Democracy Now! June 26, 2012

June 26, 2012 from Democracy Now! via Creative Commons License BY-NC-ND

The Supreme Court has overturned key parts of Arizona's anti-immigrant law S.B. 1070 but upheld the law's controversial "show me your papers" provision. In a separate ruling, the court also said states may not impose mandatory life sentences without parole on children. And Sharif Abdel Kouddous reports on how Egypt's historic presidential election is being undermined by continued military rule. Plus headlines, and more.

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Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all federal courts and over state court cases involving issues of federal law, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases. The Court, which ... Explore this topic

US juvenile justice system

The American Juvenile Justice System is made up of a network of juvenile courts across the country. A juvenile court is a court that has special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not yet attained the age of majority. I... Explore this topic

Life imprisonment

Life imprisonment is any sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life or until paroled. Examples of crimes for which a person could receive this sentence include murder, severe child abuse, r... Explore this topic

Mandatory sentencing

A mandatory sentence is a court decision setting where judicial discretion is limited by law. Typically, people convicted of certain crimes must be punished with at least a minimum number of years in prison. Mandatory sentencing laws vary from country to country; it is mainly ... Explore this topic

Juvenile court

A juvenile court is a tribunal having special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not attained the age of majority. In most modern legal systems, crimes committed by children and minors are treated differently to the sam... Explore this topic

Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Kagan is the Court's 112th justice and fourth female justice. Kagan was born and raised in New York City. After attending Princeton, Oxford, and Harvard Law School, she completed federal Court of Ap... Explore this topic

Parole

Parole is the provisional release of a prisoner who agrees to certain conditions prior to the completion of the maximum sentense period. Originating from the French parole, the term became associated during the Middle Ages with the release of prisoners who gave their word. Explore this topic

Samuel Alito

Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and has served on the court since January 31, 2006. Raised in Hamilton Township, New Jersey and educated at Princeton University and Yale L... Explore this topic

Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights prohibiting the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments, including torture. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that th... Explore this topic

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan A. Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, and is a professor at New York University School of Law. He has gained national acclaim for his work challenging b... Explore this topic

Also See

Supreme Court of the United States

United States

Arizona SB 1070

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