• John Roberts, the chief justice of the United States, expressed concern during an address at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law about growing partisanship in the judicial confirmation process and a public perception that politics factor into the court's rulings.
• Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, used his Facebook page to announce that he would seek the presidency of his party, a first step toward declaring his candidacy to run once again for the presidency of France in 2017.
• Harold Murphy, a federal judge in Atlanta, tossed out a lawsuit filed against rapper Nicki Minaj by her former wig designer, Terrence Davidson, that claimed the performer and Pink Personality LLC broke implied contracts, reneged on discussions to start a reality TV show and a wig line, and misappropriated his designs.
• Martin MacNeill, 58, a Utah doctor convicted of murdering his wife, Michele, seven years ago by knocking her out with drugs prescribed after cosmetic surgery and leaving her to die in a bathtub, was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison.
• Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army chief of staff, said in Washington that he believes he will be able to put women in the Ranger course next spring in one of the first steps toward allowing women to move into more grueling combat jobs.
• Richard Skouby, a municipal court judge in Belle, Mo., announced a new policy that allows offenders in the town of 1,500 to spend two hours standing on a downtown "Corner of Shame" holding a sign describing their offenses, rather than submit to jail time for some convictions.
• Jonathan Haber, deputy police chief in Balch Springs, Texas, said authorities are investigating a city councilman, Wanda Adams, who police say called 911 from a Dollar General store to test their response.
• Jim Bailey, 69, of Oak Harbor, Wash., was arrested by police who say he pretended to be a retired officer for two decades and recently intervened in a fight between a couple in a car, telling a witness to call 911.
• Mike Murphy, the coroner in Las Vegas, said no crime was committed by Carlena Walker, 25, who told authorities investigating a shooting in her apartment complex that she kept the remains of her miscarried pregnancy in a jar in the freezer for nearly a year.
A Section on 09/20/2014