Fannie, Freddie shareholders urge Supreme Court to find conservator unconstitutional

In a case with ramifications for the so-called administrative state, the Supreme Court considered Dec. 9 whether the structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is unconstitutional because Congress forbids the president from firing at will the person running it. … Continue reading Fannie, Freddie shareholders urge Supreme Court to find conservator unconstitutional

Supreme Court allows Muslims to sue FBI agents who placed them on no-fly list

Muslims placed on the “no-fly list” after refusing to act as informants for the FBI may sue individual federal officials personally for damages under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled Dec. 10. The list, maintained by the FBI’s Terrorist … Continue reading Supreme Court allows Muslims to sue FBI agents who placed them on no-fly list

Hold Facebook responsible for unwanted communications, Supreme Court told

If social media giant Facebook isn’t held responsible for allegedly violating a federal ban on robocalls, consumers may face a future onslaught of unwanted text messages and automated calls, the Supreme Court heard. The Supreme Court heard the case known as Facebook Inc. v. Duguid … Continue reading Hold Facebook responsible for unwanted communications, Supreme Court told

Supreme Court agrees to consider Medicaid work requirements

The Supreme Court has agreed to a request by the Trump administration to review an appeals court ruling that struck down pilot programs in Arkansas and New Hampshire that required Medicaid recipients to work. The court took action Dec. 4 granting petitions for review requested in two related … Continue reading Supreme Court agrees to consider Medicaid work requirements

Supreme Court rejects California Gov. Newsom’s pandemic church restrictions

The Supreme Court issued a decision Dec. 3 siding with California churches that are seeking relief from the state’s heavy-handed COVID-19 restrictions on attendance at houses of worship. The decision is the second in two weeks slapping down overreaches by Democratic governors … Continue reading Supreme Court rejects California Gov. Newsom’s pandemic church restrictions

Supreme Court considers whether ruling on nonunanimous convictions should apply retroactively

A Supreme Court decision earlier this year that barred nonunanimous jury convictions should be applied retroactively to existing split-jury convictions, the lawyer for a Louisiana inmate imprisoned for life told the justices. Oral argument took place over 86 minutes telephonically on Dec. … Continue reading Supreme Court considers whether ruling on nonunanimous convictions should apply retroactively

Exclude illegal aliens from Census count, Supreme Court hears

The Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to exclude illegal aliens from the 2020 Census count, which eliminates that population from the allocation of congressional seats and Electoral College votes that officially determine the presidency. Oral argument took place telephonically on Nov. 30 in … Continue reading Exclude illegal aliens from Census count, Supreme Court hears

Supreme Court overrules Cuomo’s pandemic church attendance caps

The Supreme Court has blocked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo from enforcing pandemic-related restrictions on attendance at houses of worship, a dramatic departure from the high court’s recent hands-off rulings giving states free rein to limit constitutional rights while combating COVID-19. The 5–4 unsigned opinion in … Continue reading Supreme Court overrules Cuomo’s pandemic church attendance caps

Federal court strikes down California DMV’s censorship of vanity plates

A federal judge ruled that the California Department of Motor Vehicles’ ban on personalized license plates it deems contrary “to good taste and decency” violates the free speech protections of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “This is a great day … Continue reading Federal court strikes down California DMV’s censorship of vanity plates

Maryland Gov. Hogan claims refusing to wear a mask is not a ‘constitutional right’

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan likened those who refuse to wear face masks during the current pandemic to drunk drivers, declaring that no one has a “constitutional right to walk around without a mask”—a claim disputed by a legal expert. The Republican governor (pictured above) … Continue reading Maryland Gov. Hogan claims refusing to wear a mask is not a ‘constitutional right’

Orthodox Jews ask Supreme Court to override Cuomo’s religious lockdown

Claiming New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is engaging in religious discrimination, Orthodox Jewish groups are asking the Supreme Court to freeze the Empire State’s tough restrictions on attendance at houses of worship during the ongoing pandemic. The legal challenge comes as New York and several states have reported a dramatic uptick in cases involving the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and on the same day—Nov. 16—that Moderna’s vaccine was reported to be 94.5 percent effective in early testing. Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Nov. 9 that their vaccine was more than 90 percent effective. The surge has prompted several states to consider … Continue reading Orthodox Jews ask Supreme Court to override Cuomo’s religious lockdown