Supreme Court grapples with evidence standard in overtime lawsuits

The U.S. Supreme Court seemed prepared on Nov. 5 to reject an enhanced standard of proof for employers to demonstrate that federal law does not require they pay workers overtime. The justices heard oral arguments in the case known as E.M.D. Sales Inc. v. Carrera. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which covers more than 140 million workers, guarantees eligible employees a minimum wage and overtime pay, but contains 34 exemptions from those mandates. Employers do not have to pay overtime to executives, agricultural workers, or outside salesmen. The legal issue here is whether employers must prove the applicability … Continue reading Supreme Court grapples with evidence standard in overtime lawsuits

Supreme Court denies West’s bid to inform Pennsylvania voters that he’s a write-in option

The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 31 rejected independent presidential candidate Cornel West’s request to require swing state Pennsylvania officials to advise voters they could write him in as a candidate. A lower court in Pennsylvania removed his name from … Continue reading Supreme Court denies West’s bid to inform Pennsylvania voters that he’s a write-in option

Supreme Court rejects RFK Jr.’s request to remove his name from ballots in 2 swing states

The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 29 turned down Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s emergency applications seeking to remove his name from ballots in the swing states of Wisconsin and Michigan. Early voting in the Nov. 5 presidential and congressional election … Continue reading Supreme Court rejects RFK Jr.’s request to remove his name from ballots in 2 swing states

Virginia asks US Supreme Court to allow its removal of noncitizens from voter rolls

Virginia officials filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 28 asking the justices to allow the state to remove suspected noncitizens from the voter rolls. The application was filed in the case known as Beals v. Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. The application was directed to Chief Justice John Roberts, who oversees emergency litigation from Virginia. The lead applicant, Susan Beals, is Virginia’s Commissioner of Elections. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found unanimously on Oct. 27 that taking the names off the voter rolls within 90 days of an approaching federal election … Continue reading Virginia asks US Supreme Court to allow its removal of noncitizens from voter rolls

Supreme Court overturns conviction of attorney for smuggling drugs into Massachusetts prison

The Supreme Court overturned the conviction of an attorney found guilty of smuggling illegal drugs into a Massachusetts state prison after the state supported her appeal. The petitioner, lawyer Elana Gordon, argued that the prosecution’s use of a scientific expert … Continue reading Supreme Court overturns conviction of attorney for smuggling drugs into Massachusetts prison