Gaza Ad Stirs Controversy Across the Pond

Staff / Truthdig Jan 27, 2009 Two of Britain's biggest networks, Sky and the BBC, have refused to air a two-minute fundraising appeal on behalf of Gaza The decision not to broadcast the spot, produced by a committee made up of Britain's biggest aid agencies, has triggered public outcry, condemnation from politicians and a formal investigation by the BBC Trust. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Wounds Heal in Red Cross Dispute

Staff / Truthdig Jun 18, 2008 After coming to its public relations senses, medical firm Johnson & Johnson has decided it wouldn't be wise to proceed with a lawsuit against the Red Cross charity over a trademark agreement made in 1895. The initial case was brought by the firm after the Red Cross began to sell safety kits to fundraise for its many disaster-relief campaigns. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Calif. Court Cracks Down on Home-Schoolers

Staff / Truthdig Mar 9, 2008 As many as 166,000 children could be counted as truants in California after the 2nd District Court of Appeal launched a statewide initiative to ensure that home-schoolers were being taught by credentialed teachers. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Top Court Sets Back the Foes of Bush’s Wiretaps

Staff / Truthdig Feb 20, 2008 The Supreme Court rejected an appeal related to the Bush administration's warrantless wiretap program on Tuesday, offering no explanation. The American Civil Liberties Union and others have had a hard time proving the plaintiffs were spied on because the evidence they need is considered a government secret. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Scooter Libby Cries Uncle

Staff / Truthdig Dec 11, 2007 I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has made the "tactical" decision to drop his appeal. After all, why spend millions of dollars in legal fees when you still have friends in high places? President Bush earlier commuted Libby's sentence, keeping the former Cheney aide out of prison but leaving him with a criminal record and a fine. The White House won't comment on whether Bush intends to pardon Libby. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Court Victory for DIY Porn Enthusiasts

Staff / Truthdig Oct 25, 2007 There's been a slight shift in the regulation of pornography in America, thanks to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, that might appeal to those of-age-and-consenting types interested in creating racy footage of themselves without the goal of profiting (monetarily, anyhow). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Top Court Refuses to Hear Torture Case

Staff / Truthdig Oct 9, 2007 German citizen Khaled el-Masri's quest for justice, following his "extraordinary rendition," has come to an end. Masri claims he was kidnapped by CIA operatives in late 2003 and tortured for months in an Afghan prison, but his case was closed on Tuesday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider his appeal. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jail Looms for ‘Scooter’ Libby

Staff / Truthdig Jun 15, 2007 I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Jr.'s chances of avoiding time in the slammer are looking slim after Thursday's ruling by Federal Judge Reggie B. Walton rejecting Libby's lawyers' request that their client remain free to roam while he appeals his conviction for perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements related to the leaking of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson's identity in 2003. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

If at First You Don’t Convict, Try, Try Again

Staff / Truthdig May 17, 2007 A federal appeals court is looking into the legitimacy of "do-overs" for detainee tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. Critics say the practice is unfair because it effectively allows the government to retry cases until it gets the results it wants, but there may not be much the high court can do under current legislation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

No Judicial Recourse for Detainees

Staff / Truthdig Feb 21, 2007 A federal appeals court has upheld the Military Commissions Act, denying Guantanamo detainees access to the U.S. judicial system. Attorneys for the detainees said they would appeal the 2-1 decision, which fell along party lines, to the Supreme Court. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

N.Y. Court: Gays Too Good as Parents to Marry

Staff / Truthdig Jul 14, 2006 The New York Court of Appeals stated last week that it upheld a gay marriage ban because gay couples make more stable parental units than heterosexual couples--and thus the latter need the benefits of marriage to assist them. The reasoning behind this is wild, but it's also insidious. Check it out. Update: Nebraska just reinstated its gay marriage ban. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Court OKs Anti-Abortion License Plates

Blair Golson / Truthdig Mar 18, 2006 A federal appeals court allows the state of Tennessee to offer anti-abortion license plates that read, "Choose Life." The court says that although the decision to offer the plates may be ill-advised, it does not contravene the First Amendment. Of all the odd places for an abortion-rights battle to show up, state license plates has to be atop the list. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )