The U.S. Supreme Court on June 5 ruled unanimously that Wisconsin violated the First Amendment by not granting a Catholic charity an exemption from paying unemployment tax. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the 9–0 opinion in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin … Continue reading Supreme Court rules 9–0 Wisconsin violated First Amendment by denying tax exemption to Catholic charity
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 5 ruled unanimously in favor of an Ohio woman who alleged that the state of Ohio demoted her because she is heterosexual. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote the court’s 9–0 opinion in Ames v. Ohio … Continue reading Supreme Court sides with heterosexual state employee who claimed job discrimination
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 4 declined to shield the identities of police officers fighting a public records request for information about their attendance at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally at the U.S. Capitol. The new ruling came after the Washington Supreme Court ruled in February that the Seattle officers do not have a right to remain anonymous. No justices dissented in the high court’s ruling in John Does 1, 2, 4, and 5 v. Seattle Police Department. Justice Samuel Alito attached a statement explaining his reasoning, and Justice Clarence Thomas joined the statement. The four unidentified current and … Continue reading Supreme Court declines to shield identities of police who attended Jan. 6 Capitol rally
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on June 2 to consider whether police need to obtain a warrant to enter a home in an emergency. According to the appeal, a man was allegedly suicidal but was charged with assault after the … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear case about police entering homes in emergencies
The Supreme Court decided on June 2 to consider whether a U.S. soldier should be allowed to sue a defense contractor over a suicide bombing during U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. The court granted the petition in Hencely v. Fluor … Continue reading Supreme Court will consider reviving injured soldier’s negligence lawsuit against contractor
The Supreme Court said on June 2 that it will consider a congressman’s challenge to an Illinois law that allows ballots received up to 14 days after Election Day to be counted. A victory for the petitioner, Rep. Michael Bost … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear congressman’s challenge to state ballot-counting law
The Supreme Court is heading into its summer recess, which means that the justices will be issuing a series of highly anticipated decisions throughout June. These decisions could yield significant precedents that ripple through the national political environment, affecting congressional and executive agendas alike. So far, the court has already released rulings on electronic cigarettes, a deportation case, ghost guns, and TikTok. Here are the decisions to look out for as the term comes to a close. 1. ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Minors In December 2024, the justices were called upon to enter the gender debate by hearing arguments over Tennessee’s attempt … Continue reading Top 9 Supreme Court decisions to watch for in June
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an inmate’s argument that federal courts may consider his claim of innocence when deciding whether to reduce his sentence under the First Step Act. The bipartisan measure approved by Congress and signed by President … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear prisoner’s appeal seeking reduced sentence under First Step Act
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 29 gave a boost to a proposed railroad to transport crude oil in Utah, narrowing the reach of a federal environmental impact law used to block the project. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote the court’s … Continue reading Supreme Court votes 8–0 to narrow scope of environmental reviews
The Supreme Court on May 27 ordered a lower court to take another look at whether a Minnesota police officer may be sued for using excessive force during a riot. The Supreme Court’s decision in Bauer v. Marks took the … Continue reading Supreme Court overturns ruling against policeman accused of injuring alleged rioter
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 27 turned away an appeal by Apache Indians who want to stop a copper mine from being developed on land they consider sacred. The court’s decision in Apache Stronghold v. United States took the … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t hear tribal challenge to copper mine
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 27 turned away a lawsuit that claimed a federal appeals court ruling jeopardizes airline employees’ legal rights. The Supreme Court’s new decision in Bahreman v. Allegiant Air LLC and Transport Workers Union of America … Continue reading Supreme Court will not hear challenge to fees paid to union by non-union airline staff
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 27 declined to accept a student’s challenge to a Massachusetts school’s decision to ban his “there are only two genders” T-shirt. The court’s decision in L.M. v. Town of Middleborough took the form of … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t hear student’s challenge to school ban on ‘two genders’ shirt
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal conviction of a government contractor for defrauding a Pennsylvania state transportation program even though there was no financial loss. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the court’s 9–0 opinion in Kousisis v. United … Continue reading Supreme Court upholds fraud conviction of government contractor
The Supreme Court on May 23 temporarily blocked lower court orders requiring the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to respond to freedom of information requests in a pending lawsuit. President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14158 on Jan. 20, renaming … Continue reading Supreme Court temporarily shields DOGE from freedom of information requests
The Supreme Court on May 22 formally blocked lower court rulings that prevented President Donald Trump from firing members of independent labor boards. The new order in Trump v. Wilcox was unsigned. Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown … Continue reading Supreme Court allows Trump admin to remove labor board members for now
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 22 voted 4–4 to reject authorization for the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school. Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself and did not participate in the case known as Oklahoma Statewide Charter School … Continue reading Supreme Court deadlocks, leaves in place block on nation’s first religious charter school
The Supreme Court has turned away an appeal by a fireworks company challenging notices the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued that stated its products ran afoul of federal standards. The denial of the petition on May 19 in Jake’s Fireworks Inc. v. Consumer Product Safety Commission took the form of an unsigned order. No justices dissented. The court did not explain its decision. The dispute centers on a regulatory technicality. The company argued that the notices constituted final agency action by the CPSC that could be challenged in court under federal law; the CPSC argued the notices were not. … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t hear fireworks company’s dispute with consumer product regulator
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 20 reinstated a Maine state lawmaker’s speaking and voting privileges that had been suspended over her criticism of males participating in girls’ high school sports. In March, the speaker of the Maine House of Representatives … Continue reading Supreme Court reinstates Maine lawmaker suspended over transgender sports policy
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 19 temporarily blocked extradition proceedings against Indian citizen Monika Kapoor aimed at returning her to her home country where fraud charges are pending. Extradition is the process under which a person is transferred by … Continue reading Supreme Court temporarily pauses extradition proceedings against Indian citizen