The U.S. Supreme Court voted 5–4 on Jan. 9 to toss a procedural limit that had prevented a federal inmate from contesting a sentence. The ruling increases the post-conviction legal options of federal prisoners seeking to challenge their sentences. The … Continue reading Supreme Court throws out limit on federal prisoner appeals
A federal judge disqualified an acting U.S. attorney on Jan. 8 and invalidated subpoenas he issued for New York Attorney General Letitia James. John A. Sarcone III, who was serving in the Northern District of New York, is the fifth … Continue reading Judge disqualifies DOJ attorney investigating New York AG Letitia James
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said on Jan. 7 that the paper was closing its doors after the Supreme Court rejected its request to avoid restoring a worker benefits package from a 12-year-old labor agreement. The newspaper said in a statement that … Continue reading Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announces closure after losing labor dispute at Supreme Court
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Jan. 6 that it is suing Arizona and Connecticut for allegedly failing to turn over their full voter registration rolls for federal inspection. The two new federal lawsuits, which claim that the two … Continue reading DOJ sues Arizona, Connecticut for failing to hand over voter rolls
I was on Qnews, an English-language TV network in Egypt on January 6, 2026, discussing international law and Donald Trump’s extraction of Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela. Here is the clip: Continue reading Vadum on Qnews, January 6 2026
A federal appeals court on Jan. 5 agreed to expedite a business group’s appeal of a court ruling that upheld 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. … Continue reading Appeals court agrees to fast-track challenge to $100,000 H-1B visa fee
A federal appeals court ruled on Jan. 5 that the Trump administration cannot reduce the amount of money the National Institutes of Health (NIH) pays grant recipients for indirect costs, such as administration or facility maintenance. The ruling applies to … Continue reading Appeals court rules Trump admin can’t cap overhead reimbursement rate for NIH research grants
I discussed the U.S. extraction of Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela and fallout from it on NewsX, a TV network in India, on January 5, 2026. Here are the video clips: Continue reading Vadum on Maduro on NewsX, January 5 2026
Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan, who was convicted last month on a federal felony charge for helping an illegal immigrant evade federal agents, said on Jan. 3 that she was resigning as a judge. Federal prosecutors said Dugan had distracted federal … Continue reading Embattled judge convicted of obstructing immigration agents resigns
The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 2 scheduled oral arguments in cases questioning whether illegal drug users may possess guns, and whether Cuban state-owned companies may be sued for assets nationalized decades ago by Cuba’s communist government. The nation’s highest … Continue reading Supreme Court schedules hearings on drug user gun ban and suing Cuba over nationalized property
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