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Prisoners seeking post-conviction DNA testing have a new avenue by which to pursue their rights. In Skinner v. Switzer, the Supreme Court concluded that a denial of access to prisoner DNA testing can be litigated under section 1983 as a civil rights claim. Plaintiff Hank Skinner, a Texas death row inmate, began to pursue DNA testing immediately after his conviction. The state repeatedly denied his requests, reports The New York Times, eventually stating that he did not meet procedural requirements under its 2001 post-conviction DNA law....

The Supreme Court, when not on summer vacation, is pretty busy. And the fall 2017 docket, the Court’s first with new Justice Neil Gorsuch, is shaping up to be a momentous one. While the Court will be deciding a variety of cases, from the enforceability of arbitration clauses to political gerrymandering and from discriminatory bakers to sports gambling, the justices will also be weighing in on some serious criminal law cases....

After spending hours in a patrol car with his young children, Kenneth Wright claimed that a SWAT team had broken into his Stockton home on Tuesday morning in order to execute a student loan warrant after his estranged wife failed to pay her bills. While his house was searched, it was not by a SWAT team, and it wasn’t because his wife failed to make loan payments. It turns out that the raid was the handiwork of the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, which is conducting an investigation into student loan fraud....

Thane International, Inc. of California is recalling over half a million units of its steam cleaner – the H20 Mop. They are being recalled due to problem power cords, which can wear down unexpectedly, causing risk of shock and burns to users. According to the recall notice, Thane sold the defective mops between June 2007 and December 2008 for about $100 each. They were sold directly to customers through infomercials, Thane’s website and on QVC....

Which car makers issued the most recalls in 2013? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) has released a list of 2013 vehicle recalls by manufacturer. The list highlights the number of recalls issued by each car manufacturer, along with the total number of vehicles affected by those recalls. However, NHSTA advises that the list shouldn’t be interpreted to reflect what the agency thinks of the manufacturers or their products. The numbers don’t factor in or weigh averages based on production, according to NHSTA....

Toyota will institute its largest ever safety related US recall due to floor mats that can hold down the accelerator and cause deadly high speed crashes. So far only a safety advisory has been issued until Toyota can work out the details of a recall. It will likely affect up to 3.8 million vehicles, including the Toyota Camry, Prius, Avalon, Tacoma truck, Tundra truck, as well as the Lexus ES350, IS150 and IS350....

The family that fights together … well, gets in serious trouble together. The mother involved in a fistfight in an Indiana Walmart has been charged with felony child neglect after video of the fight went viral. On the video below, Amber Stephenson can be heard imploring her 6-year-old son to join the fight, which allegedly erupted after another female shopper, Rebecca Mills, called a store employee the N-word. Child Neglect on Aisle C Prosecutors charged Stephenson with felony child neglect, which under Indiana law is defined as placing a dependent “in a situation that endangers the dependent’s life or health....

Vaccines aren’t often recommended for pregnant women but government experts want them to get a whooping cough vaccination as soon as possible. Pregnant women are at greater risk for many infectious diseases not only because of their own immune system but also the baby they carry. Because of the exchange of blood between mother and fetus, infections can reach a baby before they’re born. But it also means immunizations can protect a baby who is too young to be vaccinated and that’s the intent behind this recommendation....

“Girls Gone Wild” creator Joe Francis claims he dropped a wild amount of money to go halfsies on a helicopter. But the chopper deal apparently never took off, and now – 10 years later – he’s suing to get his money back. Joe Francis’ helicopter lawsuit stems from an alleged oral agreement in 2002, gossip website TMZ reports. Francis forked over $226,000 for part-ownership of a Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter, which he never got to fly and was sold behind his back, his lawsuit claims....

Rip Torn, the 79-year-old actor most famous for his role in the “Men in Black” movies and “The Larry Sanders Show,” is making a name for himself in the legal field as well. Unfortunately this time Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith will not be able to save him. The actor was arrested inside a Connecticut bank he drunkenly broke into thinking it was his own home. Torn was drunk and carrying a loaded gun at the time of the arrest....

George Zimmerman’s jurors heard closing arguments and were given jury instructions on Friday. As deliberations begin, they have many issues to contemplate in this closely watched case. To let you step into jurors’ shoes for just a moment, here are three key questions that the Zimmerman jury will have to consider before reaching a verdict: George Zimmerman’s jury has been instructed to consider finding the Florida man guilty of manslaughter as an alternative to second-degree murder....

The Supreme Court is reaching the final cases of its October 2014 term, and has some doozies on the docket. From raisin rights to marriage rights and the right to a humane execution, here are some of the highlights on next week’s SCOTUS oral argument calendar. Same-Sex Marriage (April 28) Possibly the most anticipated cases ever for the Court and certainly the biggest civil rights decision in decades, the Court will hear two hours of oral arguments concerning four consolidated cases regarding same-sex marriage....

Accepting a plea deal is often the best course of action for a criminal defendant, but no one should accept a plea bargain blindly. Depending on the terms of your agreement to plead guilty or no-contest to an offense, you may give up your rights to change your mind or fight for your case in the future. So before you sign a plea deal, consider these five things: If your plea bargain includes any sort of jail or prison time over one month, you should really take time to consider what that will mean....

Last November, voters in Alaska took to the polls to legalize recreational pot. Ballot Measure 2 went into effect today, allowing some state residents and visitors to legally own certain amounts and types of marijuana. Alaska’s marijuana laws are still catching up to front runners like Colorado and Washington state, so how is recreational weed regulated in The Last Frontier? Let’s take a look at a few of the particulars....

Anna Nicole’s Smith lawyer boyfriend and two doctors were accused of conspiring to illegally provide the late Playboy model with sedatives and opiates before she died. Earlier this month, they all pleaded not guilty. The Associated Press reports that the defendants pleaded not guilty to drug conspiracy charges, and a judge has refused to suspend the physicians’ medical licenses. However, the doctors are also are fighting a medical board effort to suspend their licenses to practice pending the outcome of the trial....

In the last month, a Michigan couple was charged with animal cruelty for neglecting five horses and letting a pony die. An Alabama man pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty for killing a neighbor’s cat. And a reality television star angered fans when he tried to run over a cat with a sleigh. With so many animal lovers demanding justice, readers may be wondering: Are there any defenses to an animal cruelty charge?...

A Call of Duty video gamer may be in big trouble after “swatting” and falsely eliciting a large police response after losing a game. The gamer apparently called Long Beach, New York police and pretended to be Rafael Castillo, the person to whom the gamer lost. While assuming Castillo’s identity, the caller allegedly stated that Castillo killed his mother and brother, according to the New York Post. So what is “swatting” and can the gamer be charged with a crime?...

Considering the fact that a person can’t do several things before turning 18, you may be wondering if it’s legal to sign a contract with an artist who is a minor. Lil Pump is one artist that is relying on the fact that contracts are generally not valid when signed by a minor. He recently voided his contract with Warner Brothers with the argument that the company can’t do anything about it....

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) reported last week that the New York Police Department (NYPD) is not seeking proper warrants when using stingray spying devices to generally track cell phones. Instead, police are requesting “pen register orders” which are easier to obtain than warrants and are normally used to collect data on one specific cell phone, according to The Hacker News. The NYPD admits its use of stingrays – cell phone surveillance devices that work by imitating cell phone towers – without seeking the proper court warrants....

A city ban on gun sales within Chicago is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang said the city ban, aimed to curb gun violence, is unconstitutional because it goes too far in barring buyers and dealers from engaging in lawful sales. The ruling opens the possibility for retail gun retailers to set up shop in Chicago. For now, however, the judgment is stayed, until the city can figure out its next steps....