A federal appeals court ruled on Dec. 19 that Boston may use racially discriminatory admission criteria for its elite public schools even after the U.S. Supreme Court found earlier this year that colleges and universities may not use affirmative action … Continue reading 1st Circuit upholds racially discriminatory admissions at elite public schools
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was at one time so concerned about his finances that he quietly pushed for a salary increase and for justices to be allowed to accept speaking fees, according to a new report that was promptly … Continue reading Report claims Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas pushed for higher salary
The Supreme Court has agreed to review the death sentence imposed on an Arizona inmate who claims he received ineffective assistance from counsel during the sentencing process. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to … Continue reading Supreme Court to review Arizona death row inmate’s sentence
The Supreme Court will consider a dispute about whether life insurance payouts should be deemed to be corporate assets in calculating federal income taxes payable on a deceased person’s estate. The court granted the petition for certiorari (pdf), or review, … Continue reading Supreme Court to take up dispute over estate tax owed by family business
A medical doctor is suing New Jersey in federal court over its laws that limit telehealth services and prevent patients from accessing specialty cancer care that their local doctors lack the expertise to treat. Telehealth—also known as telemedicine, which has … Continue reading Cancer specialist sues New Jersey over telemedicine restrictions
The Supreme Court will consider whether an Ohio jeweler can bring civil rights claims against police for malicious prosecution after criminal charges brought against him were dropped. The case comes after the Supreme Court loosened the legal standard for bringing … Continue reading Supreme Court will consider if police can be sued for fabricating evidence
A federal judge permanently blocked an Illinois law on Dec. 14 that he previously called “stupid” that targets maternal health care centers and sidewalk counselors for expressing their pro-life message. The state of Illinois consented to the injunction and the … Continue reading Federal judge permanently blocks Illinois law targeting pro-life pregnancy counseling
The Supreme Court agreed on Dec. 13 to take up the appeal of James Snyder, the former mayor of an Indiana town who was convicted of bribery. The case comes as the court has been raising the bar in public … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear former Indiana mayor’s bribery appeal
Democrat lawmakers are demanding that conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself from an upcoming case centered on former President Donald Trump’s claim that he enjoys presidential immunity from prosecution. Democrats are concerned that if President Trump secures a … Continue reading Democrats demand Clarence Thomas recuse himself from Trump immunity case
The Supreme Court agreed on Dec. 13 to hear the Biden administration’s defense of regulatory moves related to mifepristone, a pill used for abortions. The court’s decision in the heavily litigated case could affect the availability of the drug. In … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear challenge to abortion pill
The Supreme Court has rejected the Medicare fraud appeal of former healthcare executive Philip Esformes, whose sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump. The prosecution involved what the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) described as the “largest health care fraud … Continue reading Supreme Court rejects appeal of healthcare executive given clemency by Trump
The Supreme Court failed on Dec. 11 to take up or reject a much-anticipated, heavily-litigated challenge to the government’s decision in 2000 to approve mifepristone, a pill used for abortions, putting off the court’s decision for the time being. Although … Continue reading Supreme Court delays decision on challenges to abortion pill
The Supreme Court passed up an opportunity on Dec. 11 to lay the groundwork for overturning its precedent permitting protective zones called “bubbles” around abortion clinics to keep protesters and pro-life sidewalk counselors away. The nation’s highest court declined a … Continue reading Supreme Court declines to hear pro-life sidewalk counselor’s case
A looming battle at the Supreme Court may determine how social media companies moderate content. The nation’s highest court will hear challenges to laws in Florida and Texas that regulate social media content moderation. Observers and activists on the left … Continue reading How the Supreme Court could reshape free speech online
The Supreme Court refused on Dec. 11 to take up a challenge to Washington state’s ban on LGBT conversion therapy—over the objections of three conservative justices who dissented. The therapeutic practices, which are banned in many states, aim to make … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Washington state LGBT conversion therapy ban
The Supreme Court may soon consider whether to hear Alaska’s appeal against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to veto the proposed $400 billion Pebble Mine project in the southwestern part of the state. The project site on state-owned … Continue reading Supreme Court may soon consider EPA’s veto of huge Alaska mine
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a furloughed Department of Defense employee who waited five years for a decision from an understaffed government board that couldn’t resolve his appeal promptly. The Supreme Court granted the petition … Continue reading Supreme Court will hear Pentagon employee’s appeal against furlough decision
The Supreme Court heard on Dec. 6 the case of a Missouri police sergeant who argues that a city illegally discriminated against her by giving her a lateral job transfer she didn’t want. Jatonya Clayborn Muldrow of the St. Louis … Continue reading Supreme Court hears case of female police officer who claims sex discrimination
A retired Washington state couple urged the Supreme Court on Dec. 5 to strike down a 2017 tax on “unrealized” income from overseas investments, a move some say could jeopardize current tax code provisions and handcuff Congress. Legal observers are … Continue reading Supreme Court considers constitutional limits on federal taxing power
The Supreme Court dismissed on Dec. 5 the case of a serial lawsuit filer who sued more than 600 hotels over their alleged failure to post disability accessibility information on their websites. Activists say such “testers” are only helping to … Continue reading Supreme Court dismisses disability ‘tester’ lawsuit