US judge says he can't block Texas sonogram law

A federal judge on Monday upheld the Texas law requiring women to have a sonogram before having an abortion, saying an appeals court had forced him to declare the law constitutional.

Audio recording law under scrutiny in Illinois

Tiawanda Moore didn't think she was doing anything wrong when she took out her smartphone and started recording a conversation with two Chicago police officers she says were trying to stop her from filing a sexual harassment complaint against one of their colleagues two years ago.

HIV-infected woman shouldn't be in jail, lawyer argues

A lawyer is arguing her client shouldn't be held in jail because she had sex with a man who was unaware she has the HIV virus.

Marine hazing trial delayed after charges expanded (AP)

AP - A military judge is delaying a court martial for a Marine sergeant accused of hazing a fellow Marine who committed suicide in Afghanistan after the prosecution asked to expand the details of the charges.

U.S. judge grants more time for accused Tucson shooter (Reuters)

Reuters - A federal judge has agreed that the man charged with a deadly shooting spree last year that gravely wounded then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has made "measureable progress" in regaining his mental fitness to stand trial.

US judge says he can't block Texas sonogram law (AP)

AP - A federal judge on Monday upheld the Texas law requiring women to have a sonogram before having an abortion, saying an appeals court had forced him to declare the law constitutional.

Attorney general OKs deal on Texas election map

Attorney general OKs deal on Texas election map Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 12:48 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2012 SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A congressman's lawyer says the Texas attorney general has agreed to a temporary voting map that could keep the April 3 date for primary ...

Chicago cabbie pleads guilty in terror case (AP)

AP - A Pakistani-born Chicago taxi driver has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to al-Qaida as part of a plea deal hammered out recently with prosecutors.

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation of SureWest Communications

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that it is investigating potential claims against the Board of Directors of SureWest Communications related to the proposed acquisition of the Company by Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.

Opponents: Congress went too far in Obama healthcare law

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress went beyond its powers by requiring Americans to buy insurance under President Barack Obama's sweeping healthcare overhaul, opponents told the Supreme Court on Monday in arguing the law's centerpiece provision should be struck down. In separate written briefs, 26 states and an independent business group argued Congress overstepped its authority under the ...

Lawyer jailed over $2m fraud

A Melbourne lawyer who fleeced more than $2 million from clients has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years jail.

Cab driver admits giving cash to militant linked to al Qaeda (Reuters)

Reuters - A Chicago cab driver pleaded guilty on Monday to giving hundreds of dollars to a senior Pakistan-based al Qaeda operative implicated in militant plots in South Asia and Europe who was killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in June.

Man pleads guilty in carjacking that injured woman (AP)

AP - A northern New Jersey man has admitted carjacking a 65-year-old grandmother, who was seriously injured when she became entangled in a seat belt and was dragged by the vehicle for two blocks.

NYPD officer pleads guilty in gun smuggling case (AP)

AP - A Brooklyn police officer trying to make extra money to buy a house pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy charges, admitting his central role in a smuggling case that involved guns, cigarettes and slot machines.

Amanda Knox appeals slander conviction in Italy (Reuters)

Reuters - Lawyers for Amanda Knox, who was cleared of murder in October by an Italian court, on Monday asked an appeals court there to overturn her slander conviction as well, a spokesman said.

Ruling near on California same-sex marriage ban (AP)

AP - A federal appeals court plans to announce whether it thinks California's same-sex marriage ban violates the civil rights of gays and lesbians, and if the trial judge who struck down the voter-approved measure should have revealed he was in a long-term relationship with another man.

Man faces NY extradition hearing in Vegas fraud (AP)

AP - A former Las Vegas resident picked up at the U.S.-Canadian border on Nevada securities fraud charges was ordered held for extradition from New York on Monday, after a judge rejected his claim of diplomatic immunity.

Attorney General says deal made in Texas redistricting, some opposed

The Texas attorney general agreed Monday to temporary voting maps that would place two new congressional seats in Hispanic-dominated districts as part of a deal to preserve the already delayed primary elections in April. But several minority groups bristled at the compromise and vowed fight it.

Illinois' audio recording law under scrutiny

Tiawanda Moore didn't think she was doing anything wrong. When two Chicago police officers tried to stop her from filing a sexual harassment complaint against one of their colleagues in 2010, she wanted to record her conversation with them on her smartphone.

Mo. teen describes killing as amazing, enjoyable (AP)

AP - A Missouri teenager who admitted stabbing, strangling and slitting the throat of a young neighbor girl wrote in her journal on the night of the killing that it was an "ahmazing" and "pretty enjoyable" experience — then headed off to church with a laugh.

Earlier abuse claims to be allowed at priest trial (AP)

AP - Prosecutors overseeing a child sex-abuse case involving three Roman Catholic priests can reference molestation claims against more than 20 other clergymen to try to establish a pattern of how such allegations were handled, a judge ruled Monday.

Former Wisconsin athletic official faces second allegation (Reuters)

Reuters - University of Wisconsin police are investigating a second allegation of misconduct against former athletic department official John Chadima, previously accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward a male student at a party.

Car makers asked to opposed Ala immigration law

Opponents of Alabama's crackdown on illegal immigration said Monday they have asked the state's three international automakers to help fight for repeal of the law, which Gov. Robert Bentley and Republican legislative leaders only want to tweak in the upcoming session.

Attorney facing tow over parking tickets accused of hitting Memphis police officer with car

An attorney has been accused of reckless endangerment after striking a Memphis police officer with a vehicle that was about to be towed.

Murder trial of LA police detective begins (AP)

AP - Former police detective Stephanie Lazarus was either a heartbroken, jilted lover driven to kill her romantic rival, or she was an innocent woman snared in a web of mishandled scientific evidence.

Attorney General accepts Texas redistricting deal

A congressman's lawyer says the Texas attorney general has agreed to a temporary voting map that could keep the April 3 date for primary elections in Texas.

Orthofix International Moves to Resolve U.S. Government Legal Matters

Orthofix International N.V., announced today that it has made significant progress in resolving several outstanding legal matters with the U.S. Government.

Judge grants more time to determine Tucson gunman's competency (Reuters)

Reuters - A federal judge on Monday granted prison doctors four more months to attempt to restore the mental competency of Jared Loughner, the man charged with last year's deadly Arizona shooting rampage, so that he can stand trial.

Lawyer: Name special prosecutor to probe beatdown

The lawyer for a drug suspect whose brutal beating by cops was caught on video demanded in court Monday that a special prosecutor probe the beatdown.

City's lifestyle entices lawyer

TOOWOOMBA lawyer Sarah Adams loves the simple lifestyle that comes with living in the Darling Downs.

Lawyer: Plea deal reached in Chicago terror case

A Pakistani-born Chicago taxi driver heard on FBI wiretaps allegedly talking about bombing a stadium and sending money to al-Qaida was expected to plead guilty to attempting to provide material support to terrorism.

Pa. rep. convicted on 5 counts in corruption case (AP)

AP - A jury on Monday convicted a senior Democrat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on all but one of six charges in the latest corruption trial stemming from a five-year investigation into the use of taxpayers' resources for political purposes.

2 new charges for suspect in Ca. homeless killings (AP)

AP - A former Marine already accused of killing four homeless men was charged Monday with two new counts of murder in the stabbing deaths of his high school friend's mother and older brother.

Texas attorney general accepts redistricting deal

The deal on temporary voting maps that could salvage the state's April 3 date for primary elections.

Judge likely to extend commitment of accused Tucson gunman (Reuters)

Reuters - A federal judge was expected on Monday to order Jared Loughner, the man charged with last year's deadly Arizona shooting rampage, to remain confined to a prison hospital where doctors are trying restore his mental fitness for trial.

Lawyer: Powell boy spoke of mommy "in the trunk"

Attorney for Susan Powell's parents says children dead in house explosion had started talking about mother's disappearance

Powerful Pennsylvania lawmaker found guilty of corruption (Reuters)

Reuters - State Representative H. William DeWeese, one of Pennsylvania's longest-serving and most influential lawmakers, was found guilty on Monday of theft and criminal conspiracy stemming from his use of state employees to campaign for him for free.

2 accused in contract killings on trial in Memphis (AP)

AP - Jury selection has begun in the trial of two men charged with serving as contract killers in a violent drug ring accused of moving cocaine from Mexico into Tennessee and other Southern states.

Protester's Lawyer Challenges Twitter Subpoena

A lawyer said a request to subpoena the Twitter account of Malcolm Harris, an Occupy Wall Street demonstrator, was overbroad and constituted an abuse of the court process.

City Room: Protester's Lawyer Challenges Twitter Subpoena

A lawyer said a request to subpoena the Twitter account of Malcolm Harris, an Occupy Wall Street demonstrator, was overbroad and constituted an abuse of the court process.