Top CNS stories for today including a Florida judge declaring a mistrial in the case of a woman charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill her newlywed husband; an FBI agent testifies that accused Charleston, S.C. church gunman Dylann Roof methodically staked out his target; California asks President Barack Obama to make offshore drilling ban permanent; the Vermont Supreme Court upholds the firing of a state-employee whose gross misconduct as a juror led to the reversal of a guilty verdict in a murder trial, and more.
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1.) Judge Declares Mistrial in Fla. Murder-for-Hire Case
A mistrial was declared Wednesday in the trial of a Florida woman charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill her newlywed husband, a case that went viral after it was featured on the “Cops” television show.
2.) Accused Church Gunman Staked Out Crime Scene
An FBI agent testifying in the federal death penalty trial of accused Charleston church gunman Dylann Roof on Tuesday said the young man visited the city several times in the months leading up to the murders.
3.) ‘Stand Up’ for Slain Inmate, Prosecutor Says
Heaping scorn on a corrections officer who kicked a Rikers inmate to death, a federal prosecutor told jurors Wednesday that the guard kept news coverage of the attack framed in his bedroom as a “trophy.”
4.) California Asks Obama to Make Offshore Drilling Ban Permanent
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday asked President Barack Obama to permanently ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in the state before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
5.) Attorneys Clash on Giving Cosby Accusers a Platform
An attorney for Bill Cosby appeared livid on Wednesday as prosecutors described the allegations of 13 women who missed the statute of limitations to accuse the comedian of having drugged and assaulted them.
6.) Reporter Sues for Records on FBI’s Role in Election
Vice News reporter Jason Leopold sued the Department of Justice on Tuesday for a laundry list of information that could shed more light on the FBI’s actions in the weeks before the presidential election.
7.) Vermont Court Says Jury Misconduct Justified Firing
The Vermont Supreme Court upheld the firing of a state employee whose gross misconduct as a juror on a capital-murder trial led to the reversal of a guilty verdict.
8.) Screenwriter Settles Fight Over Bowe Bergdahl Tapes
Screenwriter-reporter Mark Boal has settled his legal fight with an Army prosecutor who subpoenaed his audio interviews with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who is charged with deserting his post in Afghanistan.
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