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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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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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'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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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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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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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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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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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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Minnesota's Court of Appeals turns 20

Minnesota's Court of Appeals turns 20 years on Sunday. The Court of Appeals is busy -- 95 percent of the time, it's the court that issues the final ruling on a case. And unlike other courts, the 16 judges must rule within 90 days, the shortest deadline of any appellate court in the nation.

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The legacy of the Reserve Mining case

Lake Superior's water is famous for being clear and clean. But the lake was an early battleground in the fight over environmental protection. Reserve Mining Co. used to dump its waste rock into the lake. Tons of sediment poured into the lake every day for 25 years, turning the water gray-green and muddy. Duluth's drinking water, 50 miles away, was contaminated with a fiber that might cause cancer. The fight to stop the pollution was an early chapter in the history of the environmental movement.

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