For the second straight day, gay marriage was the question before the U.S. Supreme Court—this time whether the court should strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act that denies federal benefits to gay couples who have been legally wed in states that permit same-sex marriage. Though it’s impossible to tell which way the court [...]
Supreme Court Justices May Be Leaning Toward Striking Down Federal Marriage Ban
March 27, 2013 | Posted by
Supreme Court Reluctant to Make Broad Statement on Gay Marriage
March 26, 2013 | Posted by
In a circuslike atmosphere of anticipation and excitement, the Supreme Court today heard arguments for the first time on the legality of gay marriage. Court watchers scrutinizing the proceedings concluded that the justices still appear reluctant to wade into the broad “uncharted waters” of the issue. With thousands of demonstrators outside the courthouse, and lawyers [...]
Supreme Court Adds 2nd Affirmative Action Case to Docket
March 25, 2013 | Posted by
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a second case on the use of affirmative action, announcing Monday that it will examine Michigan’s ban on racial considerations in college admissions and professional hiring. The court is currently hearing a case filed against the University of Texas for discrimination against whites in admissions. In 2006, [...]
Kenya’s Supreme Court Orders Partial Recount Before Ruling on Vote Challenge
March 25, 2013 | Posted by
Kenya’s Supreme Court today ordered a recount of the ballots cast at 22 polling stations during presidential elections held earlier this month. The court is considering a petition filed by outgoing Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga that challenges his election loss to Uhuru Kenyatta. “The re-tally shall aim at establishing whether the number of votes [...]
Advocates Claim Texas Death Row Inmate Was Victim of Racial Bias
March 21, 2013 | Posted by
After Duane Buck was convicted of murder for the 1995 shooting death of his ex-girlfriend and her acquaintance in Houston, a psychologist testified that blacks were more likely than whites to be violent re-offenders if they were ever released back into the public—a claim emphasized by the prosecutor during closing arguments. Buck was sentenced to death [...]
Touré Tears Into Antonin Scalia Over ‘Racial Entitlement’ Argument
March 2, 2013 | Posted by
MSNBC co-host Touré on Friday scolded Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia for arguing against the Voting Rights Act and calling the effect of that legislation a “racial entitlement.” Touré, who appeared with MSNBC host Martin Bashir, found the argument Scalia advanced offensive and called the language the justice used “completely racist.” “I don’t think that’s [...]
Obama Asks Supreme Court to Strike Down California’s Gay Marriage Ban
March 1, 2013 | Posted by
President Obama yesterday turned his rhetoric into action, filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court forcefully arguing that the court should strike down California’s ban on gay marriage. It was an unprecedented move by a White House, to weigh in so clearly on one of the most contentious social issues of our time. But [...]
Obama Tries to Ease Fears as Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Voting Rights
February 22, 2013 | Posted by
President Obama yesterday attempted to ease fears that the Supreme Court is poised to strike down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act when it hears oral arguments next week in an Alabama case. Obama said while he hopes the justices leave the law intact, voters still will have other means to ensure they [...]
NAACP, Latino Group Demanding More Diversity in Obama’s Administration
January 24, 2013 | Posted by
Minority leaders are calling on President Barack Obama to introduce more diversity into his administration, as he revamps his Cabinet for his second term. The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a joint coalition of 30 Latino groups, has issued a letter requesting that the president name three Latinos to his Cabinet from a list of 19 [...]
Black Conservatives Hope Supreme Court Drops Black Voter Protections
January 18, 2013 | Posted by
As part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 comes up for challenge this year before the Supreme Court, a group of black conservatives is fervently hoping that the court strips away the protection the federal government has given African-Americans in certain regions of the country that have a discriminatory past. The act, signed by [...]
