As Iraqi Militants Launch New Attacks, Maliki Rejects Unity Government
By Shashank Bengali, Los Angeles Times BAGHDAD — Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday sharply rejected calls to form a national unity government, striking a defiant tone in the face of U.S. pressure to share more political power as a rebellion by Sunni Muslim insurgents threatens his grip on the country. Maliki’s rivals have […]
Supreme Court Rejects Florida’s Death-Penalty IQ Cutoff
By Michael Doyle, McClatchy Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — A closely divided Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down Florida’s strict IQ cutoff for determining a convicted criminal’s eligibility for the death penalty. In a 5-4 ruling that affects other states as well, the court concluded that Florida’s rigid IQ threshold of 70 “disregards established medical practice” and […]
Supreme Court Rejects Free-Speech Suit From Anti-Bush Protesters
By David G. Savage, Tribune Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — The free-speech right to protest against the president does not guarantee that opponents can be as close to the chief executive as supporters, the Supreme Court said Tuesday, throwing out a suit brought by critics of former President George W. Bush. Instead, the justices said Secret Service […]