In the shadows: Supreme Court’s offstage moves may matter more
Sometimes, the decisions made on the “shadow docket” of the Supreme Court may wind up having more significance.
Read moreNative justice: How tribal values shape Judge Abby’s court
Justice – the world’s search for it made it one dictionary’s word of the year for 2018. Native American tribes are increasingly taking that search down paths both new and traditional, offering a richer portrait of how justice can be found.
Read moreThe Supreme Court and beyond, how partisan are America’s judges?
The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh has exposed questions of judicial partisanship like never before, legal experts say. Judges have never just mechanically applied the law, but is how they use their discretion changing?
Read moreOn Harvey anniversary, why some Texans say they may never return home
In the wake of disaster, the rush to rebuild can sometimes leave whole communities behind. One year after hurricane Harvey, coastal Texas struggles to achieve equitable recovery.
Read moreFor immigration lawyers, legal and emotional tests in navigating changed system
Delays in reunifying separated families underscore the chaos in the immigration system and the hardened stance that migrant advocates now face. Immigration courts are becoming more adversarial as a result.
Read moreWith ‘zero tolerance,’ new strain on already struggling immigration courts
Immigration court judges have a bench-side view of the stresses already placed on the system. The Monitor’s Texas bureau chief interviewed former and current judges about the effects of the Trump administration’s changes.
Read moreOn US-Mexican border, the rules change, but human impulses don’t
The changes at the border notwithstanding, advocates for migrants and asylum-seekers see no let-up in the demand to enter the United States. Almost all the migrants are coming from the “Northern Triangle” of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala – where murder rates exceed even those in active war zones – and are unlikely to be deterred by months in immigrant detention or long waits on bridges over the Rio Grande, the advocates say.
Read moreAs more Texans ‘Give a Whoop,’ hope for saving iconic cranes – and coast
Conservationists hope that the iconic birds can encourage a rare, ecologically-friendly approach to coastal development in a time of mounting human and environmental pressure on coastlines around the world.
Read moreIn Kentucky, all sides agree on need for criminal justice reform. But how?
From lawyers and judges to legislators and the conservative governor, nobody wants to build more prisons. But getting all those stakeholders to agree on what to do instead is proving a challenge.
Read moreKentucky tests how much to demand of Medicaid recipients
In July, Kentucky will become the first state to enforce work and community engagement requirements for some Medicaid recipients. The debate centers on fundamental questions: Does work make you healthier, or do you need to be healthy to work? And is health care a benefit or a right?
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