All articles from Warren Richey

Supreme Court refuses case challenging full price disclosure for airlines

US Supreme Court action lets stand the federal requirement that airlines disclose the full price of a ticket – base fare plus all taxes and fees – up front for consumers.
Anti-gay marriage law gets chilly reception from key Supreme Court justice (+video)

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is seen as a potential swing vote on DOMA, a gay marriage law that bars federal benefits to same-sex couples. He repeatedly raised concerns in oral arguments Wednesday.
Drug dogs need a warrant to sniff at your door, Supreme Court rules (+video)

When police brought a trained drug dog to the outside of a Florida home to sniff for evidence, that violated the homeowner's Fourth Amendment rights, the Supreme Court justices said in a 5-to-4 decision.
On Prop. 8, Supreme Court gives few hints of sweeping gay marriage ruling

Supreme Court arguments on Prop. 8 were at times pointed, but the justices often seemed tentative, giving the impression that their decision in the gay marriage case might not be broad.
Gay marriage: How Supreme Court cases could end with a whimper (+video)

A wildcard in the two landmark gay marriage cases before the Supreme Court this week is that the justices could rule on the question of 'standing,' not the core issue of whether Prop. 8 and DOMA violate the rights of same-sex couples.
US Supreme Court to take up Michigan affirmative action case

At issue in the Michigan affirmative action case is whether a ballot initiative violated the rights of minority students to try to influence school officials to adopt race-conscious admissions plans.
Cover Story Gay marriage at the Supreme Court: What are the pivot points?

What precedents and arguments may shape the court as it hears two landmark cases on whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.
Suspected Al Qaeda operative to be tried in Brooklyn court

For the second time this month, the Obama administration has chosen to put a terror suspect linked to Al Qaeda on trial in a civilian court.
Supreme Court rejects environmentalists' plea: why Scalia dissented

The Supreme Court ruled 7-1 against environmentalists' bid to force the EPA to regulate runoff from logging roads. But how federal agencies' rules are interpreted needs to be reviewed, Scalia warned.
China spy case? Civilian with Top Secret access provided info, US charges.

An employee of a defense contractor at US Pacific Command in Hawaii, a civilian with Top Secret security clearance, is charged with providing classified information to a suspected Chinese spy.
Citizenship papers a must to register to vote? Supreme Court to decide.

US Supreme Court on Monday heard a case about an Arizona law requiring prospective voters to show papers proving they are US citizens. Federal law requires only an oath under penalty of perjury. Can a state tack on that extra provision?
Drone documents case: federal appeals court rules against CIA

Judge rejects CIA argument that it had no 'interest' in lethal drone strikes. He called the CIA argument neither logical nor plausible, since US officials have acknowledged involvement.
ACLU sues North Carolina county over Christian invocations at meetings

Rowan County commission meetings typically open with a pro-Christian invocation. In Lund v. Rowan County, some residents say the practice is offensive and makes them uncomfortable.
Voting Rights Act case: Supreme Court questioning is lively, pointed (+video)

At the US Supreme Court on Wednesday, defenders of the 1965 Voting Rights Act argued that the judiciary should defer to Congress's judgment that the law is still needed as is. Several justices indicated that they thought not.
Can police collect DNA when someone is arrested? Supreme Court to decide.

At issue in the case the Supreme Court considered Tuesday is whether collecting DNA from an arrestee without first obtaining a warrant is an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment.
Voting Rights Act: Is major portion outdated? Supreme Court to hear arguments.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act requires some state and local governments to obtain federal clearance for changes in voting procedures. In 2008 the Supreme Court said the section needed updating.
Surveillance law: US group can't challenge it, Supreme Court rules

A 2008 surveillance law allows the US government to detect and track the messages of would-be foreign terrorists. Critics say it is overly broad, but on Tuesday the Supreme Court blocked a challenge to it.
Campaign finance: Supreme Court declines case on contributions by corporations

A ban on contributions to candidates from corporations has been in effect since 1907. On Monday, the Supreme Court turned away a campaign-finance case seeking to allow such contributions.
Supreme Court to take up case that could overhaul campaign finance

The Supreme Court Tuesday agreed to hear a case that challenges limits on campaign spending, opening the door to a decision that could upend legal precedent on what individuals can contribute to candidates.
Unanimous juries for criminal convictions? Supreme Court declines case.

The Supreme Court declines to take up a case challenging the right of states to permit non-unanimous verdicts. Critics say verdicts reached by divided juries violate the Sixth Amendment.