Courts & Law - The Washington Post

Va. GOP picks conservatives for fall ticket; black minister is lieutenant governor choice

Laura Vozzella — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:05:00 GMT

RICHMOND — Thousands of Virginia Republicans on Saturday picked a slate of statewide candidates who vowed to stay true to conservative principles, resisting calls to remake the GOP message after losses in 2012.

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Cuccinelli says attorney general’s office is exempt from Virginia public records laws

Rosalind S. Helderman — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:32:00 GMT

Virginia Attorney Gen. Ken T. Cuccinelli (R) has asserted that the state’s freedom of information laws do not apply to the Office of the Attorney General, a break from past practice.

While Cuccinelli’s office has continued to respond to requests for documents under the law — which says that except in certain instances, all records of public bodies should be accessible to the public — it has begun to insert new language into its responses citing a 2011 Virginia Supreme Court case to support the claim that the law does not apply to the office.

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Meditation guru Tara Brach is calm eye of Washington’s stress-filled storm

Michelle Boorstein — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:28:00 GMT

A tornado warning was in effect in Washington and the rain was coming down in sheets, but the little residential roads around Bethesda’s River Road Unitarian Church were gridlocked with traffic, as they are every Wednesday night. Washington’s strivers were striving to chill out.

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Washington area religion events

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:48:04 GMT

Historic Christ Church, the parish home of George Washington, recently celebrated its first same-gender blessing, with the Rev. Ann Gillespie, senior associate rector, officiating. Melissa Capers and Brunilda Hernandez, who do volunteer work at the Episcopal church, have been together as a couple since 1999, and there have been several events to celebrate that commitment, including a ceremony in October 2002, authorized by then-Virginia Bishop Peter James Lee, at St. Clement’s in Alexandria. Bishop Shannon Johnston granted permission for the Christ Church blessing April 21, and he offered his “thanksgiving for Christ Church’s leadership in our diocese as we continue to move forward in this new aspect of our liturgical life.”

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Obama’s trust-in-government deficit

Dan Balz — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:20:00 GMT

Whatever else happens as a result of the multiple controversies that have engulfed the administration, one thing is clear: President Obama has failed to meet one of the most important goals he set out when he was first elected, which was to demonstrate that activist government could also be smart government.

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House panel launches inquiries into IRS targeting of conservative groups

Ed O’Keefe — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:19:00 GMT

The firestorm buffeting the Internal Revenue Service intensified Friday as lawmakers began what they promised would be an extensive effort to learn whether there was any political motivation or White House involvement in the agency’s recently acknowledged misdeeds.

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Roundup of news from across the nation

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:54:00 GMT

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev won’t be indicted within the 30-day period prescribed under the Federal Speedy Trial Act but prosecutors said Friday they would ask for more time.

Sunday marks 30 days since Tsarnaev was arrested following the April 15 twin bombing that killed three people and injured more than 260. Tsarnaev, 19, is charged with using a weapon of mass destruction in the April 15 bombings. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

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Shareholders press companies to disclose more about political spending

Dina ElBoghdady — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:41:49 GMT

As regulators wrestle with whether to force companies to disclose more about their political spending, an increasing number of shareholders are taking matters into their own hands, thrusting the issue before boards of directors at companies across the country.

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McDonnell’s disclosures highlight Virginia’s loose rules for personal gifts to politicians

Rosalind S. Helderman, Laura Vozzella — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:31:00 GMT

The owners of a vineyard who landed Virginia’s first deal to sell wine in China were so thankful for the help of the state officials who negotiated the agreement that they decided to show their gratitude.

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Cory Booker made $1.3 million from speeches over five years

Sean Sullivan — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:43:18 GMT

EARLIER ON THE FIX:

The worst week of Obama's presidency? Close, but no.

The IRS scandal: 'horrible customer service' or political malfeasance?

The impossibly complex world of campaign finance — in 1 chart

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The impossibly complex world of campaign finance -- in 1 chart

Chris Cillizza — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:02:25 GMT

One of the lessons the general public (or at least some of them) have learned from the Internal Revenue Service scandal is that the world of campaign finance -- who can raise and spend what, where they can get the money and who they need to tell about it -- is incredibly complex.

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Jennifer Rubin: Five questions about the AP surveillance

Jennifer Rubin — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:46:13 GMT

As is their pattern, defenders of the president offer a straw man in regard to the subpoena of Associated Press phone records: Shouldn't we investigate leaks?

Duh, yes. The entire question, however, revolves around the extent of the probe and its necessity. Only the Richard Nixon fan club would argue, for example, that it is okay to willy-nilly conduct surveillance of the press on a leak that wasn't actually a threat to national security.

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An ‘unthinkable’ IRS scandal? More like unavoidable.

Joseph J. Thorndike — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:14:30 GMT

‘Outrageous,” declared President Obama. “Unthinkable,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “Offensive,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).

There is no shortage of indignation over the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. And it would be outrageous — if it weren’t so predictable. It would be unthinkable if it hadn’t happened before. It would be offensive to Congress if it weren’t partly Congress’s fault.

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Jennifer Rubin: The week the dam broke for Obama

Jennifer Rubin — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:47:24 GMT

This was arguably the most consequential week of President Obama's second term, maybe of either. What changed?

The insanity of allowing the Internal Revenue Service to implement and police Obamacare reached its apex when ABC News reported:

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Jimmy Kimmel asks: Judge Judy for the Supreme Court? (VIDEO)

Sean Sullivan — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:46:16 GMT

ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" took to the streets of Los Angeles last week to ask people what they thought of President Obama nominating Judge Judy to the Supreme Court. Of course, Obama did no such thing. But that didn't stop some people from weighing in.

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Labor secretary nominee clears Senate committee

Josh Hicks — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:42:58 GMT

Thomas E. Perez, President Obama’s nominee for labor secretary, cleared a hurdle in his confirmation process Thursday as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to send his nomination to the full chamber.

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Roundup of news from across the nation

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:56:00 GMT

A second federal appeals court has found that President Obama exceeded his power when he bypassed the Senate to install a member on the National Labor Relations Board.

The ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia came on the same day that a Senate panel considered a slate of five nominees for full terms on the labor board. Senate Republicans said Thursday that they would oppose two of the nominees — Sharon Block and Richard Griffin — because they currently sit on the board as recess appointments.

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Obama’s labor board picks face opposition

Sam Hananel — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:11:44 GMT

Senate Republicans said Thursday that they would not support five nominees to the National Labor Relations Board, raising the possibility the troubled agency could be rendered mostly inoperable later this year.

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Greg Sargent: Happy Hour Roundup

Greg Sargent — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:46:17 GMT

* Must read from Ron Brownstein on how GOP scandal overreach risks empowering the party's extreme factions, setting the stage for failure to moderate on key issues, harming the party in future national elections.

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Court ruling unsealed in D.C. campaign investigation

Ann E. Marimow — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:17:53 GMT

A federal appeals court on Wednesday unsealed a recent opinion involving the ongoing investigation into D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s 2010 campaign.

The March ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit gave federal prosecutors the go-ahead to review millions of pages of records seized from the home and offices of D.C. businessman Jeffrey E. Thompson.

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Greg Sargent: IRS scandal overreach?

Greg Sargent — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:04:00 GMT

Today, House Republicans are voting to repeal Obamacare for the 37th time. But there's actually something new about today's repeal vote. Republicans believe they have a new weapon to use against Obamacare they didn't have before: The IRS scandal.

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Obamacare isn't getting repealed. But not because it's popular.

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:24:18 GMT

The GOP-controlled House will try for the 37th time later Thursday to repeal Obamacare. Like the first 36 times, the effort will gain no traction beyond the lower chamber.

Is that because of a Democratic Senate and White House? Absolutely. Is it because the law is popular? No, because it's not.

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Labor secretary nominee Perez clears early hurdle in confirmation

Josh Hicks — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:31:11 GMT

President Obama's pick for labor secretary cleared a minor hurdle in the confirmation process Thursday as a Senate committee voted to clear the nomination of Thomas Perez for consideration by the full Senate.

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Jennifer Rubin: Obamacare impacts hiring decisions

Jennifer Rubin — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:46:25 GMT

Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute explains the recent Gallup poll finding that "41% of small-business owners say they have held off on hiring new employees and 38% have pulled back on plans to grow their business":

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Perez confirmation saga continues with upcoming committee vote

Josh Hicks — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:01:29 GMT

A normally small confirmation hurdle turned into a more serious roadblock last week as Senate lawmakers postponed action on President Obama's pick for labor secretary.

The Senate committee that caused the delay is scheduled to pick up where it left off on Thursday as it votes on whether to move forward with confirmation proceedings for Thomas Perez, who currently heads the Justice Department's civil rights division.

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