Courts

February 16, 2004 5:02 PM

Lower DWI limit hits a snag

The push for tougher drunk-driving laws at the Capitol may have hit a snag. The Senate last week overwhelmingly passed a bill that would lower the blood-alcohol threshold from the current .10 to .08. But leaders in the House say the lower standard could present a hardship to the cities and counties that would be charged with enforcing it. They say they'd prefer to delay the tighter standard for another three years.

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February 12, 2004 12:10 PM

Senate passes stricter DWI limit

The Minnesota Senate Thursday voted to lower the state's drunk driving limit. Minnesota is one of just three states in the country that does not have a drunk driving standard of .08 blood-alcohol content. The Legislature has debated the lower limit for years, and many observers think this year, it will finally become law.

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February 12, 2004 11:20 AM

Do court records belong on the Web?

Currently, court records are only available to the public at the court house. The Minnesota Supreme Court is grappling over whether or not to post court records on the Web. There's general agreement that sensitive information like social security numbers should be kept off the Internet. But, what about divorce records or even court calendars?

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February 9, 2004 3:00 PM

Legal experts question secrecy around Warsame case

A federal magistrate has ordered a man accused of providing support to the al-Qaida terrorist network to remain in jail because he's a flight risk. Mohamed Warsame appeared in federal court in Minneapolis Monday. Several constitutional scholars say the Warsame case is an example of post-9/11 court secrecy that's unprecedented in U.S. history.

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January 21, 2004 12:00 PM

'That's Just Janklow'

The remarkable political career of Bill Janklow ends this week. Janklow is one of the most powerful figures in South Dakota history. He served four terms as governor of South Dakota, then went on to Congress. It all ended in a car crash last summer. Janklow's resignation from the U.S. House took effect Tuesday, and on Thursday he'll be sentenced for felony manslaughter. Here's a long look back at his tumultuous career.

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January 13, 2004 10:12 AM

Corrections officials on the hot seat over sex offender program

The state's corrections commissioner faced a barrage of questions over the state's program for dealing with sex offenders at a Senate hearing Monday. The program has come under scrutiny after a level 3 sex offender living in northeastern Minnesota was arrested in the case of a missing college student. Senate DFLers grilled Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian about the process for seeking civil commitments of sex offenders, but they say they aren't satisfied with her answers.

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December 5, 2003 10:20 AM

Lawyers allowed for some Guantanamo detainees

The Bush administration appears to be softening its stance on the terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay. Some analysts say the policy shift is a response to the decision by the Supreme Court to hear the case of detainees who want to challenge their detention in court.

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December 4, 2003 6:00 PM

Corrections officials change sex offender review policy

The arrest of a convicted rapist in the disappearance of Dru Sjodin has prompted changes in the way Minnesota corrections officials decide when offenders should be recommended for extended commitment.

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November 21, 2003 10:20 AM

Court says marriage is a right for gay couples

The ruling by Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court makes gay marriage a constitutional right in that state. Should the definition of marriage be extended to same-sex couples? What impact could it have on society?

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November 3, 2003 11:20 AM

Do more open judicial elections make a better judicial system?

Judicial elections point to tension in the way our democracy operates: judges serve an important role in civic life, but questions surround how much judges should tell voters about where they stand on issues. There's also concern about the potential influence of money should campaigns for judgeships become more heated.

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