Court Cases

Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, has taken to national television to promote his new book, Let It Go, and to express his views regarding the Trayvon Martin case, which has attracted worldwide attention since details of the Florida teen's shooting death were made public. The minister, whose book deals with forgiveness, says, in light of such cases, "Forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator."

In Let It Go: Forgive So You Can Be Forgiven, The Potter's House senior pastor speaks on the importance of forgiveness in living a full, happy life. Naturally, correspondents questioned Jakes about the topic of forgiveness in direct reference to the Trayvon Martin shooting, which has upset many Americans, including his parents, who are demanding justice.

Martin, 17, was walking home the night of Feb. 26 in a Sanford, Fla., gated residential community when he got into a violent confrontation with neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, 28. Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and white, shot and killed the African-American teen in what he says was self-defense, because Martin allegedly attacked him. However, the incident has given rise to a heated national discussion on racial profiling and has put Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows for use of deadly force as self-defense, under the microscope. more >>

All eyes have been on the Supreme Court for three days of testimony on Obamacare.

It is said that the high court has not heard as many oral arguments on any one case since the 1950s in the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education.

And well they should, since the overhaul of our health care system has strong implications for our national future. How free are we, ask limited government conservatives, when the government can dictate that we must buy a product? more >>

Democratic strategist James Carville was one of the architects of Bill Clinton's victory in 1992 and has played a key role in party politics for the last 20 years. Now Carville is saying if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns parts of Obamacare, the Democrats may well benefit in the November elections.

"I think that this will be the best thing that ever happened to the Democratic Party because health care costs are gonna escalate unbelievably," said Carville Tuesday on CNN's Situation Room. "I honestly believe this, this is not spin."

Carville was referring to the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act that came under scrutiny this week when Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments on the provision that mandates that individuals buy health care insurance. more >>

As activists gathered in front of the Supreme Court this week to voice support for or opposition to the Affordable Care Act (2010), or "Obamacare," fellow Christians find themselves on both sides of the debate.

The rallies kicked off Sunday night with vigils as both sides prayed for opposite outcomes in the cases the Supreme Court would hear argued over the next three days. The politically liberal Christians, concerned about access to health care for the less fortunate, prayed for the court to uphold the law. Politically conservative Christians, concerned about the law's infringement upon individual liberty, asked that the law be struck down.

A supporter of the law, James Winkler, general secretary of the General Board of the Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, emphasized the need for health care reform and access to health insurance in a statement to the Center for American Progress, a liberal advocacy organization. more >>

Trayvon Martin's parents visited Congress Tuesday for a forum on hate crimes and racial profiling in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) organized the briefing in response to the February death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

"As I've said before and I'll say it again: Trayvon was our son, but Trayvon is your son," the late teen's mother, Sybrina Fulton, told Congress. "A lot of people can relate to the situation and it breaks their heart just like it breaks mine." more >>

After hearing the oral arguments in the Supreme Court case on the Affordable Care Act's (2010) individual mandate to purchase health insurance, court watching experts believe the mandate will be ruled unconstitutional.

"I think this law is in grave, grave trouble," CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin said after hearing Tuesday's arguments.

The justices appeared split along liberal/conservative lines. The questioning by the four liberal justices – Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor – appeared to defend the law. Conservatives Samuel Alito, John Roberts and Antonin Scalia appeared doubtful of the law's constitutionality. Clarence Thomas never asked questions during oral arguments, but usually sides with conservatives. And, Anthony Kennedy, who is usually the swing vote, appeared to side with the conservatives on the court. more >>