December 20, 2015 Judges in New Mexico get a pay raise … from other judges It was a complicated case but, in the end, a specially selected panel of the New Mexico Supreme Court gave judges a 5 percent pay raise.
December 20, 2015 Judge orders Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states A federal judge on Thursday signed an order directing officials in Kentucky to immediately recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.
December 20, 2015 Judge deals blow to Ohio village's use of speeding traffic cameras Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Sage also approved class action status, meaning thousands of drivers potentially could seek refunds from the village of New Miami.
December 20, 2015 Fed judge: Gay couples can wed in Chicago A federal judge says gay couples in Chicago don't have to wait until June to marry. Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman's Friday order says there is no reason to delay same-sex marriages in Illinois, when the state's law is set to take effect. Her finding applies only to Cook County.
December 20, 2015 Federal judge throws out NYPD spying lawsuit The New York Police Department's intelligence unit didn't discriminate against Muslims with far-reaching surveillance aimed at identifying "budding terrorist conspiracies" at Newark mosques and other locations in New Jersey, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.
December 20, 2015 Government looking into ATF operations in 4 cities The Justice Department's inspector general is conducting a four-city examination into storefront undercover operations run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to assess whether they pose a danger to the public. The ATF runs sting operations in various cities, often as part of an effort to catch arms traffickers who bring stolen weapons into storefronts where agents act as buyers.
December 20, 2015 Trio of California cases challenge big union power in Golden State Fed up with increasing union dues and a decreasing say in how the money is spent, three California groups are challenging their big labor bosses in landmark cases that could change how unions operate in the Golden State.
December 20, 2015 California school’s uniform regulation violates free speech, court rules A Nevada grammar school violated students’ right to free speech in mandating they wear a school uniform with its motto, “Tomorrow’s Leaders,” emblazoned on it, a federal court has ruled.
December 20, 2015 Fathers sue Utah over law allowing mothers to secretly give up babies for adoption A dozen men are suing the state of Utah in federal court because of a law that allows mothers to put their babies up for adoption without the biological father's consent, or sometimes even knowledge. The civil rights lawsuit claims the Utah Adoption Act has resulted in what amounts to "legalized fraud and kidnapping."
December 20, 2015 19 states join legal fight against New Jersey's concealed weapons law A brief from Wyoming Attorney General's Office says that Wyoming and the other states are concerned that if the appeals court ruling stands, it could threaten their less-restrictive concealed carry laws.