The Law: Decisions

U.S. justice may be governed by laws rather than men, but statutes and precedents cannot cover every novel situation. It is often a judge ruling on an appeal who decides how the law meshes with the facts. Recent examples:

> Bill Raymond, 12, of Sacramento, Calif., snooped around his father's bedroom and found a leafy substance in a dresser drawer. The boy shared his discovery with a deputy sheriff who told the youth that it was marijuana. Later, while another sheriff's man waited in a nearby car, the youth again searched the bedroom and came up with more...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!