DACA Was 'Saved' Last Week. Now, Is a Texas Judge Going to Kill It?
After a year of battle in the courts, young immigrants fear that their protection from deportation could soon end.
Courts
A Family Lawyer on the Challenges Facing Domestic Violence Survivors Seeking a Divorce
Pacific Standard spoke with Kara Bellew, a partner at a matrimonial and family law firm, about the best route for survivors to seek a divorce, and how abusers are able to manipulate the legal system.
Detained Iraqi Immigrants Are Fighting ICE for Their Day in Court
The Trump administration is appealing earlier court decisions securing due process for the Iraqi nationals and preventing them from what advocates say is unlawful detention.
Trump Calls U.S. Court System 'Broken and Unfair' After DACA Ruling
A judge ruled Tuesday night that the Trump administration has to keep DACA intact.
Trial Date Set for New Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Case
Though California's statute of limitations on sexual assault accusations has passed, the plaintiff was still able to file her complaint in court because she was a minor at the time of the alleged incident.
Does Confidence Matter in Eyewitness Testimonies?
Obtaining accurate eyewitness testimony may be more nuanced than previously thought.
Eyewitness Testimony Instructions Sort of Work
The state's jury instructions—including a crash course in the psychology of memory—make jurors more skeptical of eyewitness testimony, but not more discerning.
Who Gets a Public Defender?
In St. Louis, Missouri, an effort to manage enormous caseloads left hundreds of the city's poorest without a lawyer.
Drug Courts Grow Up
As drug courts spread across the world, new standards and best practices aim to hold them all accountable.
Shackling Juveniles in the Courtroom
Pediatricians and psychologists say unnecessary restraints can traumatize kids and encourage worse behavior.
The Fight to Decriminalize Truancy in Texas Schools
Should kids be led out of class in handcuffs for being late to school?
How Courts Use Neuroscience
A new report collates some of the latest numbers on how American courts use brain science in trials. We've got the skinny, plus an analysis of the good and bad consequences.
The Power of Confessions
The Etan Patz murder trial is the latest test case for measuring the power of a confession, whether or not it’s actually true.
Remembering the Drug Court Revolution
Stories from the 25th anniversary celebration of the nation’s first drug court.
Double Jeopardy Isn’t What You Think—and It Won’t Save Amanda Knox
Despite how it’s been portrayed on screens both large and small, the Fifth Amendment’s Double Jeopardy Clause isn’t meant to protect against the consequences of an appeal.
The Emotions That Prosecutors Elicit to Make Jurors Vote Guilty
Jurors experiencing “moral outrage” will be more likely to convict, and changes in technology are making this a bigger factor.
The Unique Needs of Veterans in the Legal System
Vet courts, like drug courts, treat the underlying factors for first-time offenders.
Bias in the Court: Forensic Psychologists and the Teams They Represent
How biased are forensic psychologists by the legal team that picks them? More than they think.
A Perennial Epicenter, Now for Same-Sex Marriage
San Francisco City Hall embodies the thrill of wedded bliss while it endures the fallout over Prop. 8
Judges' Decisions More Lenient After Lunch
Ordering in the court may be the new cry as a look at judges' decisions made before and after lunch shows a wide difference in outcome.
Public Defenders as Effective as Private Attorneys
New research suggests that, in terms of influencing key judicial decisions, public defenders are as effective as their private counterparts.
'Courts and Kids' Argues for Equal School Funding
State courts should stand firm on equal school funding and make sure legislators and governors show kids the money, a law scholar writes.
Pipe Wrench: Net Neutrality Decision Boxes in FCC
A good day in court for Internet providers may lead regulators to a nuclear option those providers dread.