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Heroin epidemic gains Congressional attention
The mortality rate associated with heroin overdoses climbed 39 percent in 2013, the latest year in which statistics are available. That is more than the triple the 2012 heroin-related death rate, according to Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wisconsin, who conducted a hearing on “America’s Growing Heroin Epidemic” last week before the House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on […]
Congress’ to-do list grows
WASHINGTON — Congress’ midsummer to-do list may take until Christmas to clear. At the top are maintaining the flow of highway funding, easing automatic budget cuts to the Pentagon and domestic agencies, renewing tax breaks and raising the debt limit. A misstep at any of several points could trigger a partial government shutdown. “We’re going […]
FBI, Justice take encryption concerns to Congress
WASHINGTON — Federal law enforcement officials warned Wednesday that data encryption is making it harder to hunt for pedophiles and terror suspects, telling senators that consumers’ right to privacy is not absolute and must be weighed against public-safety interests. The testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee marked the latest front in a high-stakes dispute between […]
Pending bill could change class action certifications
Changes in the way class action lawsuits are handled are being considered by Congress and the Judicial Conference of the United States. Some House representatives think the current law is overly broad, allowing people who have not been injured to benefit, while others say a proposed change would eliminate important civil rights and injunctive type […]
Senate Dems press for vote on AG nominee
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats pressed Republican leaders Thursday to schedule a vote on the president’s pick for attorney general. President Barack Obama nominated Loretta Lynch in November. She now serves as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. A letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signed by all Senate Democrats says Lynch’s […]
What issues roil Washington? Veto threats are clues
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has a telling hit list. The veto threats that he’s issued over the last three weeks are a microcosm of American politics, representing the roiling issues of the day, the power struggle playing out between Congress and the White House, and even the pique between the president and GOP congressional […]
Lew: Congress should turn efforts toward business taxes
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is pushing Congress to simplify federal business taxes after Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said Democrats and Republicans are too far apart to agree on sweeping changes to taxes paid by individuals and families. Lew said the Obama administration has no interest in lowering the top income tax rate paid by […]
Congress’ newest class begins
WASHINGTON — Congress’ approval rating hovers around 15 percent, but there’s one group of people excited about the institution: the newly elected lawmakers who are about to join its ranks. The House will welcome 58 freshmen this coming week, including 43 Republicans and 15 Democrats, pushing the GOP majority to 246 members, the most since […]
Boehner: Grimm’s resignation ‘honorable’
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., made the right decision by resigning from Congress after pleading guilty to tax evasion charges. Boehner, R-Ohio, said that Grimm’s decision was “honorable,” adding that he knows Grimm made his decision “with the best interests of his constituents and the […]
Congress considers its own form of sports ‘blackout’
Consumers and taxpayers help pay for the stadiums and other sports venues of professional sports teams, pave the way for the roads to get to them, buy all kinds of fan gear and then face the threat of not being able to see their favorite teams play on television because of a broadcast blackout. The […]
Congress OKs bill to cut Nazi benefits
WASHINGTON — A bill that would block suspected Nazi war criminals from receiving Social Security benefits is heading to President Barack Obama for his signature. By voice vote late Thursday, the Senate gave final congressional approval to a measure that would shut a loophole that allowed suspected Nazis to be paid millions of dollars in […]
Syria vote isn’t last word from Congress on war
WASHINGTON — As far as Congress is concerned, President Barack Obama’s Mideast war strategy isn’t in the clear yet. The president got what he wanted this past week when the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved arming and training moderate Syrian rebels to fight Islamic State militants. But the go-ahead is good for less than three […]
Case Digests
- Fourth Department – Mental Hygiene Law: Charles L. v. State of New York
- Second Circuit – Medicaid and Medicare certification: U.S. ex rel. Quartararo v. Cath. Health Sys. Of Long Island Inc.
- Fourth Department – Waiver of indictment: People v. King
- Fourth Department – Speedy trial: People v. Jordan
- Fourth Department – Rosario material: People v. Dennard
- Second Circuit – Magnuson-Stevens Act: State of New York v. Raimondo
- Fourth Department – Plea: People v. Davis
- Second Circuit – Revocation of minimum sentence: Bangs v. Walter William Smith, et al.
- Fourth Department – Relation-back doctrine: CHS Inc. v. Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, et al.
- Fourth Department – Unlawful arrest: People v. Burke
- Fourth Department – Attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance: People v. Brown
- Second Circuit – Immigration: Paucar v. Garland
Law News
- N.Y. Court of Appeals reverses gun conviction
- NY board approves cannabis lawsuit settlements, paves way for retail dispensaries
- NY Court of Appeals reverses murder conviction because of illegal police search
- NY Court of Appeals reverses gun conviction over ineffective counsel
- Split court affirms gun conviction, finding search and arrest were legal
- NY appeals court vacates drug conviction over illegal police search
- Split Court of Appeals strips Police Accountability Board of disciplinary power
- Manslaughter conviction reversed after appeals court finds insufficient evidence
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