West Publishing and the Courts

By Tom Hamburger, Sharon Schmickle. and John Oslund For more than a century, West Publishing's word has been--quite literally--the law. As publisher of every important court decision, the company has become a de facto arm of the courts. But why is West giving cash gifts and all-expense paid trips for federal judges, including members of the Supreme Court? Also questioned is the company's stance that it owns, in essence, the copyright on every state and federal law.

Blunder From Down Under

By Simone Wilson Jack London saw it as a way to get rich quick, and 19th century Californians planted it everywhere. It smells nice and grows like a weed -- but it also burns like a torch and falls on your head. Our least-loved tree: the mighty eucalyptus.