U.S. Supreme Court

James Edmund McWilliams Jr. was sentenced to death in 1986 for the rape and murder of a convenience store clerk during a robbery.

Supreme Court To Decide If Prosecution, Defense Can Share Experts in Capital Case

8:08am April 24, 2017

The Supreme Court will decide if an Alabama inmate should have his sentence revisited because his attorney didn't get help from an independent mental health expert when he was sentenced to death.

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Children play on the playground at the Trinity Lutheran Child Learning Center in Columbia, Mo.

Playground Case Could Breach Barrier Between Tax Coffers, Religious Schools

8:13pm April 19, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

The Supreme Court hears arguments today on whether Missouri should provide a grant to a church preschool, or if that violates the state's constitution. The state's new governor has abandoned the rule.

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David Cortman of the Alliance Defending Freedom speaks after representing Trinity Lutheran Church before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Concerned Women for America hosted a rally in support of the Missouri church on the court steps.

In Church-State Playground Brawl, Justices Lean Toward The Church

8:11pm April 19, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

At Wednesday's oral arguments, a clear majority of justices seemed troubled by a Missouri policy that bars state money from going to religious schools for playground improvements.

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Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch is expected to be confirmed by the Senate on Friday.

After Historic Vote, Gorsuch Speeding To The Supreme Court

9:36am April 07, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

Senate Republicans unleashed the "nuclear option" on Thursday, essentially ensuring that Neil Gorsuch would be confirmed to the Supreme Court on Friday. He is expected to tow a conservative line.

President Trump attends a meeting on health care at the White House last week. The bill is facing opposition from all sides. Without its passage, everything else on Trump's agenda could be slowed.

Trump Faces Critical Phase, As He Tries To Make His Rhetoric Reality

2:49pm March 20, 2017

by Domenico Montanaro

The GOP deadline to pass health care is the first week of April. If it doesn't happen, everything else gets pushed back. Trump's agenda faces two big tests this week, from the Supreme Court to Russia.

Judge Neil Gorsuch, pictured with Sen. Lindsey Graham, has met with 72 senators ahead of his confirmation hearings.

Politics & Government

Senate Democrats Lighting The Grill For Gorsuch's Confirmation Hearings

7:52am March 19, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

At previous hearings, critics have focused on big social issues like affirmative action or abortion. This time, critics' strategy is to portray Gorsuch siding with corporations over regular folks.

Judge Neil Gorsuch's confirmation hearings on his nomination to the Supreme Court begin on Monday.

Judge Gorsuch's Writings Signal He Would Be A Conservative On Social Issues

2:35pm March 17, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch ruled on the Hobby Lobby case before it reached the high court. His concurrence argued religious freedom could extend even further than the Supreme Court ruled.

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The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that when there is clear evidence of racial bias during jury deliberations, they can be unsealed by a court to investigate whether the defendant's rights were violated.

National

Supreme Court Allows Prying Into Jury Deliberations If Racism Is Perceived

7:03pm March 06, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-3 decision that trial courts may look into jury deliberations if there is clear evidence of racial bias. Deliberations are normally off-limits after a verdict.

Lester "J.R." Packingham speaks Monday on the front steps of the Supreme Court. He was convicted of statutory rape in 2002, and arrested years later under a law barring sex offenders from social media platforms.

Can Sex Offenders Be Barred From Social Media? Justices Lean Toward No

9:00pm February 27, 2017

by Nina Totenberg

The court heard two cases today: One on whether the government can deport a resident for a statutory rape conviction, and another on whether a state can criminalize social media use for sex offenders.

National

North Carolina Law Makes Facebook A Felony For Former Sex Offenders

7:57am February 26, 2017

North Carolina has a law banning sex offenders from social media. The state says sex offenders use sites to find future child victims. The court will decide if this is constitutional.