The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 in a fractured opinion on Feb. 28 that the IRS imposed an excessive fine on a businessman for failing to report foreign bank accounts, reducing the financial penalty from $2.72 million to $50,000. The decision … Continue reading Supreme Court slashes IRS penalty against taxpayer for not reporting foreign bank accounts
During oral arguments on Feb. 28, conservative members of the Supreme Court seemed skeptical of Biden administration statements that the government’s plan to partially forgive student loans is authorized by federal law. U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the High … Continue reading Conservative Supreme Court justices question legal authority of Biden administration to forgive student loans
The Supreme Court seemed unreceptive to the Biden administration’s arguments on Feb. 27 that a Texas man convicted of Medicaid fraud should also be convicted of aggravated identity theft arising out of the same transaction because a form he filed contained a patient’s name. Several justices expressed concern that the government wants to interpret the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, which mandates a two-year prison sentence, so broadly that it could entangle potentially innocent individuals. When President George W. Bush signed the act in July 2004, he said it would “dramatically strengthen the fight against identity theft and fraud,” but didn’t address the situation the court now … Continue reading Supreme Court not receptive to Biden DOJ’s arguments about reach of identity theft law
The Supreme Court agreed on Feb. 27 to hear a second challenge in three years to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The appeal gives the court’s 6–3 conservative majority an opportunity to continue its campaign to restrain the so-called … Continue reading Supreme Court agrees to hear second challenge to constitutionality of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
A pro-life activist and his group can’t be sued for defamation for calling pro-abortion groups “criminal organizations,” the Supreme Court of Texas ruled. The court ruled (pdf) on Feb. 24 that pro-life activist Mark Lee Dickson need not face defamation claims … Continue reading Pro-abortion group’s defamation lawsuit against pro-life leader rejected by Texas Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5–4 decision that divided the court’s conservatives that a death row inmate in Arizona is entitled to contest his sentence in federal court after a state court’s procedural rule prevented him from doing so. Appeals … Continue reading In a rare move that split conservatives, Supreme Court gives death row inmate a win
An offshore oil rig employee who earned upwards of $200,000 per year and worked well over 40 hours per week is entitled to receive overtime pay for extra hours worked even though the company classified him as an overtime-exempt executive, … Continue reading Oil rig worker earning $200,000 a year entitled to overtime in Supreme Court ruling that splits conservatives
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Feb. 22 that a woman whose husband defrauded a man who bought their San Francisco home is financially responsible even though she did not participate in the fraudulent scheme. Kate Bartenwerfer, who filed for bankruptcy after … Continue reading Wife liable for husband’s fraud in botched real estate deal, Supreme Court rules
The justices of the Supreme Court struggled during oral arguments on Feb. 21 on the extent to which social media platforms should be held liable when terrorist groups use the platforms to promote their cause. Conservative and liberal members of … Continue reading Supreme Court struggles during hearing about lifting Section 230 protections from social media platforms
The Supreme Court rejected on Feb. 21 Republican Dan Cox’s challenge to a state court order he argued unconstitutionally allowed the early counting of mail ballots in the gubernatorial election he lost in the fall. Cox, who was endorsed by … Continue reading Supreme Court rejects Maryland election ruling challenge by GOP’s 2022 candidate for governor
The Supreme Court issued a new order on Feb. 21 suggesting it is moving forward with a case about the Title 42 policy that allows rapid expulsion of illegal aliens crossing the U.S.-Mexico border after it abruptly canceled a hearing in the case days ago. The Biden administration had asked the High Court to drop the case, arguing it was moot because President Joe Biden’s Office of Management and Budget said in a press release on Jan. 30 that it would extend the soon-to-expire pandemic-era emergencies to May 11 “and then end both emergencies on that date.” The current national and public health … Continue reading States’ challenge to Biden’s withdrawal of Title 42 border expulsions policy not dead, Supreme Court action suggests
President Joe Biden’s sweeping plan to partially forgive student loans will likely receive a cool reception when the Supreme Court hears challenges to the program on Feb. 28, legal experts told The Epoch Times. Biden introduced the plan in August … Continue reading Biden student loan forgiveness plan in trouble at Supreme Court, lawyers say
The 19 states fighting the Biden administration’s plan to end the Title 42 policy that allows rapid expulsion of the illegal immigrants swamping the U.S.-Mexico border are asking the Supreme Court to press on with the case after it abruptly canceled … Continue reading 19 states ask Supreme Court to move forward with Title 42 border expulsions case after court cancels oral argument
An unsuccessful Republican candidate for Maryland’s governorship is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a state court order he argues unconstitutionally allowed the early counting of mail-in ballots in the November 2022 election he lost. The request for the Supreme … Continue reading GOP’s 2022 candidate for Maryland governor asks US Supreme Court to undo state court’s suspension of mail-in balloting rules: Petition invokes ‘independent state legislature doctrine’ now being deliberated by justices in high-profile North Carolina case
A former police officer is considering filing a civil rights lawsuit against a Georgia police department after he was forced out of his job for refusing to delete a Facebook post defending traditional marriage. The possible lawsuit comes as the Supreme Court … Continue reading Cop who lost job over pro-traditional marriage social media post considers suing Georgia city
After the Biden administration asked it to do so, on Feb. 16 the Supreme Court canceled highly anticipated upcoming arguments over the fate of the pandemic-era Title 42 policy that allows the rapid expulsion of would-be migrants at the border. Oral arguments in the case, Arizona v. Mayorkas, court file 22-592, had been scheduled for March 1. The new one-sentence entry on the court’s docket says the case is “removed from … the argument calendar,” without explanation or any indication of how the justices voted on the matter. President Joe Biden’s Office of Management and Budget said on Jan. 30 that it would extend … Continue reading Supreme Court cancels highly anticipated hearing over Title 42 immigration, border security case
A Washington state couple will soon ask the Supreme Court to disallow what they consider to be an unconstitutional wealth tax that was levied on capital gains they never received. In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The new law, a reform of the federal tax code, also included a provision known as the Mandatory Repatriation Tax or the Section 965 Transition Tax. This provision taxes U.S. citizens on certain accumulated foreign earnings of foreign corporations going back 30 years, even if the earnings have not been distributed. This means taxing people on income they never received and never … Continue reading Couple appeals wealth tax to SCOTUS that 9th Circuit upheld
Georgia’s state Senate passed legislation on Feb. 14 to erect a statue honoring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at the state capitol in Atlanta, despite the impassioned objections of Democratic lawmakers. Thomas, a black man, has long been a target of … Continue reading Georgia Senate approves statue of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, over Democrats’ opposition
The Supreme Court will soon consider whether a city’s sponsorship of a prayer vigil that offended atheists who witnessed it violates the First Amendment. The case comes as the high court has become increasingly protective in recent years of constitutionally based religious freedoms. The justices are scheduled to consider the petition in City of Ocala, Florida v. Rojas, court file 22-278, on Feb. 17. The case goes back to 2014 when Ocala held a public vigil after drive-by shootings in which young children were injured. Community leaders suggested a prayer vigil be conducted to promote public healing, and the local chief of … Continue reading Supreme Court considering whether offended atheists may sue Florida city over prayers
A group of national medical associations and doctors urged a federal court on Feb. 10 to order a federal regulator to reverse its two-decade-old approval of Mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortions that critics say endangers women who use … Continue reading Federal court urged to reverse FDA approval of abortion pill