The most important part of criminal law doesn't appear in any statute book or textbook. It's not even a formal "law" at all. It's the concept of prosecutorial discretion, and it is at the heart of our justice system -- as the pursuers of Casey Anthony and Dominique Strauss-Kahn have discovered.
Earlier today a state Supreme Court judge released Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former International Monetary Fund director charged with sexual assault, on his own recognizance in a stunning reversal for the high-profile case.
The Supreme Court ruled that a Kansas church whose members travel the country to protest at military funerals, holding signs that say "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God blew up the troops," has a right to continue such demonstrations.
The Arizona immigration law goes into effect on Thursday -- maybe. On July 29, it will be 90 days since the end of the legislative session -- which is the time when Arizona laws go on the books -- but the controversial measure has already drawn the first of many court challenges.
President Obama named U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan on Monday as his nominee to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court.
Americans can expect a roaring debate over social issues in the discussion of the next Supreme Court nominee, but in the end, President Obama's choice to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens is likely to be confirmed, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin says.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. is fond of pointing out the original reason that judges came to wear black robes. It's to make them look alike, to minimize the differences between the individuals who occupy the role and to suggest that the law will be applied even-handedly, no matter who happens to be dressed in black.
The 23-year-old Nigerian man who has been charged with attempting to blow up a Detroit-bound international flight on Christmas Day is likely to be treated as a regular criminal defendant, according to CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire after more than 18 years on the high court. He said Friday in a letter to the White House that he will leave the court after the current session ends in June.
Congressional hearings rarely produce much news of interest, or much good for the world, but the House Government Reform Committee did a great service to baseball -- and the country -- on March 17, 2005.
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