Law

U.S. Postal police walk with Ryan Loskarn, center, chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, Wednesday, in Washington D.C. Alexander has replaced his chief of staff after learning the staffer's home was being searched as part of a child pornography investigation. (AP/WJLA TV)

Fired US Sen. Lamar Alexander staffer expected in court

Associated Press · December 12, 2013 5:00 am

President Obama on Thursday welcomed the late-night Senate confirmation of Nina Pillard to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the latest successful appointment for the White House in the wake of new rules for approving executive nominations. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Obama hails confirmation of Nina Pillard to DC Circuit Court

Brian Hughes · December 12, 2013 5:00 am

The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals building in Atlanta, Georgia. Its territory comprises the highest percentage of blacks of any federal judicial circuit in the country. (John Bazemore/Associated Press)

Washington Secrets

8-year study: Black federal judges ‘conditioned’ to go easy on fellow blacks

Paul Bedard · December 12, 2013 5:00 am

A New Jersey Assembly committee is expected to advance a bill granting cheaper in-state tuition to students living in the U.S. illegally. A dozen states have similar laws, including Texas.(AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bob Andres)

Immigrant tuition bill expected to move forward

Associated Press · December 12, 2013 5:00 am

Michigan lawmakers have finished approving bills to block welfare recipients from withdrawing their taxpayer-provided cash from ATMs in liquor stores, horse tracks and strip clubs. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Bills blocking welfare recipients from ATMs OK’d in Michigan

Washington Examiner · December 11, 2013 5:00 am

A computer screen in Atlantic City, N.J., shows a 9-cent bet about to be made on an Internet gambling site on Nov. 21. (AP File)

Congressional subcommittee weighs online gambling

Washington Examiner · December 11, 2013 5:00 am

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, predicted the Supreme Court will rule against President Obama in a lawsuit over his recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. (Photo: Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)ÃÂ

Beltway Confidential

Mike Lee authors bill to prevent Obama from pushing churches to support gay marriage

Joel Gehrke · December 11, 2013 5:00 am

FILE - This is an undated file photo showing an aerial view of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, Vt. (AP Photo/Vermont Yankee Corporation, File)

Energy and Environment

Court: Tax on Vermont nuclear plant might be OK

Washington Examiner · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

President Obama gestures while nominating Patricia Ann Millett, an appellate lawyer, to become a federal judge, during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House on June 4, 2013 in Washington, D.C. If confirmed by the Senate, Obama's three nominees will fill three vacancies on United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty images)

Powerful D.C. Circuit Court has Democratic majority bench for first time since Reagan

Sean Lengell · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

Energy and Environment

Supreme Court dives into Environmental Protection Agency cross-state pollution rule

Zack Colman · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

Supreme Court justices today rejected hearing the case of Unite Here Local 355 v. Martin Mulhall, a major case involving whether certain union organizing campaigns that involve agreements between labor leaders and employers are tantamount to bribery. The decision leaves intact a lower court ruling on the issue.

Beltway Confidential

Supreme Court drops major labor organizing case

Sean Higgins · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: Mitch McConnell speaks during the Congressional dedication of the bust of Winston Churchill on October 30, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)

Mitch McConnell: ‘The farm bill has become a food stamp bill’

Washington Examiner · December 9, 2013 5:00 am