Biden administration asks Supreme Court to allow race-based admissions at West Point

The Biden administration has urged the Supreme Court to allow the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to continue using racial criteria in its student admissions process, arguing that diversity is a “national security imperative.” The new brief, filed on Jan. 30, comes after the nation’s highest court struck down the use of affirmative action in admissions at U.S. colleges in June 2023. That ruling applied to civilian schools, but not to military academies. In a footnote, the court stated that it carved out an exception for military academies due to “potentially distinct” and “compelling interests” related to national security … Continue reading Biden administration asks Supreme Court to allow race-based admissions at West Point

Texas Congressman Chip Roy likens Supreme Court razor-wire removal decision to pro-slavery ruling

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) compared the recent Supreme Court decision permitting federal officials to cut razor-wire fencing on the Texas border with Mexico to the court’s infamous decision that upheld slavery and helped precipitate the Civil War. The comment by … Continue reading Texas Congressman Chip Roy likens Supreme Court razor-wire removal decision to pro-slavery ruling

Supreme Court to hear abortion pill challenge in March

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in a challenge to regulations governing the use of the abortion pill mifepristone. The highly anticipated hearing will take place on March 26, the court announced on Jan. 29. The court granted the petition for certiorari, or review, in the case on Dec. 13, 2023. The Supreme Court will consider whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed federal law when it relaxed restrictions in 2016 and 2021 on the pill. A medication abortion generally involves the use of mifepristone, which blocks progesterone, a hormone, and misoprostol, which induces contractions. Misoprostol, which … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear abortion pill challenge in March

Texas Gov. Abbott accuses President Biden of ignoring constitutional duty to secure border

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott published a defiant statement on X accusing the Biden administration of dereliction of its constitutional duty to defend Texas from invasion. “The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States,” the … Continue reading Texas Gov. Abbott accuses President Biden of ignoring constitutional duty to secure border

US Supreme Court refuses challenge to Washington state tax as repeal referendum gathers steam

The U.S. Supreme Court refused last week to hear a taxpayers’ challenge to the constitutionality of Washington state’s new capital gains tax after it was upheld by the state’s supreme court. The decision came days before Washington Secretary of State … Continue reading US Supreme Court refuses challenge to Washington state tax as repeal referendum gathers steam

Supreme Court won’t intervene in dispute over Michigan state legislative districts

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request to block the redrawing of state legislative districts in Michigan that a federal court ordered after finding the district maps violated the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA). The Supreme Court rejected an … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t intervene in dispute over Michigan state legislative districts

Supreme Court conservatives appear open to rolling back power of federal agencies

A bureaucracy-empowering judicial doctrine that critics blame for the explosive growth of the U.S. government in recent decades should be overturned, the Supreme Court heard on Jan. 17. The court may overturn the so-called Chevron deference doctrine that the Supreme … Continue reading Supreme Court conservatives appear open to rolling back power of federal agencies

Supreme Court declines to take up transgender bathroom case

The Supreme Court won’t consider whether an Indiana middle school was required to let a transgender girl use the boys’ bathroom. The ruling comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit affirmed a lower court’s injunction last year that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms that corresponded to their claimed gender identity. The decision not to get involved in the case means that pending lawsuits will continue across the United States, with judges potentially arriving at differing conclusions. The Biden administration holds that Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, a federal law that prohibits … Continue reading Supreme Court declines to take up transgender bathroom case

Supreme Court declines Alaska lawsuit over automatic deduction of union dues

The U.S. Supreme Court rebuffed an appeal by Alaska aimed at reinstating its government union dues deduction system that the state argued was designed to safeguard state employees’ constitutionally protected free speech rights. The system required that unionized employees register … Continue reading Supreme Court declines Alaska lawsuit over automatic deduction of union dues