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On Thursday, the Massachusetts Legislature voted to suppress a proposed state constitutional amendment that would limit the legal definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. State lawmakers decided, in a 151 to 45 vote, to keep the amendment off of voting ballots for 2008. According to the Associated Press, “[t]he ban needed 50 votes in consecutive sessions of the 200-seat Legislature to secure a place on the 2008 statewide ballot....

Asking about the statute of limitations when it comes to statutory rape can sound a little creepy. But it’s an important thing to know, especially if you’re concerned about one of your past or current relationships. While alleged perpetrators may hope to lay low for a while to avoid arrest, alleged victims may have other reasons to wonder how much time can pass before prosecutors can press charges for statutory rape....

It’s been a year since Trayvon Martin was killed, but – in terms of the legal process – the timeline hasn’t moved much. On this anniversary of his death, we wanted to take the time to go through what’s happened so far and what still needs to happen. Legal processes are relatively slow in most cases and this is no exception. It’s not that nothing is happening legally. A lot has happened already in terms of procedure....

As travelers, we’ve gotten used to undressing for the TSA – removing our shoes, belts, and jackets. We even submit to revealing body scanners. But now, it seems that the Transportation Security Administration wants to look under the hood of our personal electronic devices as well. That’s the subject of a recent lawsuit filed against the TSA by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They claim that the TSA has been searching these devices and has refused to give any information regarding their reasons for doing so....

New York City news anchor Rob Morrison was arrested for choking his wife – an incident that has been “greatly exaggerated,” Morrison and his wife said in a joint statement. Police say Rob Morrison, WCBS-TV’s morning news anchor, became increasingly belligerent toward his wife during an argument early Sunday and allegedly choked her. Morrison’s wife Ashley is a TV anchor for CBS MoneyWatch, reports the Darien Times. In Sunday’s incident, Ashley Morrison’s mother called 911....

Cyberstalking is in the news after a prominent New Orleans lawyer was charged with the crime for allegedly sending harassing text messages to an opponent. Stuart Smith, a noted environmental lawyer and the namesake of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law’s legal clinic, was charged with misdemeanor cyberstalking for allegedly threatening someone via text message in a dispute over a proposed noise ordinance. If convicted, Smith could face up to one year behind bars and a $2,000 fine, The Times-Picayune reports....

“Ice Road Truckers” star Timothy Zickuhr has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and extorting a Las Vegas prostitute named “Snow White.” In a strange set of allegations, Zickuhr is accused of threatening to kill “Snow White” if a Las Vegas police officer didn’t bring him $1,000. “Snow White” claims that Zickuhr had punched and threatened to kill her over money he believed the prostitute owed him, reports Las Vegas’ KVVU-TV....

The laws regarding which children are required to sit in booster seats while riding in an automobile vary greatly from state to state. Kids of the same age also vary enormously in size. This has Consumer Reports asking whether a single federal law booster seat law based on the height of the child would work better. As discussed by Consumer Reports, all states require safety seats for children under one year old....

The stars of the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars” are embroiled in a real-life drama over stolen coins. A Las Vegas man’s niece stole his $50,000 antique coin collection and hocked it to Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, the business featured in “Pawn Stars.” Unfortunately for the coins’ rightful owner, the pawn shop says it’s too late: They’ve already melted the coins down, ABC News reports. Did the coin collector just get nickel and dimed by the legal system?...

A Florida man is facing DUI and reckless driving charges after police say drove 127 mph in the Florida Keys. When police stopped him, they discovered that he had three small children in the car. Police have charged Robert Rioseco, 46, with three counts of driving under the influence, DUI with someone under 18 in the car, three counts of cruelty toward a child, and one count of reckless driving, reports Miami’s WTVJ-TV....

A federal court judge has approved the $25 million class action settlement against Trump University. The case stemmed from allegations of fraud and misrepresentation, in essence claiming that Trump University provided no value to students, and worse, simply took advantage of students. The settlement actually resolves three separate cases against Trump University that all stem from similar allegations. Although neither President Donald Trump, nor the Trump University, will be required to admit fault, a $25 million settlement says quite a bit about who was in the wrong, particularly given that the facts were heavily one sided against Trump University....

James Holmes, the man charged in the Colorado shootings at the “Dark Knight” premiere, appeared in court for the first time Monday. Many observers said he looked confused and out of it. It was a quick appearance and now bigger decisions await. Whether Holmes will face the death penalty is not expected to be decided for another several weeks or months, reports Yahoo! While Colorado still has the death penalty, it will be interesting to see if Holmes will face it....

Surprise, surprise. Another sampling copyright suit has been filed, and this time the defendant is no other than The Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah. Sued by Jack Urbont, the creator of the Iron Man Theme from the 1960’s The Marvel Super Heroes, Killah is accused of using the song in two tracks on his second album, which was released in 2000. Will the artist’s love of Iron Man deplete his bank account?...

Giant Hogweed, also known as the Green Monster, is attacking New York, exposing state residents to sap that can cause blindness and third-degree burns. Indeed, the plant is so dangerous and has increased in such numbers that the New York Post reports that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation has set up a Giant Hogweed Hotline, with dispatchers that will send a team of weed-fighters to uproot any offending plants....

Idaho’s gay marriage ban was struck down Tuesday by a federal judge who declined to put her ruling on hold pending an appeal. U.S. District Magistrate Judge Candy Dale struck down the Gem State’s same-sex marriage ban in a case entitled Latta v. Otter. And in a surprising twist, Judge Dale chose not to delay her decision while the state appeals, reports The Associated Press. How does this Idaho gay marriage decision differ from other federal cases?...

Though she may have simply been a drunk passenger in a vehicle, in 2008, Brenda Moore was arrested for public intoxication when her designated driver was pulled over and found to be driving without a valid license. Perturbed by the law’s application in a situation that is encouraged by governments all over the country, she appealed her conviction on the grounds that it violated public policy. While this may be true, according to the Indiana Supreme Court, it’s not illegal....

In the latest legal spat between TV’s Jon and Kate, Kate Gosselin is suing her ex-husband Jon and his business partner, Robert Hoffman, reports US Magazine. Kate is alleging that Hoffman and Jon illegally got their hands on private information in order to publish a libelous book titled “Kate Gosselin: How She Fooled The World.” Kate claims that Jon had logged into her email account, which is password protected, gone through her cell phone, and even accessed her online banking records – all without her consent....

Uh oh, it might be time for a Kim Kardashian defamation lawsuit to take off. Apparently, the Kim Kardashian/Bret Lockett affair might just be all made up. Usually, affairs are clandestine and a bit scandalous. Two lovers sneaking behind their boyfriend and girlfriend’s backs, etc. Yet, now NFL player Lockett is saying that he actually has never met Ms. Kardashian, reports iVillage. That’s right. An affair where you never meet the person....

A man who attempted to rob Atlanta customers early Saturday morning while they waited to buy LeBron James’ newest branded sneaker was shot and killed by another man waiting in line. The early rising shoppers were waiting to buy the new LeBron X Denim sneakers when an armed man approached them with a gun – only to have a potential customer shoot the man before returning to his place in line, reports NBC News....

MTV reality-less star John Devenanzio has launched an official attack on season seven of HBO’s hit show Entourage. Devenanzio filed a lawsuit this week accusing the show’s producers of improperly using his nickname, Johnny Bananas. The final season of Entourage features a fake cartoon named Johnny’s Bananas. The similarities have apparently caused him “tremendous emotional distress” and “great mental anguish and pain.” Have you not heard of the other Johnny Bananas?...