Outside the Beltway

Support for legalizing marijuana continues to grow slowly but surely.

The Fourth and Fifth Amendments do not prevent the police from compelling you to unlock your phone if you used fingerprint scan technology to lock it, Virginia Judge has ruled.

States may not add to Federal requirements for voter registration, the Court rules. Which makes perfect sense.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Supreme Court has accepted the appeal of a case that could completely gut the financial structure of the Affordable Care Act.

The Supreme Court heard argument this week in a case involving a somewhat strange application of Federal law.

An unsurprising ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that only seems to bring closer the day when same-sex marriage will be legal nationwide.

Not surprisingly, a law passed in the wake of the September 11th attacks has been used mostly for things that have nothing to do with terrorism.

Big victories for advocates of marijuana legalization.

The Supreme Court will decide if Congress can override American foreign policy when it comes to declaring who has dominion over Jerusalem.

Reports from the Justice Department seem to be laying the groundwork for more disappointment for those hoping for charges against Officer Darren Wilson.

Not unexpectedly, the Supreme Court has declined to hear a case challenging the Constitutionality of the Senate filibuster.

Just over one year ago, Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds was attacked by his son, revealing problems with our mental health system that have yet to be adequately addressed.

A Maine Judge has largely rejected the efforts of the State of Maine to restrict the movements of Kaci Hickcox

At this rate, it’s unlikely the House will file any kind of lawsuit against President Obama until 2015, assuming it ever files anything.

We may have our first legal challenge to an Ebola quarantine order by tomorrow

Mandatory quarantines are a massive violation of personal liberty. We ought to be careful in how, when, and why we impose them and who they are directed toward.

The Koch Brothers are putting money behind an effort to reform a part of the legal system that is ignored far too often.

The City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho will not force two Christian ministers to open their wedding chapel business to same-sex wedding ceremonies.

Not surprisingly a Federal Judge has blocked New Jersey’s latest effort to legalize sports gaming. As a matter of policy, though, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be legal to place wagers on sporting events.

It’s been three months, but there’s been no action on the lawsuit that the House of Representatives said it was filing against President Obama.

The most bizarre race of 2014 is finally over.

A surprise move from Governors Christie and Cuomo that sounds like a good idea but may not be as effective, or legal, as it sounds.

Another school shooting.

A Federal Judge has dismissed lawsuits filed by Tea Party groups over the IRS targeting scandal.

An idea whose time has come? Not really.

All of the major sports leagues are trying to stop New Jersey’s efforts to legalize sports gambling. They should not be allowed to succeed.

What if the Grand Jury investigating the Michael Brown shooting fails to indict Officer Darren Wilson? We may find out if newly leaked evidence is accurate.

Yesterday’s apparent terrorist shooting in Ottawa reveals again a phenomenon that seems difficult if not impossible to stop in advance.

New York State’s gun law takes rights away from nearly 35,000 people without any due process whatsoever.

A collision between marriage equality and religious liberty, but it seems clear that religious liberty should win this one.

Another pre-election stay ruling from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s expansion of same-sex marriage seems to be sitting well with the American public.

Law enforcement remains unhappy about the recent changes that will make it harder to break into a locked smartphone.

The Roberts court has been very good on First Amendment issues, but it needs to address the First Amendment issue right outside its front windows.

A victory for the opponents of Voter ID laws that will be untouchable by the Supreme Court.

A not surprising outcome to a move that have had motives entirely unconnected to litigation.

Someone needs to remind the City of Houston that the First Amendment applies to them.

A national sandwich chain makes its employees sign a very restrictive covenant not to compete. It’s probably not enforceable.

After a setback, Texas will be allowed to enforce its Voter ID law. At least for now.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has made an incredibly weak argument in favor of his state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

A District of Columbia Judge has ruled that photographs of women taken in public do not violate the law.

And Alaska makes 30.