Guatemala's Constitutional Court Friday ordered charges dropped against soldiers accused of participating in a 1982 massacre of more than 300 civilians, citing the countrys's National Reconciliation Law . The law is a type of amnesty the Guatemalan Congress approved in November 1996, a few weeks before the government and ex-guerrillas signed peace accords ending the [...]

The appeals division of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia ruled Friday that the trial chamber of the same court had erred in its 2003 sentencing of former Bosnian Serb detention camp commander Dragan Nikolic . Nikolic, who personally tortured inmates with pipes and axe handles during the 1990s Balkans conflict, had been [...]

Hernandez and Cohen et al. v. Robles, New York Supreme Court, Justice Doris Ling-Cohan, February 5, 2005 . Excerpt: As a society, we recognize that the decision of whether and whomto marry is life-transforming. It is a unique expression of a private bond and profound love between a couple, and a life dream shared by [...]

Washington State Superior Court Judge John E. Bridges ruled in favor of Republicans Friday by allowing a court challenge to proceed against election totals that resulted in last month's swearing in of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire . Gregoire was declared the winner of the state gubernatorial election by only 129 votes out of 2.9 million [...]

In Friday's environmental law news, the Southeastern PA Transit Authority (SEPTA) has received $23 million as part of a settlement agreement to reimburse the company for cleanup at the Paoli Rail Yard Superfund site . The site was originally used (and polluted) by the Penn Central railroad which dissolved in bankruptcy in 1976, and was [...]

Leading Friday's corporations and securities law news, Washington state utility Snohomish Public Utility District has released audiotapes which reveal Enron's plan to take a power plant off-line in 2001 to create higher electric prices in western states. The tapes were released as part of an effort to void Enron's $122 million lawsuit seeking payment for [...]

New York State Supreme Court Justice Doris Ling-Cohan ruled Friday that New York's law banning same-sex marriages violates the state constitution. Read her 62-page opinion . If upheld on appeal, the decision would allow same-sex couples in the state to wed. Justice Ling-Cohan found in favor of five same-sex couples who were denied marriages licenses [...]

USA v. Philip Morris, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, February 4, 2005 . Excerpt: A group of cigarette manufacturers and related entities ("Appellants") appeal from a decision of the District Court denying summary judgment as to the Government's claim for disgorgement under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO" or "the [...]

The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled that federal law does not permit the goverment to seek a $280 billion penalty in its racketeering case against the tobacco industry. In its opinion , the court wrote: A group of cigarette manufacturers and related entities (“Appellants”) appeal from a decision of the [...]

Addressing US Department of Justice employees the day after being confirmed as US Attorney General , Alberto Gonzales said that the Justice Department's top priority will be "to protect this country against future acts of terrorism … in a way that is always consistent with our values and consistent with our legal obligations." During Gonzales' [...]