WASHINGTON, June 20 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in a historic decision Thursday that execution of the mentally retarded violates the Constitution's ban on "cruel and unusual" punishment.

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court is poised to begin its final month of the term with 31 cases still to be decided. Some of the cases are extremely controversial. Several will determine how American families live a significant portion of their lives, how they educate the

NEW HOSTAGE POLICY The State Department says a new U.S. policy on responding to hostage taking and kidnappings will focus more attention on the abduction of private U.S. citizens.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday heard argument on whether the execution of a person determined to be mentally retarded violated the constitutional ban on cruel

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) --

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court moves back to center stage next week, ending its mid-winter hiatus to deal with such high-profile issues as student vouchers and the execution