Supreme Court allows lower court’s ruling overturning Boise vagrancy law

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court turned away a legal appeal on Dec. 16 that aimed to restore Boise, Idaho’s laws banning homeless outdoor camping, which a lower court had struck down as violating the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling, which … Continue reading Supreme Court allows lower court’s ruling overturning Boise vagrancy law

Georgia midwife sues for right to call herself ‘midwife’

A nationally prominent midwife is suing Georgia authorities, claiming they’re engaged in regulatory overreach as they violate her First Amendment rights by punishing her for accurately calling herself a midwife. Debbie Pulley (pictured above), who helped found the Georgia Midwifery Association, … Continue reading Georgia midwife sues for right to call herself ‘midwife’

Democrats election win in Virginia produces gun registration proposal

Virginia Democrats are proposing a mandatory state gun registration measure after widespread public outrage forced them to back off a more aggressive plan to confiscate so-called assault weapons, a designation that gun experts have long rejected as arbitrary. Gun-control advocates … Continue reading Democrats election win in Virginia produces gun registration proposal

Insurance companies tell Supreme Court of government bait and switch

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration told the Supreme Court that the government is not obligated to pay $12 billion to insurance companies that knowingly took a business risk and lost money by participating in the Affordable Care Act’s “risk corridors” program. Republican lawmakers … Continue reading Insurance companies tell Supreme Court of government bait and switch

Supreme Court considers whether deportation of criminal aliens can be reviewed

WASHINGTON—Judicial review of the deportation orders of permanent residents with criminal records who miss statutory deadlines should be limited, the Trump administration told a skeptical Supreme Court. The justices heard oral arguments Dec. 9 in two cases that were consolidated, Ovalles v. Barr and … Continue reading Supreme Court considers whether deportation of criminal aliens can be reviewed

University goes on offense in cultural battle, new center debunks Christian socialism

Liberty University, a private Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, has launched a new think tank that it says will push back against the left’s efforts to turn young people and Christians into socialists by misrepresenting the Bible and U.S. Constitution. … Continue reading University goes on offense in cultural battle, new center debunks Christian socialism

Supreme Court skeptical of shortening time frame for pension plan members to sue

WASHINGTON—Supreme Court justices seemed unreceptive to arguments by retirement plan managers that a six-year limitation for plan participants to sue over mishandling investments should be halved if participants had “actual knowledge” of the misbehavior complained of sooner. The case is known … Continue reading Supreme Court skeptical of shortening time frame for pension plan members to sue

Challenge to New York’s restrictive gun laws may fail due to passage of new law

WASHINGTON—The outcome of a Trump administration-backed challenge to New York City’s uniquely restrictive gun laws that make it burdensome for law-abiding gun owners to transport their weapons is in doubt after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case on Dec. 2. Critics … Continue reading Challenge to New York’s restrictive gun laws may fail due to passage of new law

Defamation suit by inventor of climate change ‘hockey stick’ graph proceeds

The Supreme Court refused to throw out a 7-year-old defamation lawsuit that climate scientist Michael E. Mann brought against National Review, after the magazine accused the inventor of the famous “Hockey Stick” graph that purported to show a dramatic increase … Continue reading Defamation suit by inventor of climate change ‘hockey stick’ graph proceeds

Trump administration invokes Patriot Act to continue detention of convicted terrorist

The Trump administration has ordered the continued detention of a convicted foreign terrorist for at least six months after the completion of his prison sentence due to concerns he is still active in terrorist activities. It’s thought to be the first invocation of the … Continue reading Trump administration invokes Patriot Act to continue detention of convicted terrorist