Preparations made to appeal judge’s ruling approving Harvard’s discriminatory admissions policies

A conservative civil rights group plans to lend its expertise to the legal fight to overturn a federal judge’s ruling that Harvard University’s policy of discriminating against Asian Americans in favor of whites in the undergraduate admissions process is legally sound. The … Continue reading Preparations made to appeal judge’s ruling approving Harvard’s discriminatory admissions policies

Federal judge denies rights of conscience to health care providers

An Obama-appointed federal judge in Manhattan struck down as unconstitutional a Trump administration rule preventing federally funded health care providers from being forced to participate in abortions and other activities that violate their conscience. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the … Continue reading Federal judge denies rights of conscience to health care providers

IBM employees ask Supreme Court to hold pension managers liable for loss

WASHINGTON—A lawyer for IBM employees who invested in company stock told the Supreme Court Nov. 6 that the employees should be able to sue managers of the company’s retirement fund in stock-drop litigation for not disclosing that the company’s microelectronics business was overvalued. The … Continue reading IBM employees ask Supreme Court to hold pension managers liable for loss

Supreme Court seems open to limiting federal regulation of water pollution

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court seemed inclined during oral arguments Nov. 6 in a dispute over wastewater disposal in Hawaii to reverse new powers to regulate pollution granted in a recent court decision, and also appeared open to reining in some of the regulatory … Continue reading Supreme Court seems open to limiting federal regulation of water pollution

Supreme Court considers whether criminal lawful permanent resident can avoid deportation

WASHINGTON—The lawyer for a lawful U.S. permanent resident told the Supreme Court on Nov. 4 that the hard-to-interpret wording of a federal immigration statute doesn’t allow the government to deport the man, even though in later years he was convicted of serious … Continue reading Supreme Court considers whether criminal lawful permanent resident can avoid deportation

Georgia legislator seeks to prohibit sex-reassignment surgery on minors

A state lawmaker in Georgia wants to make it a felony for medical doctors to perform sex-reassignment surgery on minor children, including vasectomy, castration, mastectomy, and other varieties of genital mutilation, and forbid the prescription of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex … Continue reading Georgia legislator seeks to prohibit sex-reassignment surgery on minors

US students favor punishment for offensive Halloween costumes

Most U.S. university students support punishing their peers for wearing “highly offensive” Halloween costumes such as blackface, recent polling suggests. The poll comes after a series of highly publicized events involving public figures such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau being shown in photographs wearing … Continue reading US students favor punishment for offensive Halloween costumes

North Carolina state court orders redistricting that US Supreme Court did not

A North Carolina state court tossed the state’s 2020 congressional map after finding that Democratic Party voters would probably prevail in a lawsuit challenging the redrawn districts as examples of impermissible partisan gerrymandering. It was unclear at press time if Republicans would appeal … Continue reading North Carolina state court orders redistricting that US Supreme Court did not

Ben Carson seeks fairer, more efficient disparate impact rule

WASHINGTON—Conservative thought leaders are applauding the Trump administration’s efforts to fix the so-called disparate impact rule in housing by replacing the current regulation, which tends to presume industry decisions are discriminatory with one that treats housing market participants more equitably. … Continue reading Ben Carson seeks fairer, more efficient disparate impact rule

US sues California over ‘Illegal’ cap-and-trade pact with Quebec

The Trump administration is suing California over what it calls an “illegal” cap-and-trade agreement with the Canadian province of Quebec, alleging the Golden State is conducting its own “independent foreign policy in the area of greenhouse gas regulation.” The lawsuit comes as … Continue reading US sues California over ‘Illegal’ cap-and-trade pact with Quebec

Supreme Court to hear illegal alien’s claim to right to dispute removal

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Trump administration’s appeal of a federal appeals court’s ruling that a Sri Lankan refugee claimant enjoys a constitutional right to challenge the procedures leading to his expedited removal order. On Oct. 18, the … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear illegal alien’s claim to right to dispute removal

Supreme Court asked to resolve appeals court split over deportation of permanent residents

A Lebanese immigrant convicted of knowingly receiving close to $600,000 worth of stolen cigarettes after getting his green card is challenging his deportation order in a Supreme Court case by arguing he will face religious persecution if removed to his native land. … Continue reading Supreme Court asked to resolve appeals court split over deportation of permanent residents