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Senators have spent two days confronting nominee Elena Kagan with questions about abortion, gun rights and presidential power. But while she may not get their votes, even Republican leaders say it seems likely she will make it to the Supreme Court.

More than 2 million people are incarcerated in the United States, and the cost is becoming unbearable for many state and federal governments. Even some "tough-on-crime" conservatives are starting to call for the release of inmates.

Reports about what life is like inside the military prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay are not uncommon. But very little is reported about two units for convicted terrorists and other inmates who get 24-hour surveillance, right here in the U.S.

Earlier this year, the Obama administration said it would no longer defend the law that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman — a law the White House believes is unconstitutional. House Republicans said that decision gave them no other choice but to defend the law in court themselves.

A grand jury accuses Edwards of using presidential campaign funds to support his mistress and their child. Edwards concedes he did wrong, but says he did not break the law.

Secret recordings of hedge fund boss Raj Rajaratnam allowed prosecutors to demonstrate his intent to break the law and helped lead to his conviction on insider trading charges. The verdict sent a powerful message to prosecutors: Use more wiretaps to build business fraud cases.

Analysts say it would have been politically painful to decide not to bring campaign finance charges against the former presidential candidate. Edwards decided to take the chance of going to trial because prosecutors wouldn't promise no prison time in exchange for a guilty plea.

The 1984 killing of a woman near a busy Washington, D.C., street corner horrified the city and led to multiple convictions. Now the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project and a determined lawyer are raising questions about whether at least one man was wrongly accused.

"Given the ongoing threats facing the United States, as well as the leadership transitions at other agencies like the Defense Department and Central Intelligence Agency ... continuity and stability at the FBI is critical at this time," Obama says.

The House Homeland Security Committee holds a hearing Wednesday examining terrorist recruitment inside the walls of American jails and prisons. Experts say the number of criminals who turn to extremism behind bars is small but worrisome. Civil rights groups argue there's not enough evidence to hold a congressional hearing.