporter discusses the plea deal and how this development will affect the upcoming Enron trial.

  

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 | Dec. 28, 2005
 Supreme Court Nominee Alito's Judicial Views Documents released recently from Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito's past have sparked a debate over his judicial philosophy. Two experts discuss what the documents reveal about his views on executive privilege, abortion rights and civil rights and what they could mean for his confirmation hearings.

  

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 | Dec. 23, 2005
 Hired for a Day A report examines the tensions of hiring day laborers that may be illegal immigrants with a focus on Herndon, a city in Northern Virginia that just opened a city-funded day laborer site.

  

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 | Dec. 23, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss Congress' last-minute action on the Patriot Act, the domestic surveillance controversy and other political developments of the week.

  

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 | Dec. 23, 2005
 Alito Supported Wiretaps Without Warrants As a Justice Department lawyer in the 1980s, Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito argued that executive branch officials should not be held liable if they ordered wiretaps without obtaining warrants, according to documents.

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 | Dec. 22, 2005
 Padilla Stays in the Brig A government request to transfer terrorism suspect Jose Padilla from military to civilian custody was rejected yesterday by an appeals court. A reporter discusses the latest developments.

  

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 | Dec. 21, 2005
 Senate Showdown Over Budget, Drilling in ANWR In last minute votes on Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill to trim spending on social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and student loans but rejected a military spending bill that included a controversial provision to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

  

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 | Dec. 21, 2005
 Saddam's Tribunal Two experts discuss how Saddam Hussein's trial stacks up to other noted war crimes tribunals of the modern age.

  

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 | Dec. 20, 2005
 A Defeat for "Intelligent Design" A federal judge in Dover, Pa. ruled Tuesday against teaching "intelligent design" in public schools. He said intelligent design, which credits an unseen creator with human development, has no place in a science curriculum. Following an update from a reporter, two lawyers involved in the case discuss the decision.

  

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 | Dec. 20, 2005
 A Closer Look at NSA The Bush administration has recently come under fire for authorizing the National Security Agency to spy on people in the United States suspected of terrorism ties. Two experts discuss the powers of NSA.

  

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 | Dec. 19, 2005
 The NSA & Domestic Surveillance In response to a barrage of criticism, President Bush said Monday he did not break the law when he authorized spying on Americans suspected of ties to terrorism. Following a background report, two senators discuss the use of domestic surveillance in the anti-terrorism effort.

  

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 | Dec. 19, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss presidential power amid revelations of domestic surveillance, along with the administration's efforts to bolster support for the war on Iraq.

  

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 | Dec. 14, 2005
 Iraqis Vote for Parliament Iraqis will head to the polls Thursday to vote on the country's first permanent parliament.

 

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 | Dec. 13, 2005
 USA Patriot Act Debate Congress remains divided over renewing sections of the controversial Patriot Act, a bill that allows access to personal records in terrorism cases but critics say infringes on civil liberties. Two senators discuss their differing views of the Patriot Act.

  

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 | Dec. 13, 2005
 Jordanian View of Saddam Hussein's Trial The trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein receives heavy press coverage in the neighboring country of Jordan but many Jordanians question the validity of the court and the involvement of foreigners.

  

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 | Dec. 13, 2005
 Judge Orders FEMA to Extend Hotel Stay Deadline The Federal Emergency Management Agency must extend by one month its deadline for payment of hotel rooms for victims of Hurricane Katrina, a federal judge ruled Monday.

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 | Dec. 12, 2005
 Mistrial for Merck An update on the first federal trial against Merck and Co. over its painkiller Vioxx, which ended in a mistrial Monday.

  

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 | Dec. 6, 2005
 Military Recruitment on Campus The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over whether colleges can turn away military recruiters in protest of the Pentagon's policy on gays in the military and still receive federal funding.

  

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 | Dec. 5, 2005
 Saddam Hussein on Trial A reporter gives an update on Saddam Hussein's trial on charges of crimes against humanity.

  

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 | Dec. 5, 2005
 Debating Rendition Tactics Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Monday defended the CIA practice of snatching and transferring terror suspects overseas for questioning, a tactic also known as rendition.

  

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 | Dec. 2, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss President Bush's strategy in Iraq, the divide among Democrats over a military withdrawal and the resignation of Rep. Randy Cunningham following bribery charges.

  

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 | Dec. 2, 2005
 Debating Torture Where to draw the line between interrogation and abuse has divided intelligence and terrorism experts and raised questions about the effectiveness of torture as a means to extract information from terror suspects.

  

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 | Dec. 1, 2005
 Clues From Judge Alito's Past Documents released from Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's time as a lawyer in the Reagan administration show he supported restrictions on abortion but legal experts hesitate to predict how he would vote if confirmed.

  

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 | NOVEMBER Nov. 30, 2005
 High Court Hears Abortion Case The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the court's first case since the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts. The case examines the constitutionality of a New Hampshire law requiring parental notification before teenagers have an abortion.

  

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 | Nov. 30, 2005
 Alito Submits Questionnaire to Senate Committee Alito submitted written statements to the Senate Judiciary Committee in which he said judges should take a limited, "self-disciplined" approach when considering cases.

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 | Nov. 28, 2005
 Immigration Control Along U.S.-Mexico Border In a speech in Arizona, President Bush stressed the need for improved enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border and proposed a guest worker program. Following a background report, four guests discuss the proposals.

  

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 | Nov. 28, 2005
 Saddam Hussein on Trial A reporter provides the latest on Saddam Hussein's trial from Baghdad.

  

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 | Nov. 23, 2005
 Jose Padilla Charged Jose Padilla, who was arrested in 2002 for an alleged plot to attack the United States, has been indicted on charges related to supporting terror campaigns in Afghanistan and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday. Two experts discuss the Bush administration's handling of the case.

  

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 | Nov. 21, 2005
 Guilty Plea in Lobby Case Michael Scanlon, a former press aid to Rep. Tom DeLay and former partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty on conspiring to bribe public officials, a charge that arose from a government investigation into attempts to defraud Indian tribes and corrupt public officials. Two reporters discuss the case.

 

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 | Nov. 14, 2005
 Legal Rights of Detainees Congress is debating an amendment limiting the legal rights of detainees at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Two experts discuss the proposal.

  

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 | Nov. 11, 2005
 Shields and Lowry Political analysts Mark Shields and Richard Lowry discuss the White House's justification for the war in Iraq after President Bush accused critics of trying to rewrite history concerning the lead-up to the war.

  

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 | Nov. 10, 2005
 John McCain U.S. Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., discusses the recent bombings in Jordan, winning the Iraq war, and U.S. prisoner abuse policy.

  

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 | Nov. 8, 2005
 Senate Debates Torture Rules An amendment presented by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, to outlaw torture of detainees in U.S. custody and establish rules for their interrogation, has sparked debate in Congress. Following a background report, two senators on opposite sides of the debate discuss the amendment and possible exemptions for the CIA.

  

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 | Nov. 7, 2005
 Rioting Continues in France French police have been unable to stop rioting in the suburbs of Paris that broke out after two teenagers were accidentally electrocuted while running from police. The incident sparked anger that turned to violence in protest of French government's treatment of immigrants.

  

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 | Nov. 4, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the debate over the handling of pre-Iraq war intelligence, the arraignment of former vice presidential chief of staff Lewis Libby, and the state of the Alito nomination.

  

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 | Nov. 4, 2005
 Alito Hearings Scheduled for January 9 The head of the Judiciary Committee announced Thursday that hearings on Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court will begin at noon on January 9th with opening statements from the senators and the nominee.

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 | Nov. 3, 2005
 Developing Brooklyn A proposed 24-acre development in Brooklyn has drawn a line between residents who think the new buildings will improve the borough and those who want it to remain the way it is.

  

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 | Nov. 1, 2005
 The Alito Debate Begins As the high-stakes battle over the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito gears up, two senators discuss the nominee.

  

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 | Nov. 1, 2005
 Rehnquist Absent from Bench, Undergoes Cancer Treatment Chief Justice William Rehnquist missed the Supreme Court's first day Monday at the advice of his doctors who are treating his thyroid cancer with radiation and chemotherapy.

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 | OCTOBER Oct. 31, 2005
 Assessing the Alito Nomination President Bush nominated U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court Monday. Two legal scholars discuss the nomination.

  

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 | Oct. 31, 2005
 Judge Samuel Alito Nominated to U.S. Supreme Court President Bush nominated federal appeals Judge Samuel Alito Jr. to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday after Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination last Thursday.

  

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 | Oct. 31, 2005
 Shields, Lowry and Beschloss Syndicated columnist Mark Shields, National Review editor Rich Lowry and presidential historian Michael Beschloss discuss President Bush's leadership and performance during recent challenging political situations and his nomination of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

  

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 | Oct. 28, 2005
 CIA Leak: Legal Ramifications A federal grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA operative's name charged vice presidential adviser I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby with obstruction of justice, making a false statement and perjury.

  

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 | Oct. 27, 2005
 Miers Withdraws Nomination Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination as a Supreme Court nominee amid criticism from conservatives. Two senators on the Judiciary Committee discuss her decision and the next step for the White House.

  

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 | Oct. 27, 2005
 The Harriet Miers Withdrawal A report on the events leading up to Harriet Miers' decision to withdraw her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

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 | Oct. 27, 2005
 Shields, Brooks and Greenburg Syndicated columnist Mark Shields, New York Times columnist David Brooks and Chicago Tribune legal correspondent Jan Crawford discuss the ramifications of and reasons behind the Harriet Miers withdrawal.

  

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 | Oct. 26, 2005
 Leahy and Specter on Miers Following a background report, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter and ranking Democrat Patrick Leahy discuss the state of the Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination.

  

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 | Oct. 21, 2005
 Brooks and Oliphant New York Times columnist David Brooks and Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant discuss senators' reactions to Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, Tom DeLay's indictment on charges of money laundering, the CIA leak investigation and the war in Iraq.

  

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 | Oct. 19, 2005
 Questions for Harriet Miers A report on the status of the Harriet Miers nomination. Senate Judiciary Committee members say they want more information on the Supreme Court nominee.

  

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 | Oct. 19, 2005
 Justice Breyer Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer discusses his recent book "Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution," his judicial philosophy and changes in the court since Chief Justice John Roberts' arrival.

  

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 | Oct. 19, 2005
 Saddam's Trial Begins An update on the opening of Saddam Hussein's trial.

  

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 | Oct. 18, 2005
 Questions for Harriet Miers Documents Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers supplied the Senate with on Tuesday shed more light on her opinions. Following a background report, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., discuss the new information about the candidate.

  

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 | Oct. 17, 2005
 New Bankruptcy Law Two experts discuss the new, stricter requirements for filing for bankruptcy in America, which took effect Monday.

  

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 | Oct. 14, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the role of religion in Harriet Miers' nomination as a Supreme Court justice and the political ramifications in the United States of the impending vote on a new constitution in Iraq.

  

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 | Oct. 14, 2005
 Religion in the Court A report reviews the role of religion in the nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

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 | Oct. 13, 2005
 Intellectual Piracy in China Merchants selling fake products such as Pfizer's Viagra in violation of intellectual property rights threaten manufacturers who depend on patents to protect large monetary investments in research and development. The sixth report in a series on China's rising economy examines intellectual piracy.

  

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 | Oct. 12, 2005
 Police Brutality in New Orleans A report on the challenges facing the New Orleans Police Department following the beating of a 64-year-old man by policemen Saturday night. Then, three experts discuss how to handle the problems.

  

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 | Oct. 12, 2005
 Changes in Iraqi Constitution After weeks of quarreling, Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders in Iraq settled on last-minute changes in the draft constitution. A professor of history and a former state department officer who advised the chairman of the constitutional committee discuss the new draft up for referendum on Saturday.

  

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 | Oct. 10, 2005
 Battle Over Miers Nomination Conservatives continue to quarrel over the judicial qualifications of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, current White House counsel and a close friend of President Bush. Two guests discuss their differing opinions of Miers.

  

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 | Oct. 7, 2005
 Debating the Miers Nomination Jim Lehrer speaks with NewsHour analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks about the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the IAEA, President Bush's speech on terrorism and the Senate vote on interrogation limits.

  

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 | Oct. 6, 2005
 Senate Sets Interrogation Limits The Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of an amendment to the military spending bill that sets new limits on how the U.S. military may interrogate detainees it is holding after a series of scandals involving Iraqi and other prisoners.

  

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 | Oct. 5, 2005
 Oregon's Assisted Suicide Case The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday over whether Oregon has the right to allow doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. Following a background report, a reporter provides details of the day in court.

  

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 | Oct. 4, 2005
 Contested Miers Nomination President Bush defended his nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, saying she is the best person to fill the vacancy. His choice has caused a split among conservatives and drawn fire from liberal activist groups.

  

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 | Oct. 4, 2005
 President Bush Defends Nominee President Bush addressed the nation Tuesday morning about various issues, including his selection of Harriet Miers as a Supreme Court justice.

 

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 | Oct. 4, 2005
 Violence Continues in Iraq After an update on the fighting in western Iraq, a New York Times reporter explains recent political developments in Baghdad, including a change in election rules for the constitutional referendum Oct. 15.

  

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 | Oct. 3, 2005
 John Roberts' First Day The first day of October meant opening day at the Supreme Court. But Monday was strikingly different, as recently appointed Chief Justice John Roberts sat among his new colleagues. NewsHour regular Jan Crawford Greenburg talks about Roberts' first day on the job and the term ahead.

  

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 | Oct. 3, 2005
 The Miers Nomination The Senate reaction to President Bush's nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers was mixed, largely because she never served as a judge and her judicial views are almost completely unknown. Two senators assess her nomination.

  

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 | Oct. 3, 2005
 Who Is Harriet Miers? President Bush nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court Monday to fill the seat of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Following a background report, a reporter and law professor who know her well discuss the president's nomination.

  

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 | SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2005
 Jailed Journalist Testifies New York Times reporter Judith Miller testified in front of a grand jury on the leak of a CIA operative's name. Miller spent 85 days in jail protecting the name of her source until the source gave her a waiver, clearing her to testify. Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig talks about Miller's testimony.

  

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 | Sept. 30, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the indictment of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the investigation into stock sales by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Judge John Roberts' confirmation as chief justice of the United States.

  

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 | Sept. 29, 2005
 A New Chief Justice A report on the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts.

  

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 | Sept. 28, 2005
 The Tom Delay Indictment A Texas grand jury indicted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, on Wednesday in connection with an alleged illegal campaign finance scheme. Two experts discuss the indictment and its impact.

  

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 | Sept. 28, 2005
 82nd Airborne Accused of Iraqi War Prisoner Abuse A new report alleges the Army's 82nd Airborne Division abused Iraqi prisoners in 2003 and 2004. Two experts assess the allegations and discuss where the Army should go from here.

  

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 | Sept. 27, 2005
 Sen. Frist's Stock Sales The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating the timing of Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist's decision to sell his shares in a hospital company a month before stock values fell.

  

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 | Sept. 27, 2005
 Appellate Judge John Roberts Nominated to Supreme Court President Bush on Tuesday nominated federal judge John Roberts Jr., described as a strong conservative with an unassuming manner, to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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 | Sept. 23, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the political impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the growing federal budget deficit, the John Roberts vote and their thoughts on who might replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

  

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 | Sept. 22, 2005
 Roberts Vote Heads to Senate The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 in favor of sending the nomination of Judge John Roberts as chief justice of the United States to the full Senate. All ten Republicans and three Democrats praised Roberts' qualifications but five Democrats said they would have liked Roberts to be more forthcoming with his answers.

  

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 | Sept. 21, 2005
 "Able Danger" Hearings A report on the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on allegations that a secret Pentagon program, dubbed Able Danger, turned up valuable information about the alleged ringleader of the Sept. 11 attacks, Mohammed Atta, more than a year before the attacks occurred.

  

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 | Sept. 20, 2005
 Tribute to Simon Wiesenthal Simon Wiesenthal, a survivor of three concentration camps who is responsible for capturing 1,100 Nazis, died Tuesday at 96 at his home in Vienna, Austria. After two background reports, a guest talks about Wiesenthal's lifelong dedication to find and bring Nazi war criminals to justice.

  

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 | Sept. 16, 2005
 Brooks and Oliphant Analysts David Brooks and Tom Oliphant discuss the federal government's role in organizing and financing a plan to rebuild the Gulf Coast as well as the confirmation hearings for chief justice nominee John Roberts.

  

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 | Sept. 15, 2005
 The Roberts Hearings' Final Day A report on the final day of John Roberts' confirmation hearings for chief justice of the United States.

  

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 | Sept. 15, 2005
 Roberts Tries to Address Concerns of Skeptical Democrats Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled chief justice nominee John Roberts on his views of affirmative action, civil rights and big business, trying to get at his personal, rather than legal, view of the law.

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 | Sept. 14, 2005
 Third Day of Roberts Hearings Judge John Roberts faced a second day of questioning in his confirmation hearings for chief justice of the United States. A report highlights important moments of the day.

 

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 | Sept. 14, 2005
 Day Three of Roberts Hearings On the second day of questioning, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts faced questions on issues ranging from the right to die to how broadly he would interpret the Constitution. Two scholars assess his responses.

  

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 | Sept. 13, 2005
 Katrina Charity Scams Charitable giving has reached record levels in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but along with the donations has come a rise in illegal scams hoping to profit from the goodwill. Two guests discuss how to ensure donations reach those in need and urge Americans to research charity organizations before donating.

  

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 | Sept. 13, 2005
 First Round of Questions Chief justice nominee John Roberts faced hours of pointed questions in Tuesday's first round of questioning from senators on the Judicial Committee. A report selects highlights from the hearings, including questions about abortion, The Voting Rights Act and separation of powers.

 

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 | Sept. 13, 2005
 Questioning Judge Roberts U.S. chief justice nominee John Roberts faced a first round of questions in his Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday on a range of subjects, including abortion, privacy, and racial and gender discrimination. Two legal scholars assess Roberts' responses.

  

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 | Sept. 12, 2005
 The Roberts Hearings Begin Less than three years after becoming a federal judge, John Roberts faced the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday in the first day of hearings to see if he should become the nation's top jurist. Two experts talk about what has been said thus far, and the direction the hearings will take throughout this week.

  

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 | Sept. 12, 2005
 The Roberts Hearings Begin Less than three years after becoming a federal judge, John Roberts faced the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday in the first day of hearings to see if he should become the nation's top jurist. Kwame Holman reports on the day's statements.

  

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 | Sept. 9, 2005
 Brooks and Oliphant Analysts David Brooks and Tom Oliphant discuss low public opinions of all levels of government in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as well as changes in FEMA's leadership and next week's Supreme Court confirmation hearings for John Roberts.

  

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 | Sept. 7, 2005
 National Leaders Mourn as Chief Justice is Buried President Bush and the remaining members of the Supreme Court led hundreds of mourners in honoring Chief Justice William Rehnquist as he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday.

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 | Sept. 5, 2005
 Changes at the Supreme Court President Bush on Monday nominated John Roberts to succeed Chief Justice William Rehnquist as chief justice. A former clerk for Chief Justice Rehnquist joins a professor who has argued numerous cases before the court to consider the chief justice's legacy and how Roberts at the helm may change the high court.



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 | Sept. 4, 2005
 In Memoriam: Chief Justice William Rehnquist Chief Justice William Rehnquist, whose conservative judicial philosophy guided the high court for nearly 20 years, succumbed to thyroid cancer Saturday evening. He was 80 years old.

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 | Sept. 4, 2005
 Chief Justice William Rehnquist Dies at 80 Chief Justice William Rehnquist, whose conservative judicial philosophy guided the high court for nearly 20 years, succumbed to thyroid cancer Saturday evening. He was 80 years old.

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 | Sept. 4, 2005
 Biography: Chief Justice William Rehnquist Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who steered the high court through groundbreaking legal and political disputes as well as guided it through a docket-full of potentially pivotal and controversial cases in recent court terms, died on Sept. 3, 2005.

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 | Sept. 2, 2005
 Evacuated New Orleans Residents Face More Troubles Survivors of Hurricane Katrina continued to flee New Orleans on Friday seeking shelter in Texas as emergency convoys reached the city to assist remaining residents and try to halt criminal activity.

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 | Sept. 1, 2005
 Looting in New Orleans Two experts discuss the violence and chaos that erupted in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina flooded the city and left many residents without food or shelter.

  

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 | AUGUST Aug. 29, 2005
 Senator Patrick Leahy Senate Judiciary Committee ranking Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont expressed concern over lost documents from John Roberts' Reagan years and discussed his views of the candidate.

 

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 | Aug. 29, 2005
 Constitution Fight in Iraq Although Iraqi officials approved a draft constitution, many factions around the country are still not satisfied. Following a background report, three experts discuss the fight ahead for lawmakers.

  

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 | Aug. 26, 2005
 Iraq's Constitution Struggle Negotiators announced late Friday that they had reached a "deal in principle" to bring a draft constitution to the parliament. A Shiite and Sunni representative discuss the last minute offer and the chances of the compromise charter passing a public referendum in October.



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 | Aug. 25, 2005
 Iraq's Constitution Struggle The Iraqi National Assembly failed to meet a self-imposed midnight deadline to present a draft constitution. Talks reached an impasse after Shiite and Sunni leaders could not resolve differences, particularly over the issue of federalism. A New York Times reporter gives an update from Baghdad.

  

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 | Aug. 24, 2005
 Senator Arlen Specter Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., says he will ask Supreme Court justice nominee John Roberts dignified, appropriate and probing questions about such topics as the role of precedent, the separation of governmental powers and the abortion issue.

  

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 | Aug. 24, 2005
 Connecticut Sues Over NCLB Connecticut sued the U.S government over funding problems for standardized tests required as part of the No Child Left Behind law. After a background report, a former presidential adviser on the legislation and the commissioner of education from Connecticut discuss the case.

  

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 | Aug. 22, 2005
 The Vioxx Verdict Experts discuss the verdict of a Texas jury that found pharmaceutical giant Merck and Co. liable in the death of a man who took the painkiller Vioxx.

  

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 | Aug. 22, 2005
 Iraqi Constitution Struggle After struggling for weeks and missing one major deadline, Iraqi leaders put off a final vote today on the new constitution. Three experts discuss the ramifications.

  

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 | Aug. 19, 2005
 John Roberts: In His Own Words The most recent documents released by the National Archives on Supreme Court nominee John Roberts shed more light on his work during the Reagan era. A Supreme Court reporter analyzes the newly-released documents.

  

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 | Aug. 19, 2005
 Oliphant and Kristol Tom Oliphant and Bill Kristol analyze what the newly released writings of Supreme Court justice nominee John Roberts reveal, and the ongoing campaign in Texas by mothers of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq.

  

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 | Aug. 18, 2005
 Lethal Force Following two background reports, a reporter discusses the controversy surrounding the investigation of last month's fatal shooting of an innocent Brazilian man by London police following the bombings of the transit system.

  

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 | Aug. 18, 2005
 U.S.-Mexico Border Disputes The governors of New Mexico and Arizona have declared states of emergency in response to continued gang violence and drug smuggling associated with the flow of Mexicans illegally entering the United States. Two key players in the debate discuss the conflict and possible solutions.

  

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 | Aug. 17, 2005
 Busting Crime Chicago was once the U.S. murder capital, but recent efforts to increase police presence on the streets and the implementation of new technologies to target criminals have resulted in a sharp drop in crime.



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 | Aug. 16, 2005
 Iraq's Constitutional Process Iraqi officials delayed the drafting of their inaugural constitution until next week. Following a background report, a former State Department lawyer, who has been a legal adviser in Iraq, discusses the decision to extend the deadline.

 

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 | Aug. 15, 2005
 Iraqi Constitution Iraqi lawmakers missed the Monday deadline to submit a new draft constitution, but parliament voted unanimously to extend the deadline by a week to Aug. 22. A New York Times reporter provides an update.

  

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 | Aug. 12, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the declining support of the war in Iraq and whether the United States has a plan to defeat the insurgency.

  

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 | Aug. 11, 2005
 In John Roberts' Own Words Opponents of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts began airing a television ad Wednesday which focused on an abortion-related case Roberts argued before the Supreme Court during his tenure with the first Bush administration.

  

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 | Aug. 11, 2005
 Britain Detains Foreign Radicals British authorities may deport 10 foreign nationals considered security threats Thursday, following Prime Minister Blair's proposed anti-terrorism measures that critics say violate human rights. After an update from Independent Television News, two experts discuss Britain's new anti-terror laws.

  

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 | Aug. 8, 2005
 Profile: Patrick Fitzgerald Before he became the U.S. Attorney in Chicago, Patrick Fitzgerald was involved in cases against John Gambino, the Word Trade Center bombers and Osama bin Laden. Now, Fitzgerald is tackling another high profile case, the federal investigation into the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.

  

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 | Aug. 5, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the recess appointment of John Bolton as the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, mounting casualties in Iraq and other developments in the political arena.

  

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 | Aug. 2, 2005
 Gang Violence Both government and police officials in the U.S. and Central America are attempingt to curb the violent activity of growing transnational street gang MS-13.

  

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 | JULY July 27, 2005
 Senate Gun Industry Debate The Senate on Wednesday began debating a bill to protect the gun industry from potential lawsuits arising from the misuse of its weapons.

  

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 | July 27, 2005
 Jobs Nobody Wants Essayist Clarence Page considers if there really are jobs no one wants.

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 | July 27, 2005
 Iraq's Constitutional Challenge Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited Baghdad and urged Iraqi lawmakers to meet an Aug. 15 deadline for finishing their constitution. Middle East experts assess the problems the country faces when drafting a new constitution.

 

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 | July 26, 2005
 Alberto Gonzales Attorney General Alberto Gonzales discusses John Roberts' Supreme Court nomination process, grand jury proceedings over the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's name, the impact terrorist bombings in London and Egypt are having on the U.S. and drug problems in the U.S.

  

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 | July 22, 2005
 Judge Roberts' Legal Record As Judge John Roberts and U.S. Senators prepare for confirmation hearings in September, three legal experts examine the judge's legal record on issues that may come before the Supreme Court.

  

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 | July 22, 2005
 Richard Rodriguez Considers the North American Free Trade Agreement Essayist Richard Rodriguez considers the NAFTA.



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 | July 22, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the nomination of federal appeals court judge John Roberts Jr. to the Supreme Court and Senate Democrats' reaction to the nomination.

  

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 | July 21, 2005
 Renewing the Patriot Act The House of Representative met Thursday to vote on renewing the Patriot Act with some minor changes designed to increase judicial and political oversight of some of its most controversial provisions.

  

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 | July 20, 2005
 Supreme Court Choice Supreme Court nominee John Roberts Jr. began meeting senators from both parties Wednesday as the Senate floor begins talking about the nominee.

  

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 | July 20, 2005
 President Bush's Selection Jan Crawford Greenburg of the Chicago Tribune talks about Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' legal ideology and why President Bush selected him for the nomination.

  

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 | July 20, 2005
 Newsmaker: Charles Schumer Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, speaks about Supreme Court nominee John Roberts Jr.'s legal record, possible questions during the confirmation hearings and the potential of a filibuster.

  

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 | July 20, 2005
 Newsmaker: Andrew Card White House chief of staff Andrew Card speaks about President Bush's choice of Appellate Judge John Roberts Jr. to serve on the Supreme Court and the timing of his announcement.

  

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 | July 20, 2005
 Republicans Hail Supreme Court Nominee; Democrats Cautious The Supreme Court handed down two Internet-related decisions on its last day of the session Monday, one dealing a blow to companies that encourage file-sharing and the other impacting high-speed Internet access over cable lines.

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 | July 19, 2005
 Supreme Court Pick President Bush will introduce his choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court Tuesday evening in a speech to the nation.

  

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 | July 19, 2005
 President Names John Roberts In his first Supreme Court nominee selection, President Bush picked federal appeals Judge John Roberts, Jr., a former deputy solicitor general who is considered a solid conservative. The president announced his decision Tuesday evening from the White House.



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 | July 19, 2005
 Mr. Bush's High Court Nominee President Bush nominated solidly conservative judge John Roberts Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to the first vacancy on the Supreme Court in more than a decade. Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, discuss the president's selection.

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 | July 19, 2005
 Padilla Case The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in the case of Jose Padilla, an alleged al-Qaida operative who is accused of being involved in a 2002 dirty bomb plot.

  

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 | July 19, 2005
 Renewing the Patriot Act President Bush is urging lawmakers to renew 16 surveillance provisions of the Patriot Act set to expire at the end of the year, while critics continue to charge the provisions violate civil liberties. Following a background report, two legal analysts discuss the debate that has begun in Congress.

  

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 | July 15, 2005
 Under Pressure The Karl Rove controversy heats up as the Senate proposed amendments to the homeland security spending bill Friday as to who has access to classified information.

  

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 | July 15, 2005
 Supreme Court Battle President Bush has yet to name a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, but Capitol Hill is already speculating who the nominee will be. Following a report on political maneuvering in Washington, Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the state of play.

  

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 | July 14, 2005
 Corporate Crime Former Qwest Communications chief financial officer Robin Szeliga pleaded guilty to insider trading Thursday, the latest in a long string of business leaders, including WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers, to be successfully prosecuted. Experts discuss the affect of corporate crime cases on the business world.

  

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 | July 14, 2005
 London Investigation Update British police on Thursday raised the death toll from the London bombings to 53 and released the names of two of the suspected suicide bombers. Two Independent Television News reports by Simon Israel from London about the investigation and Adrian Britton from the city of Leeds, home to one of the alleged bombers.

  

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 | July 13, 2005
 London Investigation Update British authorities continue their investigation into last week's attacks on the London transit system. They have identified four, possibly five bombers involved in the attacks who are Britons.

 

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 | July 12, 2005
 London Bombing Investigation British authorities said Tuesday that they arrested a suspect in the July 7 London bus and subway bombings and are investigating whether four bombers died in the attacks. Following a background report, Newsweek's London Bureau chief speaks about the investigation.

  

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 | July 8, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the political impact of the London bombings, the controversy surrounding presidential advisor Karl Rove and rumors of a second, or third, Supreme Court vacancy.

  

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 | July 7, 2005
 Public Transportation on Guard After the London train and bus attacks, the Bush administration raised the terror alert to "orange," or high risk, for all U.S. mass transit systems, which now face major tests to protect their riders. Transportation experts assess the current mass transit system situation and the problems they face to protect the public.

  

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 | July 6, 2005
 The Next Supreme Court Nominee Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discuss the upcoming confirmation battle over who should replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

  

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 | July 6, 2005
 Protecting Anonymous Sources A federal judge sentenced New York Times reporter Judith Miller to jail Wednesday for refusing to divulge her source to a grand jury investigating the administration's leak of a CIA operative's identity. Two media experts analyze the sentencing and what this ruling means for journalists and their anonymous sources.

  

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 | July 5, 2005
 Supreme Court History In a prelude to the expected battle over the next Supreme Court justice nomination, an historian explains the selection and confirmation process and the past battles between Congress and the president.

  

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 | July 1, 2005
 Pivotal Justice Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor resigned Friday after 24 years on the bench. Margaret Warner and Jan Crawford Greenburg of the Chicago Tribune talk about O'Connor's role on the Court.

  

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 | July 1, 2005
 Justice O'Connor's Legacy Justice Sandra Day O'Connor resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court Friday after a 24-year term. Law analysts discuss her legacy and the view of O'Connor as the "swing" vote.

  

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 | July 1, 2005
 Shields and Ponnuru Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and National Review Senior Editor Ramesh Ponnuru discuss Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement and the other political news of the week.

  

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 | JUNE June 29, 2005
 Experts Discuss Journalists' Right to Reporter Two journalists are facing jail time and four more could be held in contempt of court for refusing to reveal anonymous sources in grand jury testimony. Experts discuss the cases and the effect it'll have on reporter-source confidentiality.

  

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 | June 28, 2005
 Supreme Court Decisions The Supreme Court's term came to an end after the justices ruled on a number of controversial matters, saying local governments can take private property for the purpose of economic development, federal agents may prosecute users of marijuana for medical purposes, and companies that encourage Internet file-sharing can be sued.

  

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 | June 28, 2005
 Ex-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy Found Not Guilty on All 36 Charges Former HealthSouth CEO and founder Richard Scrushy was found not guilty on 36 charges of fraud, false corporate reporting and making false statements related to the $2.7 billion accounting fraud at HealthSouth.

  

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 | June 27, 2005
 Ruling on Ten Commandments In two 5-4 votes, the Supreme Court ruled Monday it is constitutional to display the Ten Commandments on public property as long as the intent of the exhibit isn't pushing a religious agenda. After a report from The Chicago Tribune's Jan Crawford Greenburg, two advocates debate the rulings and their fallout.

  

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 | June 27, 2005
 Supreme Court Rules on Internet File On the Supreme Court's last day before a three-month break, the justices made a series of decisions, including a ruling against file-sharing networks, the rejection of two reporters' appeal in a CIA leak case and the other impacting high-speed Internet access over cable lines. Two lawyers debate the court's ruling.

  

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 | June 27, 2005
 Supreme Court Hands Down Mixed Rulings on Ten Commandments In two 5-4 votes, the Supreme Court ruled Monday it is not unconstitutional to display the Ten Commandments on public property as long as the intent of the display isn't pushing a religious agenda.

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 | June 27, 2005
 Court Rules on Internet File-Sharing, High-Speed Lines The Supreme Court handed down two Internet-related decisions on its last day of the session Monday, one dealing a blow to companies that encourage file-sharing and the other impacting high-speed Internet access over cable lines.

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 | June 24, 2005
 Seizing Property A narrowly divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may take possession of people's homes and businesses against their will for private development. Experts debate the court's ruling.

  

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 | June 23, 2005
 Seizing Private Property A narrowly divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may take possession of people's homes and businesses against their will for private development. Jan Crawford Greenburg of the Chicago Tribune analyzes the court ruling.

  

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 | June 21, 2005
 Former Ku Klux Klan Member Found Guilty of Manslaughter in 1964 Murders Former Ku Klux Klan member Edgar Ray Killen, 80, was found guilty of manslaughter Tuesday in the 1964 killing of three civil rights workers. Killen will be sentenced this Thursday and faces up 60 years in prison.

  

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 | June 20, 2005
 'Mississippi Burning' Trial of former KKK Member Comes to a Close The defense rested its case Monday in the trial of Edgar Ray Killen, a former Ku Klux Klan member, allegedly responsible for the the murder of three civil rights workers in 1964.

  

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 | June 17, 2005
 Tyco Trial Guilty Verdict A jury found former Tyco International executives Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz guilty of fraud and grand larceny for stealing $150 million from the company and making $430 million more by manipulating stock prices.

 

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 | June 17, 2005
 California Town Reacts to Father-Son Terror Indictments Lodi, a central California town home to a burgeoning Muslim community, is coping with terrorism-related accusations against a father and son.

  

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 | June 17, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Discuss the War in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the public's reaction to the war in Iraq, President Bush's domestic policy and Democratic Senator Dick Durbin's comments regarding Guantanamo Bay.

  

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 | June 16, 2005
 House Vote Drops Patriot Act Provision A number of the Patriot Act's provisions expire at the end of 2005, including one allowing the FBI to search records, such as library and bookstore records, without probable cause. Despite a veto threat from the White House, the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to remove that provision.

  

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 | June 15, 2005
 Senate Holds Hearings on Guantanamo Bay The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings Wednesday to determine the future of the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, following a searing report by Amnesty International and calls by activists and politicians to close the facility.

  

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 | June 14, 2005
 Trials Continue at The Hague for Bosian Serb War Crimes As the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia continues at The Hague, the U.N. war crimes tribunal president discusses the trial and the push to arrest former Bosnian Serb leaders such as Ratko Mladic.

  

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 | June 13, 2005
 Guantanamo Bay Log Detailing Treatment, Interrogation of Prisoner Revealed As international groups continue to call for the closure of the U.S. camp at Guantanamo Bay, Time magazine obtained a log detailing the interrogation and treatment of the so-called "20th hijacker" at the facility.

  

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 | June 10, 2005
 Analysts Discuss Blair Visit, Dean Comments Analysts Mark Shields and Rich Lowry discuss President Bush's meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean's controversial comments about Republicans and other political news.

  

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 | June 8, 2005
 Big Tobacco Trial A federal judge Wednesday questioned the Justice Department's decision to require tobacco companies to fund a five-year, $10 billion nationwide stop-smoking program, rather than a recommended 25-year, $130 billion plan.

  

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 | June 6, 2005
 Medical Marijuana Decision The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Monday that federal authorities may prosecute patients whose doctors prescribe medical marijuana despite state laws that allow its use. Following a background report on the ruling, Gwen Ifill hosts a debate on the consequences of the high court's decision.

  

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 | June 3, 2005
 Amnesty International Alleges Detainee Abuse at Guantanamo Prisons Amnesty International last week compared the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Soviet gulags where detainees are held at length without facing formal charges. Members of the Bush administration have criticized the charges.

  

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 | MAY May 31, 2005
 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the conviction of now defunct accounting firm Arthur Andersen for destroying Enron Corp.-related documents because of flawed jury instructions.

  

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 | May 27, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Discuss John Bolton, the Senate Judicial Compromise and Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Jim Lehrer to discuss the Senate vote to delay John Bolton's nomination to the United Nations, the Senate compromise on judicial nominations and the House bill that would allow federal funding of stem cell research using human embryos.

  

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 | May 26, 2005
 Guantanamo Bay Prisoners Allege Abuse, Desecration of Quran New documents have emerged detailing detainee allegations of abuse and the desecration of the Quran at a U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

  

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 | May 25, 2005
 Senate Votes to Confirm Judicial Nominee Priscilla Owen The Senate on Wednesday voted 56-43 mostly along party lines to confirm Priscilla Owen as a judge on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans following Monday's compromise in which Democrats retained the right to future filibusters.

  

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 | May 25, 2005
 Essayist Richard Rodriguez Looks at Arizona Minutemen Essayist Richard Rodriguez that looks at the Arizona Minutemen patrolling the Mexico-Arizona border.

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 | May 24, 2005
 Senate Agrees to Filibuster Compromise After years of contentious debate and deadlocks, the Senate agreed to vote on the nomination of Priscilla Owen to the U.S. appeals court. This action followed Monday's compromise in which Democrats retained the right to filibuster under "extraordinary circumstances." Four senators discuss the decision.

  

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 | May 23, 2005
 Supreme Court on Abortion The Supreme Court said Monday it would review a decision striking down a New Hampshire law that requires parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion.

  

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 | May 20, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Discuss Nuclear Option that Looms in the Senate Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the impending Senate confrontation over the use of the filibuster to oppose judicial nominee Priscilla Owen and other judicial nominations.

  

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 | May 19, 2005
 Senate Debate Over Judicial Nominees Continues Senate debate over controversial judicial nominee Priscilla Owen entered a second day Thursday. Three analysts discuss public opinion across the country over the filibuster debate.

  

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 | May 18, 2005
 Plans Shift for World Trade Center Site Designers and government leaders have decided to rework the plans for new buildings and memorials on the World Trade Center site in downtown Manhattan after the New York City Police Department outlined their concerns about security.

  

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 | May 18, 2005
 Senate Begins Debate over Judicial Nominees The Senate began debate Wednesday over controversial judicial nominee Priscilla Owen, bringing closer the potential showdown over the use of the filibuster.

  

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 | May 17, 2005
 Senate Braces for Potential Showdown Over Judicial Nominees Talks between Senate Democrats and Republicans over President Bush's judicial nominees broke off late Monday after party leaders failed to reach a compromise for voting on the controversial nominees. An update on the potential Senate showdown.

 

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 | May 16, 2005
 Supreme Court on Wine Sales The Supreme Court on Monday struck down state laws banning consumers from buying wine from out-of-state vineyards. The 5-4 ruling called bans on interstate wine shipments discriminatory.

  

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 | May 13, 2005
 The Senate Standoff Over President Bush's Judicial Nominees Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., urged Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., to come to a compromise with Democrats over President Bush's judicial nominees so a "nuclear option" to terminate filibusters can be avoided. A report on the buildup to the Senate showdown over judicial nominations.

 

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 | May 13, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Discuss the Fight Over Judicial Nominees, John Bolton Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's decision to send John Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to the Senate floor for a vote without an endorsement and the Senate's heated standoff over judicial nominees.

  

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 | May 11, 2005
 Two Federal Judges Describe Their Confirmation Hearing Experiences Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has announced plans to bring the first of President Bush's judicial nominations to the Senate floor for a vote. Two judges describe their own confirmation hearing experiences and weigh in on the current nomination battle.

  

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 | May 5, 2005
 Pentagon Analyst Arrested for Intelligence Leaks Federal agents allege Pentagon analyst Lawrence Franklin illegally disclosed classified information to a pro-Israel lobbying group.

  

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 | May 3, 2005
 Congress Moves to Standardize Driver's Licenses Congress voted to set strict national standards on requirements for receiving a driver's license after the 9/11 Commission found that all 19 hijackers used valid state-issued licenses.

  

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 | APRIL April 27, 2005
 Supreme Court Watch The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case stemming from the collapse of Enron. Several justices expressed their dismay with the way a jury was instructed before convicting accounting firm Arthur Andersen of obstructing justice.

  

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 | April 25, 2005
 Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Criticizes Blocking Judicial Nominees On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., delivered a taped speech to a nationwide broadcast in which Christian conservatives, during other segments, attacked Democratic senators for blocking judicial nominees described in the program as "people of faith."

 

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 | April 25, 2005
 Majority Leader Bill Frist Threatens to Change Senate Filibuster Rules Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist spoke to a conservative Christian coalition in Kentucky in an effort to get an up or down vote on President Bush's judicial nominees. Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., discuss the Republicans' plan to cut off the Democratic filibuster and a potential Senate shutdown.

  

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 | April 22, 2005
 Zacarias Moussaoui Pleads Guilty with Helping Plan the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks Zacarias Moussaoui pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring with the 9/11 attackers, saying he was trained to fly a plane into the White House in a later attack.

  

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 | April 21, 2005
 Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Two of President Bush's Nominees The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved two of President Bush's controversial judicial nominees, setting up a confrontation between the Republican majority and Democrats who can use filibusters to block nominations.

 

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 | April 18, 2005
 Republican Senators Lobby to End Filibuster on Judicial Nominees Republican senators are lobbying to end the practice of filibustering, saying Democrats will use the tactic to defeat President Bush's judicial nominations. Kwame Holman reports on the Senate debate.

  

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 | April 14, 2005
 Oregon's Supreme Court Nullifies Over 3,000 Gay Marriages The Oregon Supreme Court on Thursday nullified 3,000 gay marriage licenses, while the Connecticut state legislature moved toward approving a same-sex civil union bill. Following a background report, two analysts debate the recent actions and what they suggest about America's opinion on same-sex marriage.

  

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 | April 12, 2005
 Three Men Indicted on Allegations of Terror Plot The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that three men have been indicted in connection to an alleged plot to attack financial institutions in New York, northern New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

  

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 | April 6, 2005
 Patriot Act Appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller urged lawmakers to renew the anti-terror Patriot Act. Most of the law is permanent, but there are 15 provisions set to expire this December.

  

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 | April 5, 2005
 Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings Convene on the Patriot Act Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller urged Congress to renew key provisions of the Patriot Act Tuesday during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the controversial anti-terrorism law.

  

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 | April 5, 2005
 Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings Convene on the Patriot Act Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller urged Congress to renew key provisions of the Patriot Act Tuesday during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the controversial anti-terrorism law.



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 | April 1, 2005
 Shields and Lowry Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and National Review editor Rich Lowry discuss the political troubles surrounding House Republican Leader Tom Delay and the presidential commission's report on pre-war Iraq intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction.

  

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 | MARCH March 31, 2005
 Terri Schiavo Dies After 13 Days off Feeding Tube Thirteen days after her feeding tube was removed, brain-damaged Florida woman Terri Schiavo died Thursday morning at her Pinellas Park hospice. A discussion about some of the issues raised by the life and death of Terri Schiavo.

  

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 | March 30, 2005
 Age Discrimination The Supreme Court Wednesday ruled that workers as young as 40 can sue employers for age discrimination. A Supreme Court reporter explains the ruling.

  

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 | March 29, 2005
 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court Tuesday ruled that whistleblowers are protected under Title IX, a law baring gender discrimination in federally funded educational programs.

  

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 | March 29, 2005
 File Sharing The Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments in a copyright case brought against file-sharing networks by members of the entertainment industry. Media Correspondent Terence Smith looks at the ongoing debate over file sharing on the Internet. Then, Jan Crawford Greenburg discusses the arguments heard at the High Court.

  




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 | March 25, 2005
 Medical Ethics of Schiavo Case The dispute over the life of Terri Schiavo has raised a series of difficult ethical questions about the proper diagnosis and treatment of people with severely incapacitating injuries or illnesses.

  

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 | March 25, 2005
 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the Terri Schiavo case, the president's Social Security plan and possible 2008 presidential candidates.

  

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 | March 24, 2005
 Schiavo Case: Supreme Court The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday declined to intervene in the case of whether to reinsert the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo, a severely brain-damaged Florida woman. A discussion about the Supreme Court's decision.

  

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 | March 24, 2005
 The Schiavo Case Receives Strong Media Coverage Media correspondent Terence Smith discusses the wall-to-wall media coverage the Terri Schiavo case has received from newspapers, broadcast television, cable news and the Internet.

  

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 | March 24, 2005
 Red Lake Community Searches For Warning Signs Following the teen shootings in Minnesota, Fred de Sam Lazaro of Twin Cities Public Television visits the Red Lake Indian Reservation to see how the community is coping. Then, two school safety analysts discuss detecting warning signs of teen violence.

  

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 | March 22, 2005
 Schiavo Case Sparks Interest in Living Wills The case of Terri Schiavo, currently being debated in the courts and society, has sparked a renewed interest in living wills. Two experts lead a discussion explaining the use of the document and whether it would have made a difference in the Schiavo case.

  

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 | March 22, 2005
 Teen Goes on Shooting Rampage at Minnesota High School A high school student on an Indian reservation in northern Minnesota went on a shooting rampage Monday, killing nine people including five students, before turning the gun on himself in the worst U.S. school shooting since Columbine.

 

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 | March 21, 2005
 Supreme Court The Supreme Court Monday heard arguments on enforcement of restraining orders. A Supreme Court reporter joins Gwen Ifill to discuss the case as well as the return of ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who returned to the bench for the first time in five months.

  

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 | March 21, 2005
 Judge Weighs Reinserting Schiavo Feeding Tube A federal judge in Florida delayed making a decision on whether to reinsert the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo, after hearing arguments from lawyers on both sides of the case. Experts debate the legal implications of the disabled Florida woman's case.

  

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 | March 21, 2005
 Chief Justice Returns; Supreme Court Rejects Moussaoui Appeal Chief Justice William Rehnquist returned to the bench Monday for the first time since he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

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 | March 18, 2005
 A Florida Judge Orders Terri Schiavo's Feeding Tube Removed Despite efforts by Republicans on Capitol Hill Friday, a Florida judge ordered the removal of a feeding tube that was keeping Terri Schiavo, a severely brain-damaged woman whose case has made national headlines, alive. Experts discuss the legal arguments in the case.

  

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 | March 15, 2005
 Bernard Ebbers Guilty of Conspiracy and Fraud Former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers was convicted of conspiracy and fraud Tuesday. A reporter and a formal federal prosecutor who also worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission discuss the verdict and its possible impact.

  

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 | March 11, 2005
 Judge Cites Trade Secrets in Ruling Against Bloggers A judge on Friday ordered three bloggers to reveal confidential sources in a lawsuit brought by Apple Computer Inc., ruling that they were not protected by the First Amendment because they published trade secrets.




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 | March 11, 2005
 Atlanta and Chicago Judge Killings Spark Concern over Judge Safety In Atlanta, a judge and two people were killed in a courthouse shooting. The suspect fled in a stolen car. This slaying comes less than two weeks after a Chicago judge's family members were shot to death.

  

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 | March 7, 2005
 The Supreme Court to Hear Digital Copyright Case Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear a much anticipated copyright case, MGM vs. Grokster, which pits the entertainment industry against the makers of software that allows people to exchange music and movies. Media correspondent Terence Smith provides a report.

  

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 | March 3, 2005
 Consumption Tax Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan met with President Bush's Federal Advisory Panel on Fundamental Tax Reform on Thursday. He said a system that combines elements of consumption and income taxes might be the best way to overhaul the nation's tax system. A discussion on the pros and cons of a consumption tax.

  

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 | March 2, 2005
 Ten Commandments The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday about whether religious symbols like the Ten Commandments can be displayed on government property.

  

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 | March 2, 2005
 Senate Debates Changes to Bankruptcy Laws A bill up for debate in the Senate will make it harder for people to walk away from personal debts such as credit cards after they have declared bankruptcy.

  

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 | March 1, 2005
 Juvenile Death Penalty The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday by a 5-4 vote that the death penalty for convicted murderers under the age of 18 is unconstitutional. A discussion with a Supreme Court reporter about the landmark decision.

  

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 | March 1, 2005
 Bill Frist Attacks Democrats Use of the Filibuster, Urges Social Security Reform Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., speaks with Jim Lehrer about President Bush's Social Security plan and the Democrats' use of the filibuster against the president's judicial nominees.

  

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 | March 1, 2005
 Supreme Court Strikes Down Death Penalty The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that applying the death penalty to offenders under the age of 18 is unconstitutionally cruel, ending the practice nationwide.

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 | FEBRUARY Feb. 24, 2005
 Recent Court Decisions on Reporters' Privilege and News on Former Talon Reporter Terence Smith discusses recent media controversies, including two contrasting court decisions on a reporters' privilege to protect confidential sources, and the latest on James Guckert/Jeff Gannon, the former White House reporter for Talon News and GOPUSA.

  

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 | Feb. 22, 2005
 Land Grab The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over an eminent domain case in New London, Conn. Homeowners are up in arms over a private developer's plan to seize their land for a development project that the local government says will benefit the community.

  

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 | Feb. 17, 2005
 President Bush Names John Negroponte to National Director of Intelligence President Bush Thursday nominated U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte as national intelligence director.

 

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 | Feb. 17, 2005
 Sen. Harry Reid Discusses Current Issues and the Political Climate Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., talks about the current political climate, tensions overseas, his role as Senate minority leader and where the Democratic Party is headed.

  

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 | Feb. 15, 2005
 President Bush Renominates Twenty Candidates for Federal Judgeships President Bush Monday renominated 20 candidates for federal judgeships who had been previously blocked by Senate Democrats as being too controversial. A discussion with two members from the Senate Judiciary Committee about the president's nominees.

  

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 | Feb. 11, 2005
 Senate Passes Limits on Class A background report on legislation approved by the Senate that would send large, multi-state class action lawsuits from the state to federal courts. The bill is expected to go before the House for a vote next week.

 

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 | JANUARY Jan. 26, 2005
 Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Alberto Gonzales for attorney general Wednesday. Two senators on the panel discuss Gonzales' approval.

  

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 | Jan. 25, 2005
 Catholic Dioceses Seek Bankruptcy Protection Following Sex Scandals Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Broadcasting looks at the growing number of Catholic parishes seeking bankruptcy protection following the Church's sex abuse scandals.

  

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 | Jan. 17, 2005
 Debate Brews over Splitting 9th Circuit Court Spencer Michels profiles the controversial 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court has ruled the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance make it unconstitutional to compel children to recite it in public schools and has ruled to reinstate the indictments made under the terror financing law.

 

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 | Jan. 14, 2005
 Soldier Found Guilty in Abu Ghraib Abuse Case Army Reserve Spc. Charles Graner was found guilty on Friday by a military jury in Fort Hood, Texas for abusing Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison.

  

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 | Jan. 12, 2005
 Sentencing Guidelines The Supreme Court on Wednesday declared that federal judges are no longer obligated to abide by the controversial sentencing guidelines that were established by Congress in 1987.

  

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 | Jan. 12, 2005
 Sentencing Guidelines In a blow to the Justice Department, a divided Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that federal judges do not have to abide by the controversial federal criminal sentencing code adopted in 1987.

  

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 | Jan. 12, 2005
 High Court Makes Sentencing Guidelines 'Advisory' In a blow to the Justice Department, a divided Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that federal judges do not have to abide by the controversial federal criminal sentencing code adopted in 1987.

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 | Jan. 7, 2005
 Political Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks Discuss the Week's Events Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's political news, including the Alberto Gonzales Senate confirmation hearings, tax reform and House ethics changes.

  

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 | Jan. 6, 2005
 U.S. Attorney General Nominee Alberto Gonzales' Faces Tough Senate Questions Senate confirmation hearings for Alberto Gonzales, White House counsel and President Bush's nominee for U.S. attorney general, began Thursday. Ray Suarez discusses the proceedings and the questions about Gonzales' position on the torture of prisoners of war in Iraq and the war on terror.

  

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 | Jan. 6, 2005
 U.S. Attorney General Nominee Alberto Gonzales Faces Tough Senate Questions Senate confirmation hearings for U.S. attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales began Thursday. Kwame Holman reports on the first day of hearings.

 

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 | Jan. 5, 2005
 President Bush Proposes Medical Malpractice Reform President Bush called on Congress to pass new legislation limiting the amount plaintiffs can receive in damages. Two medical liability experts discuss the president's plan and what is behind the soaring cost of healthcare.

  




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 | Jan. 3, 2005
 U.S. Plan to Hold Suspected Terrorist Detainees Indefinitely Pentagon and CIA officials have asked the Bush administration to explore more permanent ways to hold suspected terrorists in custody indefinitely. Two legal experts, including one former deputy assistant attorney general, discuss the proposed plan.

  

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