The ruling limits the amount of nitrogen oxide that states can emit into the atmosphere.

Chief Justice Roberts feared the Court's ruling would limit the ability of police to combat domestic violence.

Journalists and experts on the First Amendment to the Constitution said the ruling significantly limited the protections offered under the shield law.

It leaves some hope that future rulings will limit last week's damage to the wrenching circumstances of a single targeted abortion procedure.

The ruling may have limited impact, according to Floyd Abrams, a lawyer known for his expertise in First Amendment issues.

Such rulings do not limit his powers, Mr. Spitzer said.

Critics have argued that the ruling limits the rights of governments to set basic food-safety standards.

But this ruling will significantly limit the ability of the government and whistle-blowers to act against frauds involving Iraqi oil funds.

Mr. Hynes and several defense lawyers agreed, saying that the ruling would limit their discretion to negotiate plea arrangements.

Several 5-to-4 rulings sharply limited the jurisdiction of Federal courts to review state prison inmates' constitutional challenges to their state-court convictions or sentences.