In the Courts

DNA Seen Key to Rape Charges Against IMF Chief

By WeNews Staff ● Crime & Law ● May 17, 2011

New York prosecutors are investigating another possible assault by the IMF’s Strauss-Khan. In Sunday’s incident involving a maid at a luxury hotel the DNA evidence will be critical, says Wendy Murphy, a former sex crimes prosecutor.

Latest in In the Courts

Catholic Church Evades Sex Charges in South Dakota

By Stephanie Woodard ● Commentary ● April 8, 2011

Native Americans who attended Jesuit schools in the Northwest and Alaska just learned they will share in a $166.1 million settlement for offenses including childhood sexual abuse. But plaintiffs in South Dakota–nearly half of whom are women–face a legal barrier.

Zimbabwe Discourages Interest in Arab Uprisings

By Fazila S K Mahomed ● Crime & Law ● March 7, 2011

In Zimbabwe 45 people–including 11 women–were held in prison for over two weeks for gathering at a political meeting to watch news clips of the uprisings in North Africa. On Monday the group facing treason charges was narrowed to six.

FDA Asked to Rein in ‘Get Slim’ Surgery Ads

By Alizah Salario ● Health & Science ● February 22, 2011

Southern California billboard ads are criticized for their casual portrayal of Lap-Band weight-loss surgery in light of recent deaths linked to the surgery. On Feb. 16 the FDA approved the surgery for lower weight people.

Missouri Welfare Drug-Testing Bill Moves to Senate

By Katherine Rausch ● Employment ● February 11, 2011

Missouri’s State Senate is about to consider whether to subject welfare recipients to drug testing. Numerous other states have said no to the idea and an anti-poverty group has re-released a report calling it a waste of money.

Granite State May Pass Must-Tell Parents Law

By Sharon Johnson ● Employment ● January 14, 2011

New Hampshire may pass a parental notification law this year and spur other states to follow. Nebraska could take leadership on fetal pain legislation. The second of two stories on anti-choice momentum in the states after the 2010 elections.

Justice Scalia Makes the Case for E.R.A. Ratification

By Kimberly Voss ● Politics ● January 6, 2011

Justice Scalia’s recent comments about women’s limited protections under the 14th Amendment were no surprise to people familiar with his rulings. But they should be applauded for showing why we need to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

Senate TANF Vote Means Pink-Slips for Thousands

By Diana Spatz ● Employment ● October 1, 2010

Last week Congress let federal funding expire, potentially costing more than 200,000 parents and young people their jobs. In contrast to the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, the $1 billion program that created these jobs was actually working.

Battered Women Take Custody Battles to White House

By Mary Darcy ● Crime & Law ● May 5, 2010

Battered mothers often shy away from publicity. But this year, in a sign of their growing organization, some plan to spend Mother’s Day in Washington in a White House vigil to draw attention to a court system that often gives custody to abusers.

N.Y. Gov.’s Protection-Order Probe Spotlights Risks

By Tony Richards ● Crime & Law ● April 23, 2010

The protection order at the heart of an investigation of N.Y. Gov. Paterson lifts the lid on widespread difficulties surrounding this key piece of paper. Few victims of domestic violence ever obtain protection orders, an advocacy group finds.