The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 on June 6 that the federal government will have to cover Indian tribes’ costs incurred in operating tribal health care programs. The majority opinion in Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe and Becerra v. Northern … Continue reading Supreme Court rules that US government must cover Native American health care
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on June 6 that an insurance company has standing to challenge a bankruptcy reorganization plan that it claims will leave it open to paying fraudulent asbestos exposure claims. Asbestos is a fire-resistant mineral whose fibers … Continue reading Supreme Court allows insurer to contest asbestos bankruptcy deal
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) this week condemned as “racist” the century-old Insular Cases, a series of Supreme Court decisions that affect U.S. overseas territories. Critics have long condemned the rulings because they prevent territorial inhabitants from being treated … Continue reading Justice Department condemns Supreme Court’s ‘racist’ century-old insular cases
The Supreme Court agreed on June 3 to hear an appeal from Salvatore “Fat Sal” Delligatti, an alleged Genovese crime family associate who is challenging a gun crime conviction that added five years to his prison sentence. Two years ago, … Continue reading Supreme Court to consider alleged mobster’s gun crime conviction appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 3 revived a lawsuit that contests the boundaries of a congressional district in Arkansas that challengers say illegally diluted the voting strength of the black community. The ruling comes days after the court rejected … Continue reading Supreme Court reinstates racial gerrymander lawsuit in Arkansas
The Supreme Court voted 6-3 on May 30 to overturn a lower court ruling that found that an Arizona death row inmate had received ineffective assistance of counsel during the sentencing process. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees … Continue reading Supreme Court rules 6-3 that death row inmate was not denied effective legal representation
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on May 30 that a federal appeals court used the wrong legal standard when it found that a New York state law that requires banks to pay interest on mortgage escrow accounts was preempted by … Continue reading Supreme Court votes 9–0 to reexamine law requiring banks to pay interest on mortgage escrow accounts
A group of 12 Republican federal lawmakers urged the Supreme Court this week to consider Pennsylvania state Republicans’ challenge to President Joe Biden’s executive order that escalates government involvement in the voter registration and voter mobilization process. Because the programs … Continue reading Lawmakers urge Supreme Court to hear challenge to Biden’s sweeping voter registration order
In a rare move, all three liberal Supreme Court justices recused themselves on May 28 from a case involving a lawsuit filed against them for rejecting a previous lawsuit that sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. … Continue reading 3 liberal Supreme Court justices recuse themselves in lawsuit over 2020 election case
The Supreme Court agreed on May 28 to hear San Francisco’s appeal of a federal appeals court ruling that allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue discharge permits that order cities not to pollute water bodies “too much” but … Continue reading Supreme Court will hear San Francisco’s challenge to EPA rule
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and 26 other federal lawmakers are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review Mexico’s lawsuit against U.S. gun makers for allegedly flooding their country with firearms. Among the other lawmakers are Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Rick … Continue reading Sen. Cruz asks Supreme Court to review Mexico’s lawsuit against US gun makers
Justice Clarence Thomas criticized the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling this week, days after its 70th anniversary, suggesting in a redistricting case that the Supreme Court used faulty reasoning when it declared that it was unconstitutional to separate … Continue reading Supreme Court Justice Thomas says courts lack authority in redistricting cases
Two top Senate Democrats sent a letter on May 24 to Chief Justice John Roberts urging him to pressure Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021, security … Continue reading Senate Democrats demand Chief Justice Roberts push Justice Alito to recuse in Trump-related cases
All three liberal justices dissented from the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on May 23 to uphold a congressional redistricting plan in South Carolina, arguing that the court was wrong not to find the new map was a product of race-based … Continue reading Liberal justices dissent from Supreme Court’s ruling upholding new South Carolina election map
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled against a major cryptocurrency exchange on May 23, finding that a customer dispute over a sweepstakes should remain in the courts, as opposed to going to arbitration. Coinbase wanted to compel disgruntled customers to participate … Continue reading Supreme Court rules 9–0 against cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase
The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 on May 23 in favor of the federal government in a case about how sentences under a federal three-strikes gun law should be imposed on defendants previously convicted of violent felonies or major drug offenses. … Continue reading Supreme Court sides with government in 3-strikes gun law ruling
The U.S. Senate confirmed President Joe Biden’s 200th judge to the federal bench on May 22, a landmark that emphasized, ahead of the upcoming November election, the power a president has to leave a lasting impression on the judicial branch. … Continue reading Senate confirms Biden’s 200th judge as Democrats applaud ‘milestone’
Critics need to leave the Supreme Court “alone,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on May 21. The comment came days after Justice Samuel Alito acknowledged that his wife briefly flew a U.S. flag upside down outside their Virginia … Continue reading Sen. McConnell tells critics to leave Supreme Court alone
The Supreme Court declined on May 20 to take up an appeal by a Canadian former Guantanamo Bay detainee who sought to set aside his convictions for the 2002 murder of a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan and for various crimes … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t hear former Guantanamo detainee’s appeal
The Supreme Court refused on May 20 to take up a challenge to Maryland’s law that bans so-called assault weapons such as the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle. The ruling leaves the prohibition against such weapons in place in the state for … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Maryland’s AR-15 rifle ban