The U.S. Supreme Court voted 7–2 on Jan. 14 to allow a Republican congressman to challenge an Illinois law that allows the counting of ballots for two weeks after Election Day. The new decision could make it easier for candidates … Continue reading Supreme Court votes 7–2 to let GOP congressman sue over ballot-counting law
The Supreme Court seemed poised on Jan. 13 to uphold Idaho and West Virginia bans on boys’ participation in girls sports, setting up a potentially game-changing decision for female athletes. Two federal appeals courts had ruled against the laws, indicating … Continue reading 5 Takeaways from Supreme Court arguments on girls sports
The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 13 leaned towards upholding laws in Idaho and West Virginia that prohibit males from playing on females’ school sports teams. The nation’s highest court heard almost three-and-a-half hours of back-to-back oral arguments in Little … Continue reading Supreme Court seems inclined to uphold state bans on boys in girls’ sports
The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 12 grappled with energy companies’ bid to move into federal court several lawsuits filed by local Louisiana governments accusing the corporations of harming the state’s coastal wetlands. In the case, Chevron USA Inc. v. … Continue reading Supreme Court hears Louisiana communities’ lawsuits against energy companies
The U.S. Supreme Court will uphold two state laws that ban male athletes who do not identify with their sex from competing on school sports teams intended for females, according to legal experts. Their comments come as the nation’s highest court prepares to hear back-to-back oral arguments on Jan. 13 in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. Idaho and West Virginia argue that their respective laws comply with the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Its equal protection clause states that no state “shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” The … Continue reading States poised to win Supreme Court battle over men in women’s sports, legal experts predict
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 court said in an announcement that the gun case, United States v. Hemani, will be heard on March 2, and the nationalization case, Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Corporacion Cimex, will be heard on Feb. 23. In Hemani, the federal government is defending a U.S. law that forbids those who unlawfully use controlled substances from possessing firearms. Hunter Biden was convicted … 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