Federal Courts

As 2006 comes to a close, we look back at the year's biggest drug reform defeats, disappointments, and downers.

As 2006 comes to an end, we look back to find the most significant victories and advances for drug reform this year.

The DEA seized more than 30,000 plants from Eddy Lepp in 2004, calling it their biggest cultivation bust ever, but a judge this week threw out the evidence. Lepp has more battles ahead.

In a Tuesday decision, the US Supreme Court ruled that immigrants convicted of drug felonies under state law are not subject to mandatory deportation unless the offense is classified as a felony under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Observers had hoped the court would use the case to address the excesses of mandatory minimum sentences, but no such luck.

The US Supreme Court Monday refused to hear appeals of state court decisions limiting law enforcement's ability to conduct searches in two states.

As New Jersey's governor ponders whether to continue a consent decree designed to eliminate racial profiling by State Police, the ACLU says the problem is worse than ever.

Last year's Supreme Court decision making federal sentencing guidelines only advisory has led to confusion in the federal courts. Now the high court has agreed to hear two cases that could help stop the head-scratching--and maybe get some drug offenders some shorter sentences.

A South Dakota federal court judge has dismissed a challenge to the consitutionality of the Higher Education Act's drug provision.

If law enforcers stage a high-profile drug bust with the intention of influencing the outcome of the legislative process, is it lobbying?