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Wiretap-case judge has ties to ACLU

WASHINGTON — Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who last week ruled President Bush's wiretapping program unconstitutional, serves as a trustee and officer for a Detroit nonprofit group that has given at least $125,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan, a plaintiff in the case.

Judicial Watch, a conservative group, said Tuesday that the relationship poses a possible conflict for Taylor; it called for further investigation.

Legal ethicists said Tuesday that Taylor's connection to the group would not necessarily disqualify her from the case.

"I don't think there's a clear answer as to whether she should have disqualified herself," said Steven Lubet, a law professor at Northwestern University who was an author of "Judicial Conduct and Ethics," "but at a minimum she should have disclosed it."

Medicare-coverage letters sent in error

WASHINGTON — About 230,000 Medicare recipients are getting checks that erroneously reimburse them for monthly premiums they have paid for prescription-drug coverage this year.

The checks average about $215. They are accompanied by a letter that mistakenly tells them the Social Security Administration will no longer deduct monthly premiums for drug coverage from their Social Security checks.

Medicare officials were sending a second letter Tuesday instructing benficiaries not to cash the checks and assuring them that their drug coverage will continue.

JonBenet suspect waives extradition

LOS ANGELES — John Mark Karr waived extradition to Colorado on Tuesday to face murder charges in the slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey.

It was unclear when the 41-year-old teacher would be transferred.

Paramount tells Tom Cruise it's over

LOS ANGELES — Paramount Pictures is ending its 14-year-old ties to Tom Cruise's production company because of his off-screen behavior, Sumner Redstone, the chairman of the studio's parent company said Tuesday. Cruise's representatives had no immediate comment.

In May, a USA Today/Gallup poll reported that half of those surveyed had an "unfavorable" opinion of the actor. Many cited his outspoken defense of his Scientology religion and his blunt criticism of psychiatry.

From cell, ex-mayor asks city for money

WATERBURY— A former mayor now serving 37 years on federal child-sex charges claims the city owes him tens of thousands of dollars for vacation, sick days and personal days he never took before his arrest.

Philip A. Giordano sent a letter to the special counsel to Mayor Michael J. Jarjura demanding that the city pay him about $61,000 for 13 weeks of vacation, 99 sick days and 27 personal days.