Courts

Some Twin Cities area judges say they have a renewed passion for the American justice system after serving as the first U.S. judges to take part in the United Nation's mission in Kosovo. Judges from Hennepin, Ramsey and Dakota counties ruled on cases too sensitive for local judges: war crimes, ethnic disputes and organized crime.
The United States and Canada share 4,000 miles of border, and along that stretch, the U.S. Border Patrol has an agent every 16 miles. The border between the U.S. and Mexico is half as long, but there's an agent every 1,000 feet. That's about to change. Officials say the agency will be shifting personnel to shore up the northern patrol.
Studies continue to show that American students are largely ignorant of this country's past. On this 227th Fourth of July we'll find out why a civic education is important.
The war on terror has changed the lives of immigrants across America. For a young Somali truck driver in St. Paul named Mohamed Mohamed, it's meant an open-ended stay in a Minnesota prison. Now, he faces the prospect of years more.
In its latest round of opinions, the Supreme Court has ruled that Congress may force libraries to install anti-pornography filters on their computers or forego federal dollars. Critics argue filters violate the First Amendment and turn librarians into censors.
As the U.S. Supreme Court heads toward recess at the end of June, court watchers await some important decisions, including affirmative action, and the possible announcement of a vacancy. A look at how the current Supreme Court works together despite big differences.
The fate of the largest modern railroad expansion is now in the hands of a federal appeals court. A three-judge panel heard arguments in St. Paul on Wednesday in the case of the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad's $2 billion expansion, requiring hundreds of miles of new and rehabilitated track. It's all part of a plan to haul coal from Wyoming through South Dakota and Minnesota. A federal board approved that plan early last year. But it remains highly controversial, and opponents are challenging challenged the federal approval process.
Actions taken since by the U.S. since Sept. 11 have caused some human rights advocates to criticize this country for abuses. The former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says the U.S. can't hold itself too far above other governments that oppress their people.
The conceal and carry law has caused some expected and some unexpected ripples in the state. At least one city and a church are saying the right to carry concealed guns conflicts with current rules. Learn more about the Personal Protection Act.
The Patriot Act was designed make it easier to track down and stop potential terrorists. Some librarians say it threatens the privacy of people who visit the library.