Ever since January, when Baltimore Circuit Court Judge M. Brooke Murdock ruled that Maryland's law banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory and unconstitutional, the state has been a major battle ground for same-sex marriage advocates around the country. Today, Maryland's Court of Appeals put an effective end to this chapter of the struggle's future in the state, ruling that the ban does not violate Maryland's state constitution. The Associated Press via WTOP has more on the... more ›

Due to the delays at some Montgomery County polls this morning, a Circuit Court judge has issued an order that the stations will stay open until 9 p.m. tonight. As we noted earlier, some polls were missing the automated cards needed for the electronic voting machines, and only a short supply of provisional paper ballots were available. more ›

This graffiti's sentiment notwithstanding, today the Democratic voters of the city will express their concerns and hopes for the city through their ballots, and, in the process, likely determine what most of the city's government will look like for the next few years. You can find your polling place here, and the Post's election guide here. Redskins Fall To Vikings: You probably don't need to be told, but we'll say it anyway. Last night the... more ›

Good morning, Washington. If you're reading this, we're guessing that you're stuck in an otherwise desolate office, playing on the internet and counting the hours until you can start making merry. Personally, we're counting the hours until we begin our Christmas shopping. DCist wishes all of you a safe and happy holiday weekend.

McDonnell Declared Va. Attorney General: A remarkably close electoral battle is over, and Robert McDonnell is the victor. The Washington Times reports that the Republican candidate's victory over R. Creigh Reeds was made official yesterday by the Richmond Circuit Court. The final margin was 360 votes — a mere 0.0166% gap.

Warner Pardons Men Cleared By DNA Evidence: We've written before about Phillip Thurman and Willie N. Davidson, the two Virginia inmates whose innocence was recently proven by a better-late-than-never examination of genetic evidence. Yesterday their exoneration was made official: Governor Warner pardoned both men, who had served twenty and eleven years in prison, respectively. Three other men were also cleared by the evidence review. Governor Warner has ordered an expanded examination of old DNA evidence as a result.

Teacher Charged With Bizarre Threats: Forty year old Michelle Dohm has been accused of stalking students and making bomb threats at Thurmont, Md.'s middle school. The former sixth grade teacher has been fired. The charges she's facing carry a maximum penalty of 100 years in prison.

Briefly Noted: Man robbed in Towson Center Mall bathroom... Carry-on ban on scissors and similar items officially over... Soybeans are now Va.'s top crop... Post recounts amazing story of woman's lost and found thesis... Pitbull owner convicted of involuntary manslaughter...

Tom Cruise may think psychiatry is bunk, but luckily for today's mentally ill defendants, one D.C. court is responsible for reminding us of its place in the law. Judge David Bazelon (at right), one of the greats of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, single-handedly reshaped the insanity defense. The old rule, a British import, simply did not fit with the state of medicine in 1954. Though Bazelon's new rule placed great faith in science, history has shown that Americans today are still not quite comfortable accepting it. more ›

In national news with local relevance, the Supreme Court ruled today that the federal government has the power to prosecute medical users of marijuana, even in states who have passed laws allowing the use of the drug under certain circumstances. Eleven states currently allow the use of marijuana if prescribed by a doctor -- among those Montana, Oregon, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii and five others -- a state of affairs that the 9th U.S. Circuit... more ›