Law NPR stories on legal issues, court rulings, Supreme Court hearings, new laws and government investigations. Download the NPR Justice Talking podcast and subscribe to the Legal Affairs RSS feed.

Law

Emmitt Martin III, a former Memphis police officer (second from left) walks into federal court on Aug. 23 in Memphis, Tenn. Martin testified Tuesday that he punched a “helpless” Tyre Nichols. George Walker IV/AP hide caption

toggle caption
George Walker IV/AP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference Tuesday regarding an apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Fla. The governor announced the State of Florida's law enforcement will do its own investigation into the incident, which the FBI said "appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump' while he was golfing at Trump International Golf Club. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Emmitt Martin III, (second from left) a former Memphis Police Department officer who's accused of killing Tyre Nichols, walks into federal court on Aug. 23, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. George Walker IV/AP hide caption

toggle caption
George Walker IV/AP

American gymnast Jordan Chiles admires her bronze medal after the women's floor final at the Paris Summer Olympics on August 05, 2024. On Monday, her attorneys filed a formal appeal with a Swiss court after a delayed appeal led to the stripping of her medal. Naomi Baker/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Then-President Bill Clinton (left) hugs then-Sen. Joe Biden on Sept. 13, 1994, during a signing ceremony for the crime bill on the South Lawn of the White House. Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images

The conversation about public safety has changed a lot over the past 3 decades

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5103810/nx-s1-65f0a544-97a8-4a2b-83ae-759bd7940d9f" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

People gather outside the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee earlier this year. Voting rights groups challenging the state’s congressional map are counting on the court to reinstate a district that gave Black voters in the northern part of the state the opportunity to elect their candidate of choice. Brendan Farrington/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Brendan Farrington/AP

The Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based venture capital firm, will shutter its grant program for Black women as part of a settlement, ending a year-long affirmative action battle. Here, co-founders and CEOs of The Fearless Fund Arian Simone (center left) and Ayana Parsons (center right) speak to journalists outside federal court in Miami on Jan. 31. Rebecca Blackwell/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Rebecca Blackwell/AP

This combination photo shows, clockwise from top left, Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Korey Wise and Kevin Richardson, known as Central Park Five. AP/Invision hide caption

toggle caption
AP/Invision

This screen capture from bodycam footage of Miami-Dade Police shows an officer detaining Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill following a traffic stop on Sunday. Miami-Dade Police/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Miami-Dade Police/Screenshot by NPR

TYREEK HILL BODYCAM VIDEOS

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5106872/nx-s1-2c4c12e3-1d8c-4749-94f1-4585b4ff04ec" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The FBI's Most Wanted poster for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy refers to his aliases — including "The Appointed Son of God" and "Sir" — and lists the U.S. charges against him, including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; and bulk cash smuggling. FBI hide caption

toggle caption
FBI

This combo of booking images shows, from top row from left, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, bottom row from left, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith. Smith, Bean and Haley go on trial Monday in the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist who died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a 2023 traffic stop in Memphis. AP/Shelby County, Tenn. Sheriff's Office hide caption

toggle caption
AP/Shelby County, Tenn. Sheriff's Office

TYRE NICHOLS TRIAL

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5101989/nx-s1-35992fd1-9b29-4942-93f0-559d698dded1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference on May 31, 2024, after he was found guilty in his hush-money trial, making him the first former president to be convicted of crimes. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Judge delays sentencing timeline in Trump hush money case

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-21151/nx-s1-7337fd9b-06fb-4734-9dae-6bf5683a3269" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Comedian and actor Kenan Thompson speaks about Project 2025 on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago mocks Project 2025 a conservative roadmap for a second Trump term. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Project 2025: Political winner or loser?

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198913315/1258329675" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Colt Gray, charged as an adult with four counts of murder, sits in a Barrow County courtroom on Friday during his first appearance for the Wednesday shooting at Apalachee High School, in Winder, Ga. Brynn Anderson/AP/Pool hide caption

toggle caption
Brynn Anderson/AP/Pool

John Lauro (R), an attorney for former President Donald Trump, departs the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Court House in 2023. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Judge holds hearing on Trump election interference case

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5101698/nx-s1-6f4ab69d-00e9-4ff1-8062-f811c6b745a1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Hunter Biden arrives at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Del., in June during his trial on felony gun charges. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Hunter Biden trial kicks off

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5100805/nx-s1-3567f94a-3351-40dd-b6d4-bc82d4767277" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump, John Lauro (left) and Todd Blanche (second left), depart the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, D.C., in 2023, near a protester wearing a costume in Trump's likeness. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump Trial Preview

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5100177/nx-s1-b0ed8e50-28e8-4d6a-bda2-1bea740c07b5" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript