Outside the Beltway

The most novel argument yet against capital punishment.

It seems improbable, but the national landscape on same-sex marriage is changing so quickly that even the Republican Party may find itself changing faster than some might think.

A big step forward for the challenge to state-based bans on same-sex marriage.

A New York Federal Judge has ruled that unvaccinated children can be forced to stay home during outbreaks.

A legal setback for Voter ID laws in Wisconsin.

Continuing the discussion from earlier this week on hate crimes.

Republicans attack an attorney for doing his job. So much for that whole “constitutional conservative” thing, I guess.

The Supreme Court may have just found a way to end the debate over Affirmative Action in education.

The string of victories for same-sex marriage continues as a Federal Judge rules that the Commonwealth of Kentucky must recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages.

Another victory for marriage equality. This time from the state that gave us the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on interracial marriage.

Chief Justice Roberts is sounding the alarm over deep cuts to the public defender program.

A Federal Judge in New York upholds, for the most part, that state’s new gun control law.

A victory for same-sex marriage in an unlikely place.

A Federal District Court Judge struck down part of Utah’s law against polygamy brought by the stars of TLC’s “Sister Wives.”

Should states have the right to ban affirmative action? The Supreme Court will decide that this term.

If Congress isn’t able to reach a deal, the big problem going forward would be uncertainty.

They’re back…….

A Federal Judge has declared the NYPD’s “stop & frisk” policy to be unconstitutional.

A case from Nevada provides another example of police abuse, and a possible claim arising under the long-forgotten Third Amendment.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Affirmative Action in education didn’t go as far as many thought it would, but it’s future in the near-term seems fairly clear.

Why did House Republicans vote overwhelmingly for a bill that their own theories would find to be unconstitutional?

Today’s hearing on Proposition 8 left some wondering if the Court may end up punting the case away.

The Obama Administration has weighed in on the Supreme Court’s other high profile same-sex marriage case.

Welcome to the latest crazy scheme to avoid reality.

Resurrecting and old, and bad, idea.

Are we really going to do this again? The answer appears to be yes.

Could a coin like this solve the looming debt ceiling crisis?

Sharing some thoughts and soliciting feedback on what the 2nd amendment means.

Possibly a big week for the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court seems likely to severely limit the use of race-based preferences at public universities

Another legal victory for the Obama campaign in Ohio.

The Court’s 2012-2013 term begins tomorrow morning, and there are plenty of big cases on the docket.

The Defense of Marriage Act is under challenge through a unique angle: estate taxes.

The GOP Platform will include an abortion plank that Todd Akin would love.

..because apparently we can apply a modern definition of “arms” to the constitution, but not modern understandings of the word “citizens.”

What does the US Constitution actually provide in terms of guidance for governance?

Opponents of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United continue to miss the point of what the case was really about.

The US Supreme Court has upheld the most controversial provisions of Arizona’s immigration law.

The 1976 Pulitizer prize winner is phoning it in.

Some thoughts on the potential impact of the President’s announcement on same-sex marriage.

Rush Limbaugh may be a jerk, but he has a right to be a jerk.

A victory for proponents of same-sex marriage today in the Ninth Circuit.