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Evidence Sheds Light On Trayvon Martin Shooting
Florida prosecutors have released hundreds of documents, recordings and pictures related to the George Zimmerman trial. Zimmerman is the neighborhood watch captain who shot and killed Trayvon Martin after the two scuffled.
npr.org | 18-May-2012 10:00

Clemens' Former Trainer Admits Changing Testimony
The prosecution's star witness underwent a withering cross-examination on Thursday at Roger Clemens' perjury trial. Brian McNamee is the only person with firsthand evidence that contradicts the baseball-pitching ace, but is he a believable witness?
npr.org | 18-May-2012 06:01

New Documents Released In Trayvon Martin Case
Documents have been released in the investigation of George Zimmerman's shooting of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, shot Martin, an unarmed teen. He's claiming self-defense. Robert Siegel talks to Greg Allen.
npr.org | 18-May-2012 01:13

Key Witness Testifies In Clemens' Perjury Trial
The key witness in the perjury trial of baseball star Roger Clemens is on the stand this week testifying that he injected Clemens with performance-enhancing drugs. Nina Totenberg talks to Melissa Block.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 21:00

Even Before 'Citizens United,' Big Donors Dominated
The emergence of Joe Ricketts is yet more proof of how the Citizens United court ruling has opened the flood gates for wealthy donors to influence the outcome of presidential campaigns — or has it? Peter Overby talks to Robert Siegel about big donors and what those court decisions really mean.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 21:00

Closing Arguments Made In John Edwards Trial
The prosecution and defense in the John Edwards trial gave their closing arguments on Thursday. The former presidential candidate and vice-presidential nominee is accused of accepting almost a million dollars of secret campaign payments. Prosecutors allege he used the money to hide an affair and subsequent pregnancy with a campaign worker. Melissa Block talks to North Carolina Public Radio's Jeff Tiberii.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 21:00

Same-Sex Parents Lobby Congress For Equal Rights
Dozens of same-sex families descended on Capitol Hill on Thursday to ask Congress for a break. They shared their stories of not being recognized as legal parents — or legal families — in hopes that lawmakers would feel their own views on same-sex rights evolve, just like Obama's did.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 16:50

Defense Rests In John Edwards Trial
The defense in the John Edwards trial rested on Wednesday. Attorneys for the former presidential candidate and vice presidential nominee did not call Edwards, his daughter or Rielle Hunter, the woman he had an affair with and who bore his child. Edwards is accused of skirting federal campaign finance laws by accepting secret payments to cover up the affair and further his political ambitions. North Carolina Public Radio's Jeff Tiberii speaks with Melissa Block from Greensboro, N.C.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 21:00

Experts Stumped By Chicago's Soaring Homicide Rate
The homicide rate in Chicago has soared more than 50 percent in the first few months of 2012 over the same time period last year. The number of non-fatal shootings is up sharply, too. Why? Some say it could be just a statistical blip or due to rising temperatures, as Chicago had an extremely mild winter this year with record-setting warmth in March, the bloodiest month. But others say there is a deeply entrenched culture of violence in some city neighborhoods and within the prolific Chicago street gangs. They worry 2012 could be one of the most violent years in the city since the 1990s.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 21:00

'Canal Zone' Collages Test The Meaning Of 'Fair Use'
Art world superstar Richard Prince is appealing the 2011 ruling that found him liable for copyright infringement. Prince used dozens of images by photographer Patrick Cariou to create collages that his gallery then sold for millions of dollars.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 20:23

Is There Racial Bias In Clemency Decisions?
Nearly 20 years ago Clarence Aaron was sentenced to three life terms for his involvement in a drug deal. His request to have his sentence shortened was denied by the White House in 2008. Now a story by ProPublica 's Dafna Linzer reports the Bush administration was not told key facts before deciding on it. Host Michel Martin speaks with Linzer.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 18:00

Juror Booted From Clemens Trial For Sleeping
At the perjury trial of pitching great Roger Clemens Tuesday, a judge sent a jury member home after saying she was "obviously sleeping." She's the second juror to fall asleep and be ordered to leave.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 12:52

Will John Edwards Take The Stand On His Own Behalf?
This could be the last day of testimony in the John Edwards Trial. Edwards was once a rising star in the Democratic Party until an extra-marital affair derailed his political ambitions. He's charged with accepting secret payments of almost a million dollars to cover-up the affair and pregnancy. North Carolina Public Radio's Jeff Tiberii reports from Greensboro.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 10:00

Appeals Court Moves Toward Identifying Donors
A ruling this week by a federal appeals court means non-profit groups running one type of political campaign ad will no longer be able to keep their donors secret. The appellate order, however, could be appealed.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 10:00

Court Action May Lift Anonymity For Some Campaign Donors
As of now, nonprofit groups that want to run campaign ads within two months of the general election will have to reveal the names of their donors. That's because a federal appeals court refused to stay a lower court's ruling on the matter. A full appeal could be heard this fall.
npr.org | 15-May-2012 23:02

Records Show Edwards Paid Mistress $9,000 A Month
The trial of former presidential candidate John Edwards continued Tuesday in North Carolina. Edwards is accused of accepting almost a million dollars in secret payments to cover up an affair with his pregnant mistress. North Carolina Public Radio's Jeff Tiberii talks to Melissa Block about the case.
npr.org | 15-May-2012 21:00

'Stop And Frisk' Works, But It's Problematic
The New York City Police Department credits its controversial "Stop, Question, Frisk" program with significantly reducing violent crimes. Many civil liberties groups, though, warn that the police stops disproportionately target black and Hispanic men, and believe the searches are unconstitutional.
npr.org | 15-May-2012 19:00

Wis. Justices Deadlocked Over Chokehold Allegation
Justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are deadlocked over or whether to discipline one of their own. The state Judicial Council has accused one of them of violating the ethics code by putting one of his colleagues in a chokehold during an argument over a controversial ruling. But all the justices watched it happen so how can they be impartial judges in the matter? One justice has already recused herself. The aggressor and the victim can't sit on the case. If one more Justice does that, then there can't be a quorum.
npr.org | 11-May-2012 21:00

ALEC Act Would Give Legislatures Power Over AGs
The conservative group that helped spread Florida's Stand Your Ground gun law across the country holds a closed-door issues conference in Charlotte on Friday. On its agenda is legislation that would prevent a state's attorney general from pursuing lawsuits except as authorized by the state legislature. Peter Overby is at the conference and talks with Audie Cornish.
npr.org | 11-May-2012 21:00

Arizona Sheriff Arpaio Plans To Fight DOJ Lawsuit
The Department of Justice has announced it is suing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio because of civil rights violations. He became a controversial figure for his tough stance on immigrants. Arpaio says he will not surrender his office and will fight the suit.
npr.org | 11-May-2012 10:00

Cops To Stand Trial In Homeless Man's Beating Death
Two police officers from Fullerton, Calif., will stand trial in the death of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill homeless man who died from injuries sustained during a violent arrest in July 2011. Thomas' death, and his father's relentless quest to prosecute the officers, has shocked the Orange County town.
npr.org | 11-May-2012 00:01

DOJ Sues Controversial Ariz. Sheriff Over Civil Rights
The Justice Department is suing Arizona's most controversial sheriff on civil rights violations. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is being charged with racial profiling of motorists, mistreatment of inmates and retaliation against his critics.
npr.org | 10-May-2012 21:00

Obama Gambles On Gay Marriage
The president and his re-election team are clearly gambling, however, that his now-open support for same-sex marriage will attract more voters than it repels and allow him to make the choice between himself and Mitt Romney, the likely Republican presidential nominee, even sharper.
npr.org | 09-May-2012 23:32

Fla. Court To Rule: Can A Lawyer Be Undocumented?
The Florida Board Bar of Examiners requires all applicants to have valid citizenship or immigration papers. Jose Godinez-Samperio, who has no such papers, was granted a waiver to sit for the bar exam in 2011. He passed, but now the bar says it will admit him only with approval from the state Supreme Court.
npr.org | 09-May-2012 09:35

These Health Law Bets Are No Figure Of Speech
Will the administration's health law survive the Supreme Court? A majority of bettors think not. Over at Intrade, a "prediction market" for current events, the betting gave chances of about 58 percent that the court will disallow the mandate.
npr.org | 08-May-2012 22:00

Students To Congress: Don't Let Interest Rate Double
If lawmakers can't come to an agreement, the federal Stafford loan interest rate will jump from 3.4 to 6.8 percent on July 1, adding an average of $1,000 to the cost of a year of college. Students from across the country visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to ask Congress to keep that from happening.
npr.org | 08-May-2012 17:34

As Texas Cuts Funds, Planned Parenthood Fights Back
The state of Texas has moved to block public funds for Planned Parenthood because the organization refers patients to abortion providers and advocates for abortion rights. Planned Parenthood says the rule violates the nonprofit's constitutional rights to free association and free speech.
npr.org | 07-May-2012 16:43

Never-Married Parents Get Help From Special Court
About a third of American children are born to unmarried parents, and many of those parental relationships dissolve before the child reaches kindergarten. A county in Minnesota has created a Co-Parenting Court to help these typically very young and low-income families stay involved as parents.
npr.org | 07-May-2012 08:46

Pleas Deferred In Sept. 11 Case
The alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and four other men had a contentious day in a military commission arraignment at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Saturday. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston tells host Rachel Martin what happened.
npr.org | 06-May-2012 14:00

Friends And Foes Of Gay Marriage Woo Voters In N.C.
The state votes Tuesday whether to add an amendment to the state's Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage and civil unions, as well as domestic partnerships. One pollster says a majority of voters support the amendment — but many don't understand its scope.
npr.org | 06-May-2012 12:07

9/11 'Mastermind' Brought Before Guantanamo Judge
The self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks repeatedly declined to respond to a judge's questions Saturday and his co-defendant was briefly restrained at a military hearing as five men charged with the worst terror attack in U.S. history appeared in public for the first time in more than three years.
npr.org | 05-May-2012 18:04

Ariz. Bars Funding For Groups Providing Abortions
The state already forbids funding of abortions, but the governor says the legislation "closes loopholes." Planned Parenthood Arizona says the move "could reduce access to a wide range of preventive health care for thousands of Arizonans."
npr.org | 05-May-2012 15:21

Testimony In John Edwards' Trial Gets Personal
Prosecution witnesses delivered dramatic testimony this week in the federal trial of former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards. Jeff Tiberii of member station WUNC reports.
npr.org | 05-May-2012 14:00

Five Philly Priests Removed For Sex Abuse Allegations
The Archbishop of Philadelphia announced on Friday that five priests were unsuitable for ministry because of substantiated sexual abuse allegations — or other inappropriate conduct. Those named on Friday were among some two dozen suspended last year, pending the Archbishop's investigation into abuse accusations.
npr.org | 04-May-2012 21:00

Hazing Hard To Prosecute In Fla. Despite Tough Laws
The culture of hazing is back in the national spotlight after charges were filed against 13 people in connection with the hazing death of a Florida A&M University student. Florida has one of the toughest anti-hazing laws in the country, but legal experts say prosecuting the crime is tricky.
npr.org | 04-May-2012 21:00

13 Charged In Florida A&M Hazing Case
Prosecutors have filed charges against 13 people allegedly involved in the hazing death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion. The band was suspended immediately after Champion's death in November.
npr.org | 04-May-2012 10:00

Former Archivist Convicted In Recording Thefts
Robert Siegel talks to J. David Goldin about how he led authorities to learn that a long-time employee of the National Archives had been stealing sound recordings. Goldin is the man who donated many of them, and he found one being sold online.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 21:00

Bales' Case In Pre-Trial Limbo Over 'Sanity Board'
The prosecution of Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, charged with killing 17 Afghan civilians, appears to be stuck in limbo, over the issue of his mental competency. The Army wants to conduct a "sanity board," a medical process conducted by psychologists to evaluate Bales' mental state, but his defense attorneys have instructed him not to cooperate, because they're afraid the sanity board is really a "fishing expedition" for evidence.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 21:00

Staffer Testifies Against Edwards At Trial
Campaign finance law isn't the most titillating topic. But the trial of John Edwards over alleged violations has been anything dry. On Wednesday, Edwards daughter, Cate, fled the courtroom in tears after intimate details were revealed about her parents' marital discord. Audie Cornish talks legal strategy with attorney and legal analyst Hampton Dellinger.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 21:00

Trayvon Martin Case 2.0: Digital Trial Before Jury
Lawyers for George Zimmerman have turned to the Internet and social media to help their client, who faces a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 09:41

Trayvon Martin Case 2.0: Digital Trial Before Jury
Lawyers for George Zimmerman have turned to the Internet and social media to help their client, who faces a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 09:41

Key Clemens Witness Leaves Prosecutors Scrambling
One of the prosecution's key witnesses, Andy Pettitte, concedes that he may have misunderstood Roger Clemens, his former teammate, as saying he used human growth hormone. It's not the only setback prosecutors faced Wednesday.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 00:26

13 People Charged In Florida A&M Hazing Death
Prosecutors have filed charges against 13 people allegedly involved in the hazing death of Florida A&M University student Robert Champion, authorities said on Wednesday.
npr.org | 02-May-2012 21:00

DOJ Looking Into Mont. Sexual Assault Complaints
The Justice Department has opened an investigation into how prosecutors in Missoula, Mont., handle sexual assault allegations. There have been more than 80 sexual assaults over the past three years, some involving students at the University of Montana. The local District Attorney is cooperating, but is decrying federal involvement.
npr.org | 02-May-2012 21:00

Clemens Perjury Case May Be In Trouble
The perjury case against baseball star Roger Clemens appeared to be falling apart on Wednesday. Key witness Andy Pettitte, who had previously said Clemens told him he had used human growth hormone, said he was only "50-50" on whether he heard Clemens correctly. And the judge is thinking about striking the Pettitte testimony. Nina Totenberg talks to Robert Siegel.
npr.org | 02-May-2012 21:00

DOJ Downplays Expectation For Hate Crimes Law
In 2009, Congress passed a federal hate crimes law to make it easier for the Justice Department to prosecute people who target victims because of race, religion and sexual orientation. Federal prosecutors have used the new hate crimes law just nine times so far.
npr.org | 02-May-2012 10:00