A U.S. Supreme Court case that could recognize state legislatures’ power to regulate federal elections without interference from state courts will continue even though a recent action by the high court suggests it may drop the case, the top lawyer … Continue reading SCOTUS case about excluding judges from electoral redistricting will proceed, lawyer for GOP says
The U.S. Supreme Court set aside the death sentences of six convicted murderers in Arizona after recently ruling that withholding certain information from the jury during the sentencing process was unlawful. The court previously held it was illegal to prevent … Continue reading Supreme Court reverses death sentences of 6 in Arizona, orders new sentencings
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing to block JetBlue Airways’s proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of fast-growing rival Spirit Airlines, the agency announced March 7. The two discount airlines currently compete on hundreds of routes serving millions of travelers. Four … Continue reading DOJ sues to block JetBlue acquisition of Spirit Airlines
The Supreme Court agreed on March 6 to take up an appeal by an insurance company that refused to cover non-fire damage to a yacht after it ran aground while carrying a fire extinguishing system whose inspection had lapsed. The … Continue reading Supreme Court to hear appeal after insurer refused to cover a yacht wreck
The Supreme Court sided with atheists on March 6 when it decided not to hear an appeal by a Florida city that sought to halt a lawsuit over a city-sponsored prayer vigil. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas objected to the court’s … Continue reading Supreme Court sides with offended atheists in lawsuit against Florida city over prayer vigil: Justice Clarence Thomas files dissenting opinion
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
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
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
The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from a convicted methamphetamine distributor who argues that he was improperly denied relief under the Trump-era First Step Act. The court granted the petition in an unsigned order on Feb. 27. No … Continue reading Supreme Court agrees to hear First Step Act drug sentencing appeal
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
The Supreme Court seemed receptive to New Jersey’s argument on March 1 that it should be allowed to unilaterally withdraw from the interstate compact that created the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor to combat corruption. The justices asked many … Continue reading Supreme Court leans toward allowing New Jersey to leave Waterfront Commission
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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