Law

In a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, Sen. Dick Durbin writes that the Senate Judiciary Committee will soon hold a hearing on the Supreme Court's ethical standards in the wake of a news report about lavish trips Justice Clarence Thomas took from a friend — a major GOP donor — but did not disclose.

Politics & Government

Senate panel will hold a hearing on the Supreme Court's ethical standards

5:03pm April 10, 2023

by Washington Desk

The hearing — which will happen "in the coming days," says Sen. Dick Durbin — comes in the wake of a news report about lavish trips Justice Clarence Thomas took from a friend but did not disclose.

Behind one Nebraska lawmaker's filibuster to oppose anti-LGBTQ legislation

4:16pm April 10, 2023

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Nebraska state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, a Democrat, about her weeks-long filibuster over a bill she says is "legislating hate."

Access to mifepristone, a widely used abortion medication, is in jeopardy after a pair of conflicting court rulings on Friday.

What's next for the abortion pill mifepristone?

3:31pm April 10, 2023

Access to mifepristone, a medication that is used in about half of all abortions nationwide, hangs in the balance of two contradictory court rulings. A date with the Supreme Court is all but certain.

Whitney Mitchell (center), Garrett Foster's fiancée, leads a march for Foster in July of 2020, after Foster was shot and killed at a Black Lives Matter protest. Sgt. Daniel Perry has been found guilty of murdering Foster — but Gov. Greg Abbott wants to pardon Perry.

National

What to know as Gov. Abbott pushes to pardon a man who was just convicted of murder

2:16pm April 10, 2023

by Bill Chappell

Sgt. Daniel Perry hasn't been sentenced in the killing of Garrett Foster. But the pardons board is already starting to review his case, at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request.

Supreme Court justices pose for a group photo in April 2021.

Politics & Government

Why it's unlikely ethics rules on Supreme Court gift disclosures will work

2:13pm April 10, 2023

by Destinee Adams

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas may not comply with stricter disclosure rules, according to a legal expert who says, "They're the Supreme Court. They do what they want."

Queue Listen Now

The future availability of abortion pills remains uncertain after conflicting rulings

2:05pm April 10, 2023

A conflicting and confusing set of federal court rulings Friday is leaving abortion providers in the U.S. uncertain about the future availability of abortion pills.

Queue Listen Now

Politics & Government

Meet the chief federal judge overseeing several high-profile Trump grand jury probes

10:43am April 10, 2023

by Carrie Johnson

Jeb Boasberg is taking over as chief judge of the federal district court in Washington as grand jury investigations of former President Donald Trump intensify.

Queue Listen Now

Arguments that trans athletes have an unfair advantage lack evidence to support

9:03pm April 09, 2023

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with geneticist Dr. Eric Vilain about a spate of laws targeting trans athletes.

Queue Listen Now

Chelsea Manning was held at this military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., pictured in 2009.

National

Chelsea Manning had to fight to transition in prison. She wants better for others

7:26pm April 09, 2023

by Jaclyn Diaz

Manning first came to public scrutiny and was incarcerated for leaking classified information. She aims to use that attention to shed light on the struggles trans people face in U.S. prisons.

Wisconsin race puts renewed attention on state supreme courts and shadow dockets

5:11pm April 09, 2023

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet about the recent race for a seat on that court and why people should pay more attention to state shadow dockets.