Pressure on Obama to grant last-minute pardons, commutations
WASHINGTON (AP) - Under mounting pressure to free convicts as a last act, President Barack Obama is planning at least one more batch of pardons and commutations before leaving office in two weeks. But don't expect many famous offenders to make the list. The list of bold names appealing to Obama for compassion in his…
Read More
Roof gives brief statement to jury
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof did not ask jurors to spare his life or for the death penalty during his brief opening statement at his sentencing trial. The soft-spoken Roof told jurors Wednesday that there is nothing wrong with him psychologically and that his lawyers forced him to go through…
Read More
Appeals court reverses decision on Minnesota’s sex offender program
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A federal appeals court has reversed a lower court decision that declared Minnesota's sex offender program unconstitutional because it holds people long after they complete their prison sentences. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday sided with the state and sent the case back to a lower…
Read MoreAttorney: Dylann Roof hearing should be open
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - An attorney for media outlets including The Associated Press argues that Monday's competency hearing for convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof should be open. Attorney Jay Bender filed an objection Friday to federal Judge Richard Gergel's proposal to close the hearing, arguing there's no compelling reason to exclude the public. Bender…
Read More