Topic: Sandra Day O'Connor

How Supreme Court ruling on Texas could reduce affirmative action across US

The Supreme Court, which has shifted to the right, may use the Texas case to overturn the 2003 decision that achieving classroom diversity could justify the use of race-based affirmative action.

Crosses on public land: Did Supreme Court leave legal issue in 'shambles'?

The Supreme Court agrees not to take a case on whether memorial crosses on public land in Utah violate the First Amendment. But one justice says the court has left the topic in legal limbo.

Farewell, Borders – lights out

A journalist examines her grief over the disappearance of Borders.

Medicare: Massive fraud nets doctor 20-year sentence

Medicare fraud earned Florida doctor $1.2 million – and prison. Sentence is second-stiffest handed out for Medicare fraud in South Florida.

Campaign finance ruling: Should Supreme Court justices have recused themselves?

The liberal group Common Cause asks the Justice Department to investigate whether Supreme Court Justices Scalia and Thomas should have stepped aside in a major campaign finance reform case a year ago.

Obama calls for unity, humility at Tucson memorial

At a memorial for the victims of the mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, President Obama sought to move beyond finger-pointing to healing. He said of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, who was killed: 'I want to live up to her expectations.'

Arizona shooting suspect charged with trying to assassinate Rep. Giffords

Federal authorities also charged Jared Lee Loughner, the Arizona shooting suspect, with two counts of murder. President Obama calls for a moment of silence Monday at 11 a.m. EST.

Health-care reform: Battleground shifts to Florida courtroom

The legal battle over health-care reform is destined for the Supreme Court, analysts say. On Thursday a US district judge in Florida hears arguments in a case brought by 20 states.

Can US kill American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki? Judge to hear case.

American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki is hiding in Yemen, where he's a leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He's trained terrorist recruits and helped prepare the Christmas Day bomber.

The surprising star at Elena Kagan's hearing: Thurgood Marshall

Because Obama has avoided engaging the empathy debate, Republicans tried to use Kagan's mentor and former US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall as a way to taint Kagan's reputation.

Elena Kagan: Would she turn Supreme Court into We the People?

Elena Kagan, if confirmed as the next Supreme Court justice, would shift the balance dramatically – with three women and a Jewish-Catholic bloc. So would the high court look like We the People?

Arizona immigration law and illegal immigrants: state of extremes

Where lawmen Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday mowed down outlaws at the O.K. Corral, Arizona immigration law brings its modern brand of western justice to the issue of illegal immigrants.

Supreme Court confirmations, as Elena Kagan saw them

Elena Kagan once urged aggressive questioning of and candid responses from Supreme Court nominees, but has lately backed off those views. Senate Democrats hail her 'diversity of experience.' Republicans question her qualifications.

Obama may move Supreme Court closer to gender parity with Elena Kagan

If Elena Kagan were confirmed, she would become the third woman on the Supreme Court. Is three enough?

Elena Kagan: Would she embody empathy as a Supreme Court justice?

President Obama praised Elena Kagan for her intellect and passion, but he only hinted at the quality he earlier deemed an essential ingredient in a Supreme Court justice: empathy.

President Obama to nominate Elena Kagan to Supreme Court

Solicitor General Elena Kagan will be nominated Monday to the Supreme Court.

Filling John Paul Stevens Supreme Court vacancy big test for Obama

Replacing retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens depends largely on who President Obama nominates. But given Obama's political standing these days, confirmation by the Senate is unlikely to be quick and easy.

Can Justice Kennedy preside over your wedding?

He could, but probably wouldn't (although he attended White House party crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi's wedding). But he might help you say 'I do' if you're a close personal friend or served as one of his law clerks.

Supreme Court: Campaign-finance limits violate free speech

The Supreme Court campaign finance ruling on Thursday means corporations can spend freely on political ads leading up to elections. The Thursday decision invalidates a part of 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign-finance reform law that sought to limit corporate influence.

After 19 years, Souter and the Supreme Court part, with poetry

As the New Englander retires, he and Chief Justice John Roberts exchange warm letters of farewell – and a few verses of Robert Frost.

Five questions for Sotomayor

GOP senators should probe her views on key Supreme Court decisions.

Gingrich on Sotomayor: "Latina woman racist should also withdraw"

Sotomayor opponents in weak field position so far

Obama's high-court pick is no 'stealth candidate.' She has made some 450 judicial decisions. What's more, she has not been shy about expressing her opinions publicly.

Does Sotomayor practice identity justice?

The Senate must weigh her comments about judicial impartiality