Court Cases

A federal judge temporarily blocked an Arkansas law which would have banned abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy and subsequently give the state one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.

U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright ordered a preliminary injunction for the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act on Friday, ruling that the law, which was supposed to go in effect in August, was "more than likely unconstitutional."

Wright told the court that the law's argument that a fetus is viable after 12 weeks does not coincide with generally accepted viability of a fetus on behalf of the medical community, which is 24 weeks. more >>

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case regarding public prayer in government meetings which, depending on the verdict, could greatly alter the future of public religious expression in the United States.

The Supreme Court justices announced Monday that they will be hearing the case of Greece, N.Y. v. Galloway, Susan, a 2008 case filed by Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, residents of Greece, N.Y., who sued the city, arguing that it had violated the First Amendment rule of separation of church and state by allowing predominately Christian prayers to be held at government meetings.

Galloway and Stephens argued that the majority of prayers held at Greece government meetings from 1999 to 2010 were delivered by Christian clergy, and therefore the city was endorsing the religion. more >>

Priest Ekram Lamei, Chairperson of the Evangelical Synod, criticized the decision issued by a Cairo court to exclude the secretary of the court from a hearing session because he is a Christian.

The decision came in response to a request submitted by Abu-Islam's defense lawyer to have the court secretary removed from court proceedings.

Father Lamei said he considered the decision an insult against Christianity and Christian people and stressed the need to submit an appeal against the decision. more >>

Donald Trump accused the elderly woman who is suing him of "playing the age card" recently, according to reports on Monday.

Jackie Goldberg, 87, is suing the business magnate in federal court under allegations that he ripped her off when he sold her two $1 million hotel condo units within downtown Chicago's Trump Tower. After the deal, Trump reneged on financial incentives promised to early investors.

During a tirade in the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Court building on Wednesday, Trump touted that Goldberg was being "disgraceful," according to The Chicago Sun Times. more >>

Jenelle Evans is headed back to jail after missing a court date earlier this morning. The "Teen Mom" was scheduled to appear over charges related to cyber-stalking her ex-boyfriend Gary Head, but instead was out of town and missed the appointment.

"Jenelle was saying that she didn't even know about the charges and they were from months ago," a friend told Radar Online. "Jenelle is going to turn herself in, bail out, and get the charges dismissed."

Evans has been doing better lately, given her history with the judicial system. The charges brought against her by husband Courtland Rogers were dropped, and Evans plans to file for divorce as soon as possible. She is determined to make a better life for herself and 4-year-old son Jace. more >>

The Jodi Arias case has entered the sentencing phase, and in a series of twists and turns, will not address the jury today but instead tomorrow morning.

Arias' lawyers first filed a motion for mistrial, saying that the prosecutor, Juan Martinez, had harassed their witnesses. The judge later denied their motion, and the Arias defense team immediately stood and requested to be recused from the case, citing differences with their client. Arias has made the claim that she wants the death penalty, but her lawyers want to fight for her life.

The judge would not accept the lawyers' motion and ordered them to continue representing Arias. The lawyers then said that they would no longer be calling any witnesses at all, and when the judge asked if Arias would allocate, they asked for an immediate recess. Now they are all in chambers, and it is anyone's guess as to whether Arias will take the stand. more >>