http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fjs1112.pdf
Offers data on the annual activity, workloads, and outcomes associated with the federal criminal justice system from arrest to imprisonment. See also the Federal Justice Statistics, Statistical Tables for 2011 and 2012. Also examines trends in drug arrests. From the Bureau of Justice Statistics
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/13-6827
Supreme Court decision that U.S. law permits a prisoner to grow a beard if it is in accord with his religious beliefs. Arkansas permitted beards only for prisoners with diagnosed skin conditions. From the Legal Information Institute of Cornell University
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/specpro.pdf
Considers the need for and process by which special prosecutors would be brought into play to carry out investigations of police use of deadly force and whether such incidents should involve federal authorities. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/13-604#writing-13-604_SYLLABUS
8-1 Supreme Court ruling that a cop’s reasonable mistake in interpreting the law was not sufficient cause to overturn a conviction. The case involved a defendant who was convicted of cocaine possession when his car was stopped for a broken brake light. The court ruled that searches and seizures based on mistakes of fact may be reasonable. From the Legal Information Institute of Cornell University
http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/same-sex-marriage-laws.aspx
Describes the status of same-sex marriage laws in the U.S., including a list of the states that currently allow same-sex marriage and a historical sketch of developments since 1993. From the National Conference of State Legislatures
Portraits and biographical information of justices who have served on the Supreme Court of Virginia. From the Virginia State Law Library
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2409071
The paper about how advocacy is infecting “friend of the court” briefs and damaging the impartiality of the judicial process which earned a William and Mary law school professor a guest spot on the Stephen Colbert show. William and Mary Law School Research Paper No. 09-273 From the Social Science Research Network
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43092.pdf
The Environmental Protection Agency has until December 1, 2014 to review and propose changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This report discusses the standard-setting process, the specifics of the current and most recent reviews of the current standards, and issues that may be raised such as whether the benefits justify the costs. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists