The Supreme Court on Feb. 25 is considering what factors federal judges may weigh when revoking a person’s supervised release and sentencing him or her for violating release conditions. In supervised release, a prisoner is released from custody but is … Continue reading Supreme Court hears dispute over supervised release conditions
The Supreme Court decided on Feb. 24 not to hear a case challenging a 25-year-old precedent allowing governments to forbid outreach within a so-called bubble zone outside abortion clinics. The nation’s highest court did not explain its new, unsigned order … Continue reading Supreme Court will not review ruling limiting pro-life counseling outside abortion clinics
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a whistleblower’s fraud lawsuit against a Wisconsin telecommunications company for allegedly overcharging schools for internet services may move forward. Justice Elena Kagan wrote the court’s 9–0 opinion in Wisconsin Bell Inc. v. United … Continue reading Supreme Court allows whistleblower suit against Wisconsin Bell
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously sided with Hungary on Feb. 21, ruling that a group of foreigners may not sue that country in U.S. courts over Holocaust-era asset seizures. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the court’s 9–0 opinion in Republic of … Continue reading Supreme Court blocks lawsuit against Hungary for seizing assets during the Holocaust
A federal district judge on Feb. 21 issued an order partly blocking President Donald Trump’s executive orders withdrawing support for so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Maryland granted a preliminary injunction against the … Continue reading Judge partially blocks Trump’s orders curbing DEI programs
The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 21 declined to allow the Trump administration to immediately fire Office of Special Counsel chief Hampton Dellinger. This is the first time that the Supreme Court has weighed in on an action taken by the second Trump administration. The court ruled that, at least for the time being, it will allow a temporary block of Dellinger’s firing to stand until it expires on Feb. 26. The Trump administration filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court on Feb. 16, asking the justices to undo a federal district court’s temporary restraining order blocking the termination … Continue reading Supreme Court declines to allow Trump admin to immediately fire watchdog official
Two lawsuits were filed on Feb. 20 against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and President Donald Trump’s executive orders that curb the government’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and disavow transgender ideology. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in … Continue reading New lawsuits challenge Trump’s DEI policies, DOGE operations
A coalition of activist groups is suing the federal government over President Donald Trump’s executive orders that curtail the government’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and reject transgender ideology. The new lawsuit, known as National Urban League v. Trump, … Continue reading Groups sue over Trump’s executive orders aimed at DEI and transgender ideology
New York state’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) sued the federal government on Feb. 19 for canceling a tolling program that the agency said was aimed at relieving traffic congestion in New York City. Under the program, which debuted on Jan. … Continue reading Transit agency sues federal government for canceling Manhattan toll program
The head of a whistleblower-protection agency whom the Trump administration wants to fire urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 18 to leave in place a lower court order blocking the firing. The closely watched emergency government application, Bessent v. … Continue reading Head of whistleblower agency urges Supreme Court to reverse firing by Trump administration
The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 16 to allow it to fire the head of an agency that protects whistleblowers after lower courts said it could not. Special counsel Hampton Dellinger, who heads the U.S. Office … Continue reading Trump administration asks Supreme Court to permit firing of Office of Special Counsel chief
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Feb. 14 delayed ruling on 14 states’ request that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) be barred from accessing government information systems. At a hearing in the case of New Mexico v. Musk, the … Continue reading Federal judge delays ruling on restraining order against DOGE and Musk
The U.S. Supreme Court said on Feb. 10 that it will hear two environmental regulation cases next month after it rejected a Department of Justice (DOJ) request last week to halt them. The announcement that oral arguments in the two … Continue reading Supreme Court schedules hearings for Biden-era environmental cases it declined to freeze
The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Feb. 10 that it will hear South Carolina’s bid to stop Planned Parenthood from taking part in the state’s Medicaid program on April 2. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that offers health insurance … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear South Carolina’s challenge to Planned Parenthood in April
Businessman Steve Wynn is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to roll back protections for journalists in defamation lawsuits. The high court docketed the new petition in Wynn v. The Associated Press (AP), making the petition public on Feb. 4. AP … Continue reading Casino magnate asks Supreme Court to reconsider rulings shielding journalists
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider on Feb. 21 whether to hear a challenge to its controversial 20-year-old ruling upholding eminent domain powers to seize private property for private economic development. The new case was brought by a development company … Continue reading Supreme Court may hear challenge to eminent domain ruling
Republicans in the U.S. Senate proposed a new constitutional amendment on Feb. 7 that would prevent federal lawmakers from increasing the number of justices—currently nine—on the U.S. Supreme Court. The new joint congressional resolution, the Keep Nine Amendment, was introduced … Continue reading Senate GOP proposes constitutional amendment to limit size of Supreme Court
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) changed sides on Feb. 7 in a Biden-era Supreme Court challenge to a Tennessee law banning transgender procedures for minors. The DOJ has disavowed its prior position and now argues that state law is … Continue reading DOJ backs away from Supreme Court challenge to Tennessee ban on transgender procedures for minors
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Feb. 6 to a Department of Justice (DOJ) request to halt a pending student loan case but declined to pause processing three environmental regulation cases. The new rulings came after the DOJ asked the court on Jan. 24 to put the Biden-era cases on hold because the department changed or is considering changing its position on the cases following the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Jan. 20. The Supreme Court did not explain its decisions. No justices dissented. Position changes in high-profile court cases often take place when a new party assumes the … Continue reading Supreme Court grants DOJ request to pause student borrower case
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the conservative majority on the Court is overturning so many longstanding precedents so quickly that public confidence in it is flagging. “I think my Court would probably gather more public support if it … Continue reading Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor suggests court is overturning precedents too quickly