A divided federal appeals court on Jan. 2 struck down California’s ban on open carry of firearms in most parts of the state, finding that it violates the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment. A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals … Continue reading Federal appeals court strikes down California ban on open carry of firearms
A divided federal appeals court voted to revive a lawsuit by school district employees who say they were forced to self-censor and make statements they disagreed with to finish so-called anti-racism training. On Dec. 30, 2025, the full U.S. Court … Continue reading Court reinstates school district employees’ free speech lawsuit over anti-racism training
Chief Justice John Roberts said on Dec. 31 that as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence remain sources of inspiration for Americans. The comments, which did not … Continue reading Chief Justice Roberts says Americans continue to admire the Constitution
President Donald Trump said on Dec. 31 that he will be withdrawing National Guard troops from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon. He had previously federalized the troops to deal with civil unrest. Although the federal Posse Comitatus Act restricts … Continue reading Trump announces withdrawal of National Guard from California, Illinois, and Oregon
A federal appeals court on Dec. 30 allowed the Trump administration to withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood clinics in the 22 states that sued over a congressionally-approved funding block. Section 71113 in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a … Continue reading Appeals court allows Planned Parenthood funding block
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 29 appealed a federal judge’s ruling upholding the Trump administration’s decision to increase the fee for H-1B visas for employees in specialty occupations to $100,000. Washington-based U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell issued a … Continue reading Chamber of Commerce appeals ruling upholding $100,000 H-1B visa fee
A New Jersey congresswoman asked a federal appeals court to throw out charges pending against her for allegedly assaulting federal agents outside an immigration detention facility. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding an Immigration and … Continue reading NJ congresswoman asks court to toss charges from incident at ICE detention center
California dropped its lawsuit this week against the Trump administration over the federal government’s decision to pull $4 billion in funding for the state’s long-delayed high-speed rail project. The California High-Speed Rail Authority filed a notice of voluntary dismissal on … Continue reading California ends lawsuit against federal government over high-speed rail funding
Attorneys for Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk convicted of state-level election interference, are asking a Colorado court to free her after President Donald Trump pardoned her. In a motion filed Dec. 23, Peters’s lawyers said the Colorado Court … Continue reading Tina Peters asks Colorado appeals court to recognize Trump’s pardon
A federal district court ruled on Dec. 23 that President Donald Trump has legal authority to raise the fee for H-1B visas for employees in specialty occupations to $100,000. Before the change, the fee was between $2,000 and $5,000, depending … Continue reading Federal judge upholds Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas
The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 23 ruled that President Donald Trump may not deploy National Guard troops to Chicago to protect federal immigration agents for the time being. “At this preliminary stage, the government has failed to identify a … Continue reading Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of National Guard to Chicago
The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 22 temporarily halted a lower court ruling requiring the company that owns the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to change its health insurance coverage for unionized employees. Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative stay of a U.S. … Continue reading Supreme Court temporarily blocks ruling against Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in labor dispute
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a challenge to a federal marijuana law filed by licensed marijuana dealers in Massachusetts. The court’s decision not to hear Canna Provisions Inc. v. Bondi took the form of an unsigned … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to federal marijuana law
The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 19 allowed a lawsuit brought by immigration judges challenging a Biden-era policy that prevents them from speaking publicly about their jobs to move forward in the lower courts. On Dec. 5, Chief Justice John … Continue reading Supreme Court revives immigration judges’ free speech lawsuit
A federal appeals court blocked Michigan’s 2023 ban on counseling for minors that aims to dissuade patients from pursuing a so-called gender transition, declaring it violates the First Amendment rights of therapists. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of … Continue reading Sixth Circuit blocks Michigan’s conversion therapy ban on free speech grounds
Ghislaine Maxwell asked a federal court on Dec. 17 to set aside her sex trafficking convictions and 20-year prison sentence, citing “newly discovered evidence.” Maxwell was an associate of the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in … Continue reading Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell asks court to overturn her convictions
A federal district judge on Dec. 17 allowed the ongoing ballroom construction project at the White House to continue, turning away a preservation organization’s request to halt it, at least for the time being. The litigation is still underway, and … Continue reading Federal judge won’t block White House ballroom construction
A federal judge on Dec. 17 issued an order temporarily halting the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent members of Congress from making unannounced oversight-related visits to detention facilities run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Judge Jia Cobb of … Continue reading Judge blocks ICE policy requiring advance notice for congressional visits at detention centers
A federal appeals court on Dec. 17 allowed President Donald Trump’s use of District of Columbia National Guard troops in the nation’s capital to continue while an appeal of a lower court order blocking the deployment plays out. Trump has … Continue reading Appeals court allows Trump’s National Guard deployment in DC, for now
Florida executed a man on Dec. 18 who was convicted of killing a man and his girlfriend during a home invasion 38 years ago, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a reprieve earlier in the day. The condemned man, Frank … Continue reading Florida executes man claiming intellectual disability after Supreme Court denies reprieve