News on Stephen Breyer

Supreme Court considers terrorism support law

2010-02-23T12:00:45Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Supreme Court justices on Tuesday questioned whether a law that bars Americans from providing support to foreign terrorist groups violated constitutional rights of free speech and association.</p><p>Some justices seemed concerned the law outlawed the provision to such groups even of advice about lawful advocac...

President Obama Delivers State Of The Union Address

2010-01-27T22:46:35Z

WASHINGTON - JANUARY 27: U.S. President Barack Obama is greeted by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer as he enters the chamber before speaking to both houses of Congress at his first State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on January 27, 2010 in California trial on gay marriage</div><div><p>The Supreme Court on Wednesday indefinitely blocked cameras from covering the high-profile federal court trial on the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriage.</p><p>The high ...

U.S. court bars video coverage of gay marriage trial

2010-02-22T20:49:04Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that video from the trial over California's same-sex marriage ban cannot be broadcast, handing a victory to those defending the ban.</p><p>By a 5-4 vote, the high court granted an emerg...

Court seems skeptical of NFL antitrust protection

2010-02-22T22:23:11Z

<div id="subtitle">Supreme Court justices don't seem interested in giving NFL broad antitrust protection</div><div><p>The Supreme Court on Wednesday didn't seem interested in immediately granting the National Football League the broad antitrust law protection the league is seeking.</p&...

Court skeptical of federal anti-fraud law

2010-02-23T19:36:00Z

<div id="subtitle">Supreme Court skeptical of federal anti-fraud law used in high-profile prosecutions</div><div><p>The Supreme Court appeared inclined Tuesday to limit federal prosecutors' use of a fraud law that has helped win convictions of high-profile corporate executives and public officials, or throw out the law altogether.</p><p>The justi...

High court considers what can qualify for a patent

2010-02-24T07:42:31Z

<div><p>Should techniques for training horses be eligible for a patent? What about a system for choosing a jury or fail-proof method for speed dating?</p><p>Supreme Court justices raised the questions Monday as they struggled to decide what types of inventions should qualify for patent protection.</p><p>In a case that has put software and bioscience companies on edge, the justices debated whether processes or met...

Supreme Court wades into mutual fund fee disparity

2010-02-24T09:22:09Z

<div id="subtitle">Peeved that you're paying more than big mutual fund clients? Supreme Court could step in</div><div><p>The U.S. Supreme Court is taking a close look at a question individual investors have long asked about their mutual funds, but the courts have largely ignored: Why am I getting charged twice as much as big institutional clients?</p><p...

SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK: When lawyers don't matter

2010-02-24T18:43:27Z

<div id="subtitle">SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK: Roberts, ex-advocate, says lawyers shouldn't matter in case's outcome</div><div><p>Chief Justice John Roberts once famously and controversially described a judge's role as akin to an umpire who merely calls balls and strikes.</p><p>On Wednesday, Roberts offered a new take on that argu...

High court shines a light on animal cruelty videos

2010-02-24T22:25:57Z

<div id="subtitle">Animal cruelty videos at center of Supreme Court case on free speech protections</div><div><p>Supreme Court justices, skeptical of a law aimed at graphic animal cruelty videos, touched Tuesday on dog fights, bull fights, cock fights, bow-and-arrow hunting, even a hypothetical television channel devoted to human sacrifice. Oh, yes, and freedom of speech.&a...

Supreme Court Mass

2009-10-04T12:17:16Z

Supreme Court Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy, front center, Stephen Breyer, second row right Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor, back center, walk down the stairs after the Red Mass that occurs at the beginning of the fall term of the WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: Associate Justice Stephen Breyer poses during a group photograph at the Supreme Court building on September 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. The high court made a group photograph with its newest member Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor. (...

Supreme Court Clinton Movie

2009-09-09T14:31:01Z

This artist rendering shows Theodore Olson, the attorney representing Citizens United, second from right, arguing a campaign finance case before the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. Seated, from left are, Justice Samuel Alito, Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that crime lab reports used in drug and other cases can be introduced as evidence at trial only if defendants can cross-examine the forensic analysts who prepared them.</p><p>By a 5-4 vote, the high court ruled a defendants' constitutiona...

Attorney general wants review of cocaine sentences

2010-02-26T17:06:48Z

<div id="subtitle">Attorney general calls for review of gap in sentencing laws for crack and powder cocaine</div><div><p>Attorney General Eric Holder sought support Wednesday for erasing the gap in prison sentences for crack and powder cocaine crimes, a disparity that hits black defendants the hardest.</p><p>The effort to change federal sentencing laws for coc...

Supreme Court Breyer

2009-06-24T18:02:18Z

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer speaks at panel discussion titled "Rethinking Federal Sentencing Policy, 25th Anniversary of the Sentencing Reform Act.", at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, Wednesday, June 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Court upholds racketeering conviction

2010-02-27T00:17:51Z

<div id="subtitle">Supreme Court upholds racketeering conviction of man tied to organized crime</div><div><p>The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the racketeering conviction of a reputed associate of the Gambino crime family.</p><p>Edmund Boyle was convicted in connection with ...

Thomas, Scalia report big book earnings in 2008

2010-02-27T01:10:00Z

<div id="subtitle">Justice Thomas earns more than $300,000 in royalties, Scalia's new book nets nearly $100,000</div><div><p>Justice Clarence Thomas took in more than $300,000 in royalties for his autobiography last year, far more than he earned as a member of the Supreme Court. WASHINGTON - MAY 20: U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer addresses the Sandra Day O'Connor Project on The State of The Judiciary's forum "Striking the Balance: Fair and Independent Courts in a New Era" at Supreme Court reviewing plans to close iconic central entrance</div><div><p>Justice Stephen Breyer said Tuesday that plans to prevent visitors to the Supreme Court from ascending the building's wide marble steps and entering beneath the words "Equal Justice Under Law" are unde...