December 21, 2015 Judge denies request to halt same-sex marriages in Utah A federal judge on Monday blocked a request by Utah officials to halt same-sex weddings, allowing gay marriage to continue in the conservative state following a surprise court decision last week.
December 21, 2015 Federal appeals court vacates ban on US horse slaughter A federal appeals court has cleared the way for companies in New Mexico, Missouri and Iowa to resume domestic horse slaughter.
December 21, 2015 Notre Dame sues over birth control mandate The University of Notre Dame is suing the Obama administration over a federal mandate that its health insurance plans for students and employees cover birth control.
December 21, 2015 Supreme Court won't hear appeal on New York online sales tax On perhaps the busiest online shopping day of the year, the Supreme Court refused on Monday to wade into a dispute over New York state's taxes on purchases on websites like Amazon.com. The move likely will prompt more states to attempt to collect taxes on Internet sales -- and ignite a furious battle in Congress involving Internet sellers, brick-and-mortar stores and states hungry for extra tax revenue.
December 21, 2015 New Mexico Supreme Court: Same-sex marriage legal The New Mexico Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in the state Thursday, declaring in a ruling that it is unconstitutional to deny a marriage license to gay and lesbian couples.
December 21, 2015 Local courts reviving 'debtors' prison' for overdue fines, fees As if out of a Charles Dickens novel, people struggling to pay overdue fines and fees associated with court costs for even the simplest traffic infractions are being thrown in jail across the United States.
December 20, 2015 Pennsylvania Catholic groups win ObamaCare reprieve Two Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses have won a delay in having to comply with what they argue are controversial mandates in ObamaCare that would go against their religious values.
December 20, 2015 Supreme Court refuses to block Texas abortion restrictions The court denied a request by Planned Parenthood to block a ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which allows key parts of the Texas abortion law to stay in effect while the case plays out.
December 20, 2015 Conn. judge: Kennedy cousin won't be released yet A judge said Wednesday that Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel cannot be released immediately while he awaits a new trial in the 1975 slaying of neighbor Martha Moxley.
December 20, 2015 DOJ changes strategy in fight against Louisiana school voucher program The Justice Department has changed its strategy against the Louisiana Scholarship program, abandoning its request for a permanent injunction in favor of a “process of review,” a move Gov. Bobby Jindal (R.) warns could regulate the program out of existence.
