In Other (Good) News

Lost in all the hub-bub of Boston, Ricin-laced envelopes and other top stories is this little tidbit.  The Supreme Court has tossed out a cynical attempt to raid and hamstring oil companies using a century old statute.

The Supreme Court Wednesday said a centuries-old statute making international law enforceable in U.S. federal court can't be applied to actions that take place overseas, blunting a tool human-rights groups had used against torturers and other abusers for violations in their home countries.

In an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that the Alien Tort Claims Act, adopted in 1789 shortly after Congress met for the first time, applies only to actions that take place in the U.S. While all justices voted to dismiss the suit against Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Justice Stephen Breyer, joined by three other liberals, disputed the bright line majority conservatives drew.