A habeas corpus petition can be used to seek vacation of a criminal conviction and sentence.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
Habeas corpus is a post-conviction legal remedy in criminal law for challenging the lawfulness of detention or conviction.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right to effective assistance of counsel in criminal prosecutions.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
The right to effective counsel is a constitutional protection invoked in claims of ineffective assistance of defense attorneys.
If a jury deadlocks resulting in a hung jury or mistrial, prosecutors may elect to retry the defendant.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
A hung jury/mistrial does not automatically preclude retrial; prosecutorial discretion governs whether to pursue a new trial.
Violations of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act can carry federal prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
November 17, 2025
high
legal
Penalties associated with the U.S. Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act for significant maritime drug-trafficking offenses.
Offering money to a juror to influence a verdict constitutes jury tampering, can result in criminal charges, and can lead a court to dismiss the jury and take remedial steps such as selecting an anonymous jury.
November 17, 2025
high
procedural
General legal consequences and judicial remedies associated with attempts to bribe or corrupt jurors in criminal trials.
Some U.S. state laws block abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, and fetal cardiac activity is typically detectable around six weeks into pregnancy.
November 16, 2025
high
temporal
Description of a commonly used legal trigger for restricting abortion access and the typical timing of fetal cardiac activity detection.
Contraceptives that can act by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg, including some intrauterine devices (IUDs), and procedures involved in in‑vitro fertilization (IVF) could be restricted by laws that prohibit methods preventing implantation.
November 16, 2025
high
temporal
Legal definitions that bar methods preventing implantation can have implications for contraception and assisted reproductive technologies.
In Georgia, when a prosecutor recuses themselves or is removed from a case, the executive director of the nonpartisan Prosecuting Attorneys' Council is responsible for appointing a substitute prosecutor.
November 15, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the statutory or established procedure in Georgia for replacing a prosecutor on a case.
Prosecutors in Georgia can apply the state's anti-racketeering statute to allege wide-ranging conspiracies involving efforts to overturn election results.
November 15, 2025
high
legal
Describes a legal application of Georgia's anti-racketeering statute to alleged schemes related to election interference.
As of 2025-11-15, Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman had not been publicly accused by Jeffrey Epstein's known victims of sexual misconduct.
November 15, 2025
high
temporal
Status of public accusations involving named political and public figures in relation to Epstein's known victims.
JPMorgan Chase provided banking services to Jeffrey Epstein and, prior to 2025-11-15, had agreed to pay millions of dollars to Epstein's victims in lawsuits alleging the bank ignored red flags about his activities.
November 15, 2025
high
temporal
Corporate relationship and subsequent civil settlements tied to allegations about Epstein's conduct.
U.S. federal agencies can initiate civil rights investigations of universities and may use enforcement tools such as freezing federal funding or imposing fines.
November 14, 2025
high
process
Describes durable enforcement mechanisms available to federal agencies when investigating alleged civil rights violations at higher education institutions.
U.S. district courts can issue preliminary injunctions that block federal government actions, including funding freezes or fines, pending resolution of litigation.
November 14, 2025
high
legal
Preliminary injunctions are a judicial remedy that can pause government enforcement actions while legal challenges proceed.
Civil rights investigations of universities can result in monetary settlements, fines, and pauses or freezes of federal research funding as outcomes of enforcement or negotiated resolution.
November 14, 2025
high
process
Possible administrative or negotiated outcomes stemming from investigations into alleged civil rights violations at universities.
Firing squad executions have historically been used worldwide to punish military mutinies and desertion, as a form of frontier justice in the American Old West, and as a tool of political repression in the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
November 13, 2025
high
historical
Broad historical uses of firing-squad execution methods.
Some U.S. lawmakers have advocated reviving the firing squad as an execution method, arguing it can be quicker and more humane than lethal injection, particularly after several botched lethal-injection executions.
November 13, 2025
high
policy
Contemporary policy arguments in the United States about execution methods.
As of November 13, 2025, firing-squad execution is legally available in Utah, Idaho, and South Carolina and is authorized as a backup execution method if other methods are unavailable in Oklahoma and Mississippi; the electric chair also remains a legal execution option in several U.S. states including South Carolina.
November 13, 2025
high
legal
Legal availability of specific execution methods across U.S. states.
Some U.S. states have struggled to maintain adequate supplies of lethal-injection drugs, which has contributed to consideration of alternative execution methods.
November 13, 2025
high
policy
Operational challenges affecting execution practices in some U.S. states.
A 2025 Ukrainian anti-corruption probe referred to as 'Operation Midas' reported that contractors for the state-owned nuclear company Energoatom allegedly paid 10–15% kickbacks, totaling about $100 million, to secure government contracts.
November 12, 2025
high
statistical
Core findings from a multi-month anti-corruption investigation conducted by Ukrainian authorities.
Governments can strip properties of protected heritage status and enter long-term lease agreements, including 99-year leases, with private developers as a legal mechanism to enable large-scale redevelopment projects.
November 11, 2025
medium
policy
Description of legal and contractual mechanisms used in property redevelopment and heritage status management.
Shortages and procurement difficulties for lethal-injection drugs have caused pauses in executions in some U.S. jurisdictions and have prompted some state legislatures to consider or adopt alternative execution methods such as firing squads.
November 11, 2025
high
criminal_justice
Patterns in execution practices and legislative responses to lethal-injection drug shortages.
The U.S. presidential pardon power applies to federal offenses and does not extend to block state criminal prosecutions.
November 10, 2025
high
legal
Defines the scope of the presidential pardon authority relative to state prosecutions.
Whether a U.S. president can pardon himself is a legally unsettled question.
November 10, 2025
high
legal
Summarizes the unresolved legal debate about self-pardons.
In 2025, the West Virginia Citizen Action Group asserted that West Virginia law limits the governor's authority to deploy the state National Guard out of state to specific purposes such as responding to a natural disaster or another state's emergency request.
November 10, 2025
medium
legal
Stated legal interpretation by a civic organization regarding conditions under which the West Virginia governor may authorize out-of-state National Guard deployments.
Federal criminal statutes include offenses such as wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and prosecutors may seek penalties of up to 20 years in prison on top charges.
November 09, 2025
high
legal
Describes categories of federal charges and the potential maximum penalties referenced in reporting of betting-related prosecutions.
Major League Baseball can place players on non-disciplinary paid leave while investigating unusual in-game betting activity and can cooperate with federal law enforcement during such investigations.
November 09, 2025
high
policy
Describes an administrative measure and investigative cooperation used by a professional sports league when addressing suspected betting irregularities.
An individual U.S. Supreme Court Justice can temporarily stay (pause) a lower court order to allow appellate courts to consider emergency stay requests.
November 07, 2025
high
legal_procedure
Procedural authority of a Supreme Court Justice in emergency matters
Some U.S. jurisdictions have authorized or introduced the firing squad as an execution method when shortages or difficulties obtaining drugs for lethal injection made lethal injection impracticable.
November 06, 2025
high
temporal
Policy response to shortages of lethal injection drugs.
South Carolina experienced an unintended 13-year pause in executions caused by difficulties obtaining drugs for lethal injection, which led state lawmakers to authorize alternative execution methods.
November 06, 2025
high
temporal
State-level pause in executions and legislative response related to lethal injection drug shortages.
Some U.S. government officials have characterized operations against international drug trafficking organizations as an "armed conflict" and have labeled alleged smugglers as "unlawful combatants" to justify the use of military force.
November 05, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a policy/legal framing used by some U.S. officials when justifying military actions against drug trafficking organizations.
Use of U.S. military force abroad without explicit authorization from the U.S. Congress commonly raises legal and oversight questions among U.S. lawmakers.
November 05, 2025
high
temporal
Congressional authorization is a central element of U.S. legal and oversight frameworks governing the use of military force.
The Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission is a seven-member body that investigates allegations of misconduct by Iowa judges and can recommend the retirement, discipline, or removal of a judicial officer to the Iowa Supreme Court.
November 05, 2025
high
institutional
Describes the role and authority of Iowa's Judicial Qualifications Commission within the state's judicial oversight framework.
The Second Judicial District of Iowa comprises 22 counties in northern and central Iowa and is the largest judicial district in the state by geographic area.
November 05, 2025
high
structural
Describes the geographic scope and relative size of Iowa's Second Judicial District.
The chief judge of an Iowa judicial district supervises judges and court employees within the district and presides over cases.
November 05, 2025
high
role
Summarizes the typical supervisory and case-presiding responsibilities associated with the chief judge position in an Iowa judicial district.
In civil wrongful-death trials, juries determine and award damages for categories such as burial expenses, loss of income, and grief or mental anguish suffered by immediate family members.
November 05, 2025
high
legal_procedure
Describes typical categories of compensatory damages that juries assess in wrongful-death civil trials.
When a defendant in a civil wrongful-death case concedes liability, jurors are generally tasked only with determining the amount of damages rather than deciding fault or liability.
November 05, 2025
high
legal_principle
Explains the procedural effect of a defendant accepting liability in a wrongful-death civil case.
U.S. federal courts can issue temporary orders requiring immigration detention facilities to provide detainees with basic necessities and humane conditions, including adequate bedding, sanitation, showers, three meals a day, bottled water upon request, menstrual products, and prescribed medications.
November 05, 2025
high
legal
Describes types of remedial relief courts may order to address inhumane conditions in immigration detention.
Judicial remedies in immigration detention cases can require facilities to provide detainees private, cost-free access to attorneys and to supply lists of pro bono attorneys in relevant languages, and can bar officials from misrepresenting documents presented to detainees.
November 05, 2025
high
procedural
Examples of procedural protections and prohibitions that courts can impose on detention authorities.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices serve 10-year terms.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Baseline information on the term length for justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices may be retained for consecutive terms and must retire upon reaching age 75.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Retention and mandatory retirement rules governing service on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Federal human smuggling charges can allege that a person accepted money to transport within the United States people who were present in the country illegally.
November 03, 2025
high
legal
Describes a common factual basis for federal human smuggling prosecutions in the United States.
In U.S. federal criminal proceedings, defendants can file motions asking a judge to dismiss charges and to exclude or suppress specific evidence.
November 03, 2025
high
legal
General procedural tools available to defendants in federal courts.
U.S. courts may consider public statements by government or prosecutorial officials when evaluating claims of selective or vindictive prosecution.
November 03, 2025
high
legal
Judicial assessment relevant to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct such as selective or vindictive prosecution.
Justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court serve 10-year terms.
November 03, 2025
high
temporal
Length of term for Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices.
Pennsylvania imposes a mandatory judicial retirement age of 75 for its state supreme court justices.
November 03, 2025
high
temporal
Age-based mandatory retirement rule for Pennsylvania state supreme court justices.
Pennsylvania uses retention elections for state Supreme Court justices, in which voters decide whether to award sitting justices another term.
November 03, 2025
high
procedural
Method by which Pennsylvania voters confirm incumbent supreme court justices for additional terms.
Pennsylvania law requires an automatic recount for statewide races when the vote margin is 0.5 percentage points or less.
November 03, 2025
high
procedural
Threshold and procedure for automatic recounts in Pennsylvania statewide elections.
A judge in the United States can reject a plea agreement negotiated by prosecutors and defense attorneys if the judge determines the proposed sentence does not adequately account for harms to victims, community trust, or the need for deterrence.
November 03, 2025
high
temporal
Describes judicial authority over plea agreements and sentencing considerations.
South Carolina sheriffs are elected by county voters to four-year terms and face limited formal oversight beyond those elections.
October 30, 2025
high
structural
Summarizes the election cycle and oversight mechanisms applicable to county sheriffs in South Carolina.
South Carolina state law grants elected sheriffs broad discretion over how their agency's funds are spent, which crimes the agency prioritizes, and who the agency hires and fires.
October 30, 2025
high
structural
Describes legal authorities and administrative discretion afforded to elected sheriffs in South Carolina.
Between 2010 and 2025, at least 12 elected sheriffs in South Carolina were convicted of or pleaded guilty to on-duty crimes.
October 30, 2025
high
statistical
Aggregate count of convictions or guilty pleas by elected county sheriffs in South Carolina over a 15-year period.
The WRAP has been the subject of federal lawsuits alleging that incorrect use of the device can constitute punishment or torture.
October 30, 2025
high
legal
Ongoing legal challenges and allegations regarding the propriety and consequences of how the restraint is used.
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designation authority typically blocks or freezes any U.S. property or interests of designated persons and generally prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with those designated entities.
October 30, 2025
high
temporal
Description of the legal effect of OFAC designations under U.S. sanctions law.
U.S. federal law sets conditions under which the military, including the National Guard, may be used domestically; one statutory condition is that civil authorities are unable to enforce the law with regular forces.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a legal criterion for domestic deployment of military forces.
U.S. federal law also authorizes domestic use of the military, including the National Guard, when there is a rebellion or a recognized danger of rebellion.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Describes another statutory basis for domestic military deployment.
A 2025 class-action lawsuit alleges that USA Fencing's youth and cadet policy authorized self-identification "without restriction" and lacked any verification mechanism, which the suit says permitted biological males under age 16 to register for and compete in girls' and women's events.
October 29, 2025
medium
policy
Describes an allegation about USA Fencing's youth and cadet policy as reported in the lawsuit.
A 2025 class-action lawsuit alleges that USA Fencing previously maintained a policy requiring males to complete one year of testosterone‑suppression treatment before competing in the women's category and that USA Fencing did not implement systems to monitor or verify compliance with that requirement.
October 29, 2025
medium
policy
Describes an allegation about a prior USA Fencing eligibility requirement and alleged lack of enforcement.
Tennessee law specifies categories of witnesses entitled to be present at executions and includes a provision for seven members of the news media.
October 29, 2025
high
legal
State statute governing capital punishment witness categories.
A 2025 grand jury report in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, found that out of 141 men tested during the investigation into the 1962 killing of Carol Ann Dougherty, only William Schrader could not be eliminated as the source of the hair evidence.
October 29, 2025
high
statistical
Numerical finding reported by a grand jury review of a long-running homicide investigation.
The local rules for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee prohibit extrajudicial statements about a party's character, credibility, reputation, or criminal record, and prohibit any opinion as to the accused's guilt or innocence.
October 28, 2025
high
legal
Local court publicity restrictions that govern extrajudicial statements by parties and others in criminal cases.
Under those local rules, government employees, including Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security personnel, who make statements that have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing a criminal prosecution may be subject to sanctions.
October 28, 2025
high
legal
Sanctions exposure for government employees who make prejudicial extrajudicial statements in criminal matters under Middle District of Tennessee local rules.
Under federal law, if a permanent U.S. Attorney is not nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate within 120 days, the judges of the federal district court may appoint an interim U.S. Attorney until the vacancy is filled.
October 28, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the vacancy-filling procedure applicable to U.S. Attorney positions when a presidential nomination and Senate confirmation do not occur within a statutory 120-day period.
The Register of Copyrights is the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, which is housed within the Library of Congress and serves as an adviser to the United States Congress on copyright-related matters.
October 27, 2025
high
structural
Describes the institutional placement and advisory role of the Register of Copyrights within the U.S. federal system.
The Register of Copyrights exercises regulatory authority over copyrights that can impact a wide array of intellectual property rights in the United States.
October 27, 2025
high
authority
Describes the regulatory scope and potential impact of the Register of Copyrights' decisions.
Eminent domain is a legal power that allows government entities to compel the transfer of private property for public use, including infrastructure or housing projects, subject to legal procedures and usually compensation to the owner.
October 26, 2025
high
legal
General legal principle governing government acquisition of private land
Immigration judges are the only officials who can revoke a lawful permanent resident's green card or issue a final order of removal for noncitizens who have been in the United States more than two years and are subject to deportation.
October 24, 2025
high
legal
Defines the adjudicatory authority of immigration judges in removal and revocation matters.
Individuals appointed as immigration judges commonly have varied professional backgrounds, including prior work in the Department of Homeland Security, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's legal branch, asylum officer roles, immigrant-defense nonprofits, private legal practice, or military legal service; some appointees have had no prior immigration-law experience.
October 24, 2025
high
descriptive
Describes typical prior occupations and diversity of professional experience among immigration judge appointees.
In 2025 the U.S. Department of Justice changed qualification criteria for temporary immigration judges to remove the requirement of prior immigration-law experience.
October 24, 2025
high
policy
Summarizes a 2025 change to DOJ qualification rules for temporary immigration-judge appointments.
U.S. federal magistrate judges may release a defendant on conditions that include posting real property as bond, surrendering a passport, restricting travel to specified geographic areas, and prohibiting certain activities such as gambling.
October 23, 2025
high
legal
Describes common types of pretrial release/bond conditions that federal courts can impose.
Legal indictments sometimes describe unnamed individuals whose identities can be inferred by matching detailed allegations with public records such as official sports injury reports and game schedules.
October 23, 2025
high
legal
Explains how publicly available records can be used to identify unnamed persons referenced in charging documents.
Civil juries can hold private corrections companies and individual corrections officers liable for negligence, battery, and excessive force in deaths that occur in custody, and can award compensatory and punitive damages.
October 23, 2025
high
legal
The article reports a federal jury verdict finding both individual guards and a private corrections company civilly liable for an in-custody death and awarding damages.
An autopen is a mechanical device used to replicate a person's authentic signature.
October 21, 2025
high
temporal
Definition of the autopen device and its function in producing signatures.
Individuals subpoenaed by congressional committees can invoke the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to decline to answer questions.
October 21, 2025
high
temporal
Legal principle governing testimony before congressional investigations.
As of 2025-10-20, Illinois law requires fuller transparency on the background of candidates for law enforcement jobs.
October 20, 2025
high
legal
Legislative change increasing disclosure about law enforcement job candidates.
As of 2025-10-20, under Illinois law a conviction for first-degree murder carries a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
October 20, 2025
high
legal
Statutory sentencing range for first-degree murder in Illinois.
Labor unions can pursue judicial injunctions to halt federal workforce layoffs during government shutdowns by arguing that such layoffs are unlawful or constitute politically driven reductions in force.
October 16, 2025
high
legal
Legal recourse available to unions representing federal employees facing layoffs during funding gaps.
Certain nonprofit organizations that partner with the National Park Service are generally not required to publicly disclose their donors.
October 16, 2025
medium
legal
Disclosure requirements for nonprofits vary by type and jurisdiction; organizations that partner with government agencies may still be subject to limited public-donor disclosure obligations.
U.S. federal policy includes English-language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers, and federal officials in 2025 directed states to enforce those requirements.
October 15, 2025
high
temporal
Federal-level enforcement direction regarding English-language proficiency for commercial drivers reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2025.
Florida carries out executions using a three-drug injection protocol consisting of a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart.
October 14, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the method and drug classes used in Florida's execution protocol as reported by the state corrections authority.
As of 2025-10-12, 35 people had been executed in the United States during 2025.
October 12, 2025
high
temporal
Cumulative count of federal and state executions reported during the 2025 calendar year up to the given date.
In the United States, murder cases are typically prosecuted in state courts.
October 11, 2025
high
temporal
General U.S. jurisdictional practice for homicide prosecutions
Under U.S. federal law, a killing committed with a firearm in connection with another crime of violence can be charged as a federal offense and can be eligible for the federal death penalty even if the state where the killing occurred does not authorize capital punishment.
October 11, 2025
high
temporal
Federal statute permitting federal prosecution and potential capital punishment for certain murders linked to other violent crimes
Murder cases in the United States are usually tried in state courts.
October 11, 2025
high
legal
Describes the typical jurisdictional practice for prosecuting murder offenses in the U.S.
U.S. federal law permits prosecutors to bring federal murder charges when a killing with a firearm occurs as part of another offense that qualifies as a 'crime of violence'.
October 11, 2025
high
legal
Explains a statutory basis for federal jurisdiction in certain homicide cases involving firearms coupled with other violent crimes.
New York state law does not provide for the use of the death penalty.
October 11, 2025
high
policy
Describes New York state's statutory stance on capital punishment.
As of 2025-10-10, 27 U.S. states had legal death penalty statutes.
October 10, 2025
high
policy
The count refers to U.S. states that maintain capital punishment in law.
As of 2025-10-10, Indiana was one of two U.S. states that prohibited media witnesses from observing executions.
October 10, 2025
high
policy
A small number of states restrict media access to executions; Indiana was among those restricting media witnesses.
Law enforcement agencies can perform toll analysis on telephone billing/toll records to identify which phone numbers were called and the locations where calls originated and were received.
October 09, 2025
high
technical
Toll analysis is an investigative technique applied to phone billing or call detail records to extract calling numbers and approximate call locations.
The Speech or Debate Clause of the United States Constitution protects certain legislative acts and core legislative activities from interference by the executive branch.
October 09, 2025
high
legal
The Speech or Debate Clause provides legislative immunity for core legislative functions to preserve separation of powers.
As of 2025, shaken baby syndrome has been subject to scrutiny, with some lawyers and medical experts arguing the diagnosis has led to wrongful convictions while prosecutors and medical societies continue to maintain that the diagnosis remains valid.
October 09, 2025
high
controversy
Summarizes ongoing debate about the reliability and legal implications of the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis.
U.S. courts can dismiss defamation lawsuits when challenged expressions, including artistic expressions such as song lyrics, are legally characterized as opinion rather than assertions of provable fact because opinions are generally non-actionable under defamation law.
October 09, 2025
high
temporal
Legal principle distinguishing opinion from factual assertions in defamation cases.
The National Registry of Exonerations defines an exoneration as occurring when a person who has been convicted of a crime is officially cleared after new evidence of innocence becomes available.
October 08, 2025
high
definition
Operational definition of 'exoneration' used by the National Registry of Exonerations.
Legal scholars observe that there is no single, uniform legal standard across jurisdictions for what constitutes an 'exoneration'.
October 08, 2025
high
legal-principle
General observation about variation in legal definitions and standards for exoneration across jurisdictions.
'Catch-and-release' in criminal justice refers to practices where individuals arrested or convicted of low-level offenses are repeatedly released with minimal detention or punishment, and critics argue such practices can reduce deterrence and contribute to repeat offending.
October 08, 2025
high
definition
General term used in debates about pretrial release, sentencing, and restorative justice policies.
By 2025, a growing number of experts, including experts commissioned by a United Nations body, have characterized Israel’s military offensive in Gaza as genocide, a characterization that Israel disputes.
October 07, 2025
high
temporal
Divergent expert and state assessments regarding the legal characterization of the Gaza offensive.
Prosecutors can dismiss criminal charges and subsequently refile a case if a key witness will be unavailable at trial.
October 07, 2025
high
temporal
General prosecutorial procedure related to witness availability and case management.
The Posse Comitatus Act limits the U.S. military's role in enforcing domestic laws.
October 07, 2025
high
legal
U.S. federal law constraining domestic use of military forces.
The Insurrection Act authorizes a U.S. president to deploy active-duty military to states that are unable to suppress an insurrection or are defying federal law.
October 07, 2025
high
legal
Statutory exception to Posse Comitatus limitations permitting domestic military deployment in specific circumstances.
Federal judges can issue orders blocking the deployment of National Guard troops from one or more states to U.S. cities.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Federal courts can review and enjoin executive actions that deploy state National Guard members for operations in cities.
Reported federal immigration enforcement operations in U.S. cities have included tactics such as deploying tear gas on city streets without warning, conducting predawn apartment raids, and restraining individuals at medical facilities.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Descriptions of tactics used by federal immigration agents during urban enforcement actions.
The New York Appellate Division stated in 2024 that converting a women's roller derby league to a coed league can change the league's identity and may jeopardize its status with the sport's governing body and its ability to grow membership and find teams to compete against.
October 14, 2024
high
legal
Appellate court reasoning about how changes to a single-sex league's composition can affect governance, membership recruitment, and competition opportunities.
New York State anti-discrimination laws have been interpreted in 2024 to prohibit attempts to ban transgender women and girls from participating in sports.
October 14, 2024
medium
legal
Characterization of the legal interpretation following appellate court action and commentary by civil liberties advocates.
In South Carolina, a death sentence can be carried out by a firing squad composed of three volunteer shooters positioned approximately 15 feet from the condemned.
January 01, 2024
high
procedural
Describes the operational procedure for carrying out firing squad executions in South Carolina.
South Carolina experienced a multi-year pause in carrying out executions because of difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs, and executions resumed in 2024 after a 13-year pause.
January 01, 2024
high
policy
Explains the policy-related suspension and subsequent resumption of executions in South Carolina tied to availability of lethal injection drugs.
In 2024, 41 men were executed nationwide in the United States, with at least 18 additional executions reported as scheduled during that year.
January 01, 2024
medium
statistical
Provides a count of reported executions and scheduled executions in the United States for 2024.
A 2024 U.S. Department of Justice review conducted under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act concluded that federal prosecution for crimes related to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre may have been possible at the time but that no avenue remained to bring a criminal case by 2024.
January 01, 2024
high
temporal
Findings from a federal review assessing prosecutability of crimes from the 1921 massacre.
Special West Bank security provisions imposed by Israel after the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023 classify stone-throwing as a serious criminal offense and define it as throwing an object, including a stone, or acting in concert to do so.
October 07, 2023
high
temporal
Describes the legal characterization and definition of stone-throwing under special security provisions enacted after the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Under those special West Bank security provisions, the prescribed penalties for stone-throwing are up to 10 years in prison if the target is a person or property, and up to 20 years in prison if the target is a moving vehicle.
October 07, 2023
high
temporal
Specifies statutory maximum penalties for stone-throwing under the post-October 7, 2023 West Bank security provisions.
CR-15 was the designation for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington Field Office's public corruption unit.
September 27, 2023
high
organizational
CR-15 is a unit designation used within the FBI's Washington Field Office for handling public corruption matters.
CAST is an acronym for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Cellular Analysis Survey Team.
September 27, 2023
high
definition
CAST refers to a specialized FBI team focused on cellular data analysis.
Washington state Commercial Driver's License (CDL) testing in 2023 included a general knowledge exam and a separate air-brakes knowledge exam, and applicants were able to retake the knowledge exam multiple times.
May 05, 2023
high
temporal
Describes components of Washington state's CDL testing process and the ability to retake the knowledge exam as observed in 2023.
The NFL fined Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper $300,000 in 2023 for throwing a drink toward Jacksonville Jaguars fans.
January 01, 2023
high
temporal
Example of NFL disciplinary fines levied against team owners.
Antonio Brown was arrested in 2023 on allegations of unpaid child support.
January 01, 2023
high
temporal
Reported legal issue concerning alleged failure to pay child support.
JPMorgan Chase reached a $75 million settlement in 2023 in a lawsuit alleging the bank assisted and benefited from Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking, and the bank did not admit wrongdoing.
January 01, 2023
high
temporal
Corporate settlement resolving allegations of involvement with criminal activity.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, removing the federal constitutional right to abortion established by the 1973 Roe decision.
June 24, 2022
high
temporal
Supreme Court decision altering federal constitutional abortion rights.
An April 2022 survey produced by Lindsey Olson's research firm found that respondents in Washington, D.C. were more likely than respondents in other U.S. regions to characterize the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol as an "insurrection," "racially motivated," or "planned in advance."
April 01, 2022
high
temporal
Findings come from a 26-page jury-pool survey used in venue-change arguments for Jan. 6 defendants.
AmerisourceBergen (now Cencora) announced in early 2022 a $6.1 billion settlement to be paid over 18 years to resolve the vast majority of opioid-related lawsuits brought by state and local governmental entities.
January 01, 2022
high
temporal
Corporate settlement resolving numerous state and local opioid lawsuits.
Johnson & Johnson agreed in 2022 to pay $5 billion as part of a settlement addressing claims about the company's role in the opioid crisis.
January 01, 2022
high
temporal
Monetary settlement by a pharmaceutical company related to opioid litigation.
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on sex trafficking and related charges in 2021.
December 29, 2021
high
temporal
Conviction of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell on charges related to sex trafficking.
Nearly 1,590 people were charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump who opposed certification of the 2020 presidential election.
January 06, 2021
high
statistical
Aggregate prosecution count related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Obstruction of an official proceeding is classified as a felony under U.S. federal law.
January 06, 2021
high
legal
Legal classification frequently charged in prosecutions arising from interference with congressional or administrative proceedings.
Michael Nachmanoff was confirmed as a federal judge by President Joe Biden in 2021.
January 01, 2021
high
temporal
Biographical detail about a federal judge's appointment.
In 2021, Johnson & Johnson announced it would separate its consumer health business into a new company now known as Kenvue, and Kenvue owns the rights and liabilities associated with the sale of those over-the-counter products, including Tylenol.
January 01, 2021
high
temporal
Corporate restructuring and assignment of product rights/liabilities.
Antonio Brown pleaded no contest to felony battery and burglary charges in June 2020.
June 01, 2020
high
temporal
Prior criminal-justice outcome involving the former NFL player.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019.
August 10, 2019
high
temporal
Death of financier Jeffrey Epstein while detained on federal charges.
Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019.
July 06, 2019
high
legal
Federal criminal charges brought against Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while he was awaiting prosecution on federal sex trafficking charges.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Summary of the disposition of criminal proceedings against financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Karin J. Immergut is a United States District Judge for the District of Oregon who was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2019.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Federal judicial appointment and confirmation.
Antonio Brown was sued in 2019 over allegations of rape and sexual misconduct and subsequently settled the lawsuit.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Civil legal action and resolution involving the former NFL player.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was unconstitutional, which enabled states to legalize sports betting.
May 14, 2018
high
temporal
Supreme Court decision removing the federal prohibition in the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, allowing states to authorize sports wagering.
The legalization of sports betting in the United States in 2018 has been associated with an increase in scandals and misconduct involving athletes who altered performance or leaked information to benefit bettors.
January 01, 2018
high
descriptive
Observed trend linking expanded legal sports betting post-2018 to more integrity issues in sports.
Sports betting has been legal in New Jersey at licensed casino operators and racetracks since 2018.
January 01, 2018
high
temporal
State-level legalization and authorized venues for sports wagering in New Jersey.
In March 2017, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang issued a nationwide injunction blocking President Donald Trump's revised "travel ban," the March 2017 executive order that suspended travel for 90 days from six majority-Muslim countries (Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen) and paused the entry of asylum seekers for 120 days.
March 01, 2017
high
temporal
Federal-court injunction and description of the executive order's provisions.
In early 2017, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang issued a preliminary injunction blocking efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), concluding in a written opinion that the actions likely violated the U.S. Constitution in multiple ways, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit later set aside that injunction on appeal.
January 31, 2017
high
temporal
Federal-court preliminary injunction concerning organizational changes to a federal agency and subsequent appellate disposition.
A 2017 article by Kate Shaw in the Texas Law Review argued that courts should generally not hold presidents legally accountable for statements made in the political arena because such statements typically serve political storytelling, civic interpretation, persuasion, and mobilization rather than the articulation of considered legal positions.
January 01, 2017
high
academic-findings
Scholarly framework addressing the appropriate role of presidential speech in judicial proceedings.
The same 2017 Texas Law Review argument by Kate Shaw noted a caveat that courts may treat presidential public statements as legally relevant if those statements are made in bad faith.
January 01, 2017
high
academic-findings
The caveat limits the general deference afforded to informal presidential speech in judicial settings.
In Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), the U.S. Supreme Court held that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.
June 26, 2015
high
temporal
Supreme Court ruling establishing marriage equality as a constitutional right.
Mikie Sherrill earned a law degree from Georgetown University, worked at a New York City law firm, and joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey as a federal prosecutor in 2015.
January 01, 2015
high
temporal
Legal education and early legal career of a political figure.
The previous record for executions in a single year in the state of Florida was eight executions in 2014.
January 01, 2014
high
temporal
State-level annual execution total serving as Florida's prior single-year high.
Florida's highest previous annual total of executions since the 1976 restoration was eight executions in 2014.
January 01, 2014
high
temporal
State-level execution counts used for comparing annual execution totals.
Theodore D. Chuang was appointed as a U.S. District Judge to the federal bench in Greenbelt, Maryland in 2014.
January 01, 2014
high
temporal
Biographical/judicial appointment.
In 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Voting Rights Act's coverage formula for Section 5 preclearance was unconstitutional, effectively ending the requirement that jurisdictions with a history of discrimination obtain federal approval before making certain election-related changes.
June 25, 2013
high
legal
Summary of the Supreme Court's 2013 decision that invalidated the statutory coverage formula that triggered Section 5 preclearance obligations.
James Comey served as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017.
January 01, 2013
high
temporal
Biographical detail about James Comey's tenure leading the FBI.
Former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned from Congress in 2013 and was later convicted and imprisoned for stealing campaign funds.
January 01, 2013
high
temporal
Biographical and legal history of a former member of Congress.
In 2013, the Texas Legislature enacted a law commonly called the 'junk science law' that permits courts to review criminal convictions if the scientific basis for the conviction has evolved or been debunked.
January 01, 2013
high
legal
State-level procedural mechanism enabling post-conviction review based on changes in scientific standards.
Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution in 2008.
June 30, 2008
high
legal
Historical legal outcome related to Jeffrey Epstein prior to later federal charges.
Deck v. Missouri (2005) is a U.S. Supreme Court decision that restricts the use of physical restraints on defendants during court appearances unless there is a specific, case-by-case security justification.
January 01, 2005
high
temporal
U.S. Supreme Court precedent limiting visible restraints on defendants to situations with individualized security needs.
Only one Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice has been removed through a retention election: Justice Russell Nigro was defeated in 2005.
January 01, 2005
high
historical
Historical occurrence of a justice being ousted via a retention vote in Pennsylvania.
James Comey served as United States Deputy Attorney General from 2003 to 2005.
January 01, 2003
high
temporal
Biographical detail about James Comey's prior role in the Department of Justice.
The George W. Bush administration declared a 'war on terrorism' after the September 11, 2001 attacks and invoked legal authorities to justify military actions against non-state actors.
September 11, 2001
high
temporal
Foundational U.S. policy precedent for using wartime legal authorities against non-state groups.
The Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 regulates the temporary filling of executive-branch vacancies that require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.
October 21, 1998
high
temporal
Describes the statutory framework governing temporary appointments to executive branch positions that require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.
Siraj Wahhaj has been identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
January 01, 1993
high
legal
Legal designation associated with the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
The National Registry of Exonerations has tracked more than 3,700 exonerations in the United States since 1989.
January 01, 1989
high
statistical
Count of recorded exonerations maintained by the National Registry of Exonerations and the start year for its tracking.
Donald Caldwell has served as Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney since 1979 and is the longest-tenured Commonwealth's Attorney in Virginia.
January 01, 1979
high
temporal
Tenure length of a named local elected prosecutor in Virginia.
Since 1977, only three prisoners in the United States, all in Utah, have been executed by firing squad.
January 01, 1977
high
historical
Summarizes the historical incidence of firing-squad executions in the U.S. since 1977.
The United States reinstated the death penalty in 1976.
January 01, 1976
high
temporal
Historical milestone marking the end of the 1972–1976 de facto moratorium on capital punishment in the U.S.
The U.S. Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976.
January 01, 1976
high
temporal
Historical legal milestone restoring capital punishment at the federal level.
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (enacted in 1965) allows legal challenges to voting practices and requires challengers to demonstrate current racially polarized voting and that minority populations are unable to elect candidates of their choice, among other factors, to establish a violation.
August 06, 1965
high
legal
Describes the legal standard under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act for proving vote dilution or discriminatory effects in redistricting and other voting changes.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
July 02, 1964
high
legal
Federal civil rights statute applied to recipients of federal funding, including educational institutions.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin by employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations.
July 02, 1964
high
temporal
Core federal prohibition against workplace discrimination.
Entities that receive federal grants or other federal financial assistance are generally subject to federal civil rights compliance obligations and may be investigated for noncompliance with nondiscrimination laws tied to those funds.
July 02, 1964
high
temporal
Federal funding typically carries enforceable nondiscrimination conditions under statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
During the 1950s, some U.S. recreational facilities were privatized in ways that allowed them to avoid compliance with U.S. Supreme Court rulings banning segregation of public parks and recreational facilities.
January 01, 1956
high
temporal
Privatization was used as a mechanism to resist racial integration following desegregation rulings
The Alien Enemies Act is a U.S. law that authorizes rapid expulsion of citizens of enemy nations during times of war and had not been invoked since World War II.
September 02, 1945
high
temporal
Describes the scope and recent invocation history of the Alien Enemies Act as reported in the article.
The President of the United States may federalize National Guard troops, and courts generally afford significant deference to a presidential determination to federalize troops when regular law enforcement is unable to execute federal laws.
high
legal
Describes the general legal standard for federalizing National Guard forces in the United States.
United States federal law includes a criminal offense commonly charged as 'destruction of property by means of fire'.
high
legal
Names a category of federal criminal charge relating to property destruction by fire.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell was appointed to the federal bench by President Barack Obama.
high
descriptive
Biographical detail about a federal judge's appointing authority.
There is ongoing controversy in medical and legal communities about shaken baby syndrome: some lawyers and medical experts contend that the diagnosis has resulted in wrongful convictions, while prosecutors and medical societies maintain that the diagnosis is valid.
high
controversy
Summarizes conflicting perspectives about the diagnostic validity and legal implications of shaken baby syndrome.
The U.S. Attorney General has the authority to direct federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in particular cases.
high
legal
Department of Justice supervisory authority over federal prosecutions
The U.S. Department of Justice maintains formal procedural rules that govern how prosecutors and departmental offices bring criminal cases and handle evidence, and those rules are expected to be followed.
high
procedural
Describes durable procedural requirements within the Department of Justice for initiating and conducting prosecutions.
A special counsel appointed within the U.S. Department of Justice can conduct federal criminal investigations and bring federal charges, including charges related to alleged mishandling of classified information and alleged schemes to interfere with elections.
high
institutional
Describes the powers and typical subject matter of special counsel investigations within the DOJ.
State governors in the United States have the authority to grant clemency in criminal cases, including capital cases.
high
legal
Clemency is an executive power available to governors that can commute or pardon criminal sentences, and is commonly sought in death penalty cases.
Florida's Sunshine Law requires open meetings for public boards to allow public notice and input.
high
legal
State-level transparency law in Florida governing public boards and meetings.
Florida circuit judges are selected by popular election, whereas federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
high
institutional
Contrast in selection methods between state-level (Florida) and federal judges in the U.S.
Information about diplomats (including personal details), embassy floor plans, and security routines are examples of information that can be considered espionage-related and targeted in espionage investigations.
high
definition
Types of information commonly treated as sensitive in espionage cases involving diplomatic facilities.
United States federal agencies, including the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, use programs and automated tools (including artificial intelligence) to monitor visa holders' social media and identify posts expressing specific viewpoints such as criticism of the U.S. government and Israel.
high
policy
Describes reported federal monitoring practices applied to noncitizen visa holders' online speech.
U.S. federal policy has applied a broad definition of 'support for terrorism' that can encompass criticism of U.S. support for Israel, criticism of Israel's military actions, and expressions of support for Palestinians, and this definition has been used as a basis to revoke or cancel visas.
high
policy
Describes how certain political speech has been treated within immigration enforcement frameworks.
Threats of adverse immigration enforcement or visa revocation can chill speech and civic participation among visa holders and green card holders, causing some to withdraw from public affiliation with organizations, step down from leadership roles, and delete or alter social media engagement.
high
policy
Describes general effects of immigration-related enforcement threats on noncitizen expressive and organizational activities.
In U.S. federal criminal cases, sentencing can include imprisonment, a period of supervised release, court-ordered restitution to victim agencies, and forfeiture of property derived from criminal proceeds.
high
descriptive
Summarizes common sentencing components available in federal criminal prosecutions.
Under U.S. federal law, certain murder-for-hire offenses can be eligible for the death penalty and proceed to a separate penalty-phase hearing where a jury evaluates aggravating and mitigating factors, including evidence about intent and premeditation.
high
temporal
Federal capital cases use a distinct sentencing phase to determine death-penalty eligibility.
Some U.S. states have enacted laws that restrict transgender athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports.
high
descriptive
State-level legislation in multiple U.S. jurisdictions has targeted participation of transgender athletes in female sports categories.
Federal courts can issue injunctions that block enforcement of state laws, and U.S. Courts of Appeals can review and uphold or reverse those injunctions.
high
procedural
In U.S. federal litigation, district courts may enjoin state laws pending legal challenges and appellate courts can decide whether to maintain those injunctions.
Civil rights organizations and private law firms commonly represent plaintiffs in litigation over transgender athletes' participation in sports.
high
descriptive
Nonprofit civil liberties groups and private firms frequently serve as counsel in cases challenging or defending laws affecting transgender athletes.
BASE jumping has been banned in U.S. national parks since the 1980s.
high
regulatory
Longstanding federal policy prohibiting BASE jumping within national park boundaries.
Violating federal prohibitions on BASE jumping in national parks can result in penalties including fines of up to $5,000, potential imprisonment, confiscation of equipment, and bans from park lands.
high
legal
Typical enforcement consequences for illegal BASE jumping under federal law.
Under U.S. criminal law, solicitation requires a direct connection to the intended crime; for example, contacting a hired killer and attempting to arrange a contract can constitute criminal solicitation.
high
temporal
Clarifies the legal concept of solicitation as tied to efforts to procure another to commit a specific crime.
U.S. constitutional law treats speech that is sufficiently specific, imminent, and likely to produce lawless action as falling outside First Amendment protection and therefore unprotected incitement.
high
temporal
Summarizes the legal standard used to distinguish protected political advocacy from unprotected incitement.
Settlement agreements in civil litigation are frequently reached shortly before scheduled trials and are often confidential.
medium
legal
Common practices in civil lawsuits
Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) was a laboratory linked to the distribution of undetectable performance-enhancing drugs (steroids) to elite athletes.
high
definition
Describes the role of BALCO in supplying performance-enhancing substances to athletes.
Criminal investigations into organizations that distribute performance-enhancing drugs have resulted in convictions of athletes and associated personnel such as coaches, trainers, distributors, chemists, and lawyers.
high
causal
General outcome pattern from federal probes into doping and distribution networks.
An independent investigation led by George Mitchell concluded that illegal use of performance-enhancing substances poses a serious threat to the integrity of baseball, that widespread use unfairly disadvantages athletes who refuse to use them, and that responsibility for the 'Steroids Era' was shared among commissioners, club officials, the players' association, and players.
high
report_finding
Findings attributed to the independent Mitchell investigation into steroids in baseball.
Florida's Government in the Sunshine law is a state open-government statute that governs public access, transparency, and notice requirements for certain government meetings in Florida.
high
legal
Describes the nature and purpose of Florida's open-government statute referenced in the article.
Florida's judicial system includes intermediate appellate courts called District Courts of Appeal, such as the 3rd District Court of Appeal, which hear appeals from lower courts.
high
legal
Describes the role and existence of Florida's district courts of appeal referenced in the article.
In Pennsylvania retention elections for Supreme Court justices, voters are asked to vote "yes" or "no" on whether to give current justices another term and judicial candidates are not listed by party affiliation on the ballot.
high
procedural
Describes the ballot and voting mechanism used in Pennsylvania retention elections for Supreme Court justices.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are elected to 10-year terms, although mandatory age limits can shorten the actual length of service on the bench.
high
institutional
Specifies the standard term length and the effect of age limits on tenure for justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is composed of seven members.
high
institutional
Basic structural fact about the size of the state's highest court.
State supreme courts, including the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, hear and decide cases on issues such as voting rights, redistricting, election law, abortion rights, and public school funding.
high
institutional
Describes common subject-matter jurisdiction and issues adjudicated by state supreme courts.
Susan Illston is a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California who was appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton.
high
biographical
Judicial position and appointing president for a federal district judge.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board is composed of five members who are appointed either by the state governor or by the state's top judicial official.
high
organizational
Describes the institutional composition and appointment process for the state's parole and pardon decision-making body.
Clemency in the context of a death sentence can involve commuting the sentence so that the person is spared execution and instead serves life in prison without the possibility of parole.
high
legal_definition
General description of one common form of executive clemency for individuals sentenced to death.
Prosecutors (including district attorneys and state attorneys general), museums, and courts can confiscate or transfer custody of antiquities and return them to a country of origin when the items are determined to have been illegally removed.
high
legal
Legal mechanisms and institutional roles used in repatriation of cultural property.
The CJA is an agency that appoints and retains counsel for defendants who cannot afford private attorneys.
high
general
Describes the role of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) in providing court-appointed defense counsel.
Insider information about player injuries can be used to place bets on sports events.
medium
general
Describes a vulnerability exploited in some sports betting schemes where knowledge of player availability or injuries informs wagering decisions.
Some high-stakes poker cheating schemes have used technologies such as X-ray tables, rigged card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras, and specialized glasses to detect marked cards.
medium
general
Describes methods that have been employed in organized cheating operations targeting high-stakes poker games.
The U.S. Constitution vests the power to levy taxes in Congress rather than in the president.
high
constitutional
Allocation of taxing power under the U.S. Constitution is relevant to legal challenges that characterize executive duties or measures as taxes.
Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, generally place little weight on presidents' public statements and instead rely primarily on the legal arguments presented by government lawyers in court.
high
judicial-practice
This practice affects how presidential rhetoric is treated in litigation challenging executive actions.
Title 10 of the United States Code can be invoked to place National Guard troops under federal control (to federalize the National Guard).
high
legal
Statutory mechanism for shifting National Guard forces from state to federal control.
The legal standard for federalizing the National Guard includes either the existence of 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion' or a finding that the President is 'unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States'.
high
legal
Statutory/constitutional threshold language governing presidential authority to deploy federal forces.
Prop bets have surged in popularity in the United States in recent years, prompting professional sports leagues and state regulators to reevaluate whether and how such wagers should be permitted.
high
descriptive
Trend noting increased prominence of prop betting and institutional responses.
U.S. presidents do not have the power to pardon state crimes.
high
legal
Describes a constitutional limit on the presidential pardon power.
U.S. presidents can grant full, complete, and unconditional pardons for federal offenses.
high
legal
Describes the scope of pardon powers at the federal level.
The legal question of whether a U.S. president can pardon himself remains untested.
high
legal
Notes the unresolved constitutional issue regarding self-pardons.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act is a statute under which individuals can be charged with conspiracy to violate racketeering laws.
high
legal
RICO is used in U.S. prosecutions to address organized criminal activity and related conspiracies.
VICAR is an acronym for 'violent crimes in aid of racketeering' and refers to violent offenses committed to further racketeering activities.
high
definition
VICAR is a legal designation used in federal prosecutions of violence tied to racketeering enterprises.
The U.S. Marshals Service is the federal agency responsible for protecting federal judges and investigating threats made against them.
high
institutional
Describes the protective and investigative role of the U.S. Marshals Service regarding federal judges.
Sentencing recommendations in U.S. federal criminal cases are frequently posted publicly on federal court case dockets.
high
procedural
Describes a common transparency practice in federal criminal proceedings relating to sentencing submissions.
The federal offense of transmitting an interstate threat can carry a maximum statutory prison sentence of five years under U.S. federal law.
high
legal
Describes the statutory maximum penalty commonly associated with interstate threat offenses in federal court.
A release on one's own recognizance is a pretrial release in which a defendant is allowed to remain free before trial without having to pay bail.
high
definition
Describes a common pretrial release mechanism in U.S. criminal procedure.
U.S. attorneys are typically nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
high
procedural
Describes the standard federal appointment and confirmation process for U.S. attorneys.
U.S. attorneys serve as the chief federal prosecutors in their respective Department of Justice offices across the United States.
high
definitional
Defines the primary role and function of U.S. attorneys within the Justice Department.
United States federal criminal statutes include offenses that cover violence against mass transportation systems resulting in death, which can be the basis for federal charges by prosecutors.
medium
legal
Federal law provides for prosecution of violent acts affecting mass transit when those acts result in death.
If an interim U.S. attorney's 120-day appointment expires, federal judges of the relevant judicial district have statutory authority to appoint the U.S. attorney to fill the vacancy.
high
procedural
Rule governing who may fill a U.S. attorney vacancy after a time-limited interim appointment.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
high
background
Describes the legal status of Jeffrey Epstein as referenced in reporting.
Broadview, Illinois hosts a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility that has been a longstanding site of protests.
high
institutional
Identifies the presence of an ICE processing facility in Broadview and its history as a protest location.
U.S. federal law includes offenses described as assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with federal officials.
high
legal
Generic description of a category of federal criminal offenses.