Courts

The state Supreme Court has upheld a Hennepin County murder conviction in which the lead prosecutor was unauthorized to practice law.
Minn. Senate case tests court that shuns politics
Republican Norm Coleman's next gambit for regaining his U.S. Senate seat will come before a Minnesota Supreme Court that seems built to his advantage, with five of its seven members appointed by Republicans. But that edge isn't all it seems.
Saberi sentenced to eight years
An American journalist and Fargo native jailed in Iran has been convicted of spying and sentenced to eight years in prison, her lawyer said Saturday, dashing any hopes for her quick release.
Revisiting the criminal code
Faced with rising costs and overcrowded prisons, states and some at the federal level are revisiting "get tough on crime" statutes.
The parents of a University of St. Thomas student who went missing 10 days ago are pushing to change state law to allow quicker searches when adults disappear.
Republican Norm Coleman says he will appeal a three-judge panel's ruling that Democrat Al Franken was the top vote-getter in Minnesota's 2008 U.S. Senate election. The next stop for the case will be the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Former ACLU head looks back on her legal battles
Civil libertarians hailed the election of Barack Obama, but the promise of a different era for the rights of detainees is not clear. Long time civil liberties advocate Nadine Strossen talks about detainee rights, and why she continues to fight for free speech, even speech that offends.
Gaertner: Terrorism charges would be a 'distraction'
The Ramsey County Attorney's Office said today it will drop terrorism charges against eight people charged with conspiracy to commit riots during last year's Republican National Convention in St. Paul. But other charges against the "RNC 8" will stand.
More delay sought in Texas case naming Coleman donor
More delays could be ahead for a Texas lawsuit alleging that a friend and donor of Republican Norm Coleman tried to improperly steer money to the then-U.S. senator.
Criminal intelligence bill runs into stiff opposition at Capitol
A proposal to give police in Minnesota the authority to collect secret data that isn't directly related to a crime ran into stiff opposition at the Capitol Friday.