Legal team for Christian postal worker pushed out for demanding Sunday work exemption hopeful about upcoming case

The legal team representing an evangelical Christian postal worker who quit the U.S. Postal Service after it refused to accommodate his wish not to work on the Sunday Sabbath is “optimistic” about the case the Supreme Court will hear next … Continue reading Legal team for Christian postal worker pushed out for demanding Sunday work exemption hopeful about upcoming case

Thoughts on depression from an artistic mind

I stumbled upon an excellent essay by my old childhood friend, Michael Redhill. It is entitled, “Thoughts on depression from an artistic mind.” It appeared in the Globe and Mail on Aug. 15, 2014. An excerpt: I am not an expert in the causes of depression, only an expert in the experience of it, and after four or so decades living with the illness, I know a few things about it: There’s no cure, only remission. People who suffer from depression (not “normal unhappiness,” which was the goal of Freud’s talking cure), are never fully out of danger because it is … Continue reading Thoughts on depression from an artistic mind

Supreme Court may back out of ruling on doctrine empowering state legislatures to regulate elections

The U.S. Supreme Court signaled late March 2 that it is considering dropping a high-profile pending case in which Republicans are asking it to rule that state legislatures have greater power over federal elections. The case, Moore v. Harper, court … Continue reading Supreme Court may back out of ruling on doctrine empowering state legislatures to regulate elections

Delaware not entitled to seize funds from unclaimed money orders purchased elsewhere, SCOTUS rules

The Supreme Court sided with 30 states that challenged Delaware’s practice of seizing unclaimed funds from customers of payments giant MoneyGram, ruling on Feb. 28 that the money left over from abandoned money orders may be taken by the state … Continue reading Delaware not entitled to seize funds from unclaimed money orders purchased elsewhere, SCOTUS rules

Supreme Court slashes IRS penalty against taxpayer for not reporting foreign bank accounts

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

Conservative Supreme Court justices question legal authority of Biden administration to forgive student loans

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

Supreme Court not receptive to Biden DOJ’s arguments about reach of identity theft law

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 … Continue reading Supreme Court not receptive to Biden DOJ’s arguments about reach of identity theft law

Supreme Court agrees to hear second challenge to constitutionality of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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

Pro-abortion group’s defamation lawsuit against pro-life leader rejected by Texas Supreme Court

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

In a rare move that split conservatives, Supreme Court gives death row inmate a win

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

Oil rig worker earning $200,000 a year entitled to overtime in Supreme Court ruling that splits conservatives

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

Wife liable for husband’s fraud in botched real estate deal, Supreme Court rules

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

Supreme Court struggles during hearing about lifting Section 230 protections from social media platforms

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

Supreme Court rejects Maryland election ruling challenge by GOP’s 2022 candidate for governor

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

States’ challenge to Biden’s withdrawal of Title 42 border expulsions policy not dead, Supreme Court action suggests

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 … Continue reading States’ challenge to Biden’s withdrawal of Title 42 border expulsions policy not dead, Supreme Court action suggests

19 states ask Supreme Court to move forward with Title 42 border expulsions case after court cancels oral argument

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

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

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