Law

Witnesses To Take The Stand In BP Trial

A federal judge will hear testimony Tuesday in a civil suit over who is to blame and who should be financially liable for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. On Monday, the court in New Orleans heard more than eight hours of opening statements from lawyers for the government and several defendants.

Is The Voting Rights Act Relevant In 2013?

The Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday on the relevance and constitutionality of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The court is tasked with determining whether states with a history of discrimination still need to get federal approval before changing election procedures.

Civil Penalties At Stake In Trial Against BP

A massive civil lawsuit over liability for the worst oil disaster in U.S. history goes to trial next week in New Orleans. The U.S. Justice Department and Gulf states say BP was grossly negligent and put profits over safety, leading to the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon. Eleven rig workers were killed. Settlement talks have continued but states say they are pushing for a trial to make sure BP is held accountable and pays to restore the Gulf Coast environment and economy.

Law Change Makes It Harder To Unlock Cellphones

A copyright ruling from the Library of Congress covers whether people may buy a phone from one carrier and then use it with another. A recent change makes it illegal to unlock a phone, or untie it from the original carrier, without permission. But some people are petitioning the White House to undo that change.