115,000 Florida Ex-Felons Have Rights Restored: When ex-convicts in Florida wanted their civil rights restored, they used to have to petition the Board of Executive Clemency and undergo an individual hearing to determine whether or not the request should be granted. According to Bill Kaczor's story for the Associated Press, more than 115,000 ex-felons in Florida alone have had their rights restored since a new rule passed 14 months ago to make the process almost automatic in many cases.

Good Old-Fashioned Police Work Nabs "Untouchable" Drug Lord: David B. Caruso for the Associated Press reports that an almost six-year investigation has culminated in a guilty plea from Diego Murillo, the supposedly "untouchable" Colombian drug lord who was active for more than two decades. And it all began when NYPD detective John Barry started asking questions after an informant referenced "Don Berna", Murillo's business monicker. (Hat tip: US News & World Report)

Questionable Defense Appeals Postpone Texas Execution: Charles Hood was set to be executed on Wednesday night, but a flurry of last-minute procedural appeals by the defense lasted for so long that officials were concerned the lethal injection procedure would not be completed by the midnight deadline. Adam B. Ellick reports for the New York Times that the defense alleges "judicial prejudice" because of a rumored relationship between the trial judge and the prosecutor. Both the guilt phase and the sentencing phase were decided by a jury.

Checking Immigration Status for Certain Felonies Gaining Support: Jurisdictions all over the country are starting to look at including an immigration status check in the regular booking process for a laundry list of offenses, particularly violent felonies and gang-related crimes. Bill Brubaker of the Washington Post reports that Loudoun County, Virginia is the most recent to add the measure, supported by federal agents through the ICE program. A similar statute is part of California's Safe Neighborhoods Act, included on the November ballot.

CIA Director Addresses Legality Concerns at Gitmo: In a message to his employees, CIA Director Michael Hayden clarified the content of his February testimony to Congress, some of which had been distorted by the media. He specifically illustrated the point that the Department of Justice had deemed waterboarding legal at the time it was used in 2003, and that the extraordinary circumstances of the time period necessitated a swift and effective intelligence program. The Wall Street Journal published the text of Hayden's message.

Habitual Offender Narrowly Avoided "Three Strikes", Suspected in Deputy Slaying: Marco Antonio Topete, the primary suspect in the shooting death of Yolo County, CA Deputy Jose Antonio Diaz last Sunday, has repeatedly come into contact with the criminal justice system, including two violent felony convictions. Difficulties proving his culpability in some cases prevented him from being tried under "Three Strikes", but his record alone validates the need for habitual offender laws. Andy Furillo reports for the Sacramento Bee.