Top 10 Legal Stories of the Decade
The last decade saw a number of landmark events that helped define the American justice system, and will impact us in the decades to come. Below are just a few from the 2000’s that were particularly noteworthy:
1. Bush versus Gore: On December 12, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court issued it’s ruling which effectively decided the presidential election. Never before had the American public seen such a close presidential election (the final disparity of votes in the decisive Florida count was a few hundred votes), and never before had the Supreme Court been asked to basically choose our president.
2. Partial Birth Abortion Prohibition Upheld: In the 2007 decision, Gonzales v. Carhart, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision, which, for the first time since abortion was legalized in this country in 1973’s Roe v. Wade, approved a major restriction on abortion rights. Many felt signaled a shift in the Court’s willingness to reexamine the abortion issue.
3. Execution of Juveniles is Banned: In 2005, the Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to put to death juvenile offenders, overturning 25 state statutes that had set the age lower (Roper v. Simmons).
4.Patriot Act: ON October 26, 2001, President George W. Bush signed into law the USA Patriot Act. A response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, the controversial law gave the federal government broad powers to intercept telephone and email communications, and significantly loosened the rules of foreign intelligence gathering on American soil.
5.Madoff Jailed: After orchestrating what most observers believe to be the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, Bernie Madoff pleads guilty to 11 felonies in March of 2009.
6.Spitzer Resigns: Ending what seemed to be a promising political future, Eliot Spitzer resigns as governor of New York on March 17, 2008 after being caught in a humiliating prostitution ring. A fiercely zealous former prosecutor, Spitzer sent to prison top leaders of the Gambino crime syndicate.
7.Same Sex Marriage Gains in Acceptance: In the past decade, same sex marriage was legalized in four states: Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa and Connecticut. Notwithstanding the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), state law in this country has primarily governed family law, and that’s where these controversial battles will continue to play out in the decade to come.
8.Guantanamo Prison: This facility, operated by the U.S. Navy on the coast of Cuba, has been the subject of numerous headlines and controversies. Chief among these include the 2006 Supreme Court decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld granting detainees certain protections under the Geneva Convention, and the 2009 decisions by President Obama to both close the base and try 9/11 mastermind in a civilian courtroom in New York City, rather than by military commission at the Base.
9.Lisbon Treaty Ratified: In November of 2009, all 27 member states of the European Union ratified this international treaty which brings the nations of Europe closer to a common governmental system than ever. Among other things, it creates a European Parliament and gives new powers to the European Court of Justice.
10. Sonia Sotomayor: In August of 2009, Sotomayor became the first Hispanic woman to take a seat on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court, further showing the emergence of Hispanics’ influence in our country.
Located in Denver (303) 299-9484 and Fort Collins (970) 472-1838, The Harris Law Firm is Colorado's largest family law firm. Focusing exclusively on Colorado Divorce and Colorado Child Custody and Support, the firm's philosophy is to work with you to resolve your legal matter in the best way possible. When you consult with one of our attorneys, the expert legal advice you receive will help you understand your rights and options according to Colorado law. And when you retain this AV rated firm, the many years of combined experience provided by your legal team will ensure that the resolution of your case is handled in the most organized, timely, cost efficient and effective manner possible. If you want to limit conflict and protect your rights, call us today to schedule a private consultation in our Denver or Fort Collins offices. Call us at 303 299 9484 or send us an email at info@harrisfamilylaw.com.
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