U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas filed a disclosure form on Aug. 31 detailing previously undisclosed gifts from his friend, GOP donor and billionaire Harlan Crow, as Democrats in Congress continue to criticize alleged ethical shortcomings at the nation’s highest … Continue reading Justice Clarence Thomas discloses gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow
Pro-life activist Lauren Handy, who was convicted this week of conspiring to obstruct access to an abortion clinic in Washington, will appeal her conviction and is asking the court to release her from pre-sentencing detention, her lawyers say. The government has … Continue reading Pro-Life protester jailed in DC to appeal, seeks to be released pending sentencing
The federal judge hearing former Trump aide Mark Meadows’s motion to have Georgia racketeering charges related to the 2020 presidential election heard in federal court has ordered attorneys in the case to provide an additional briefing on the state’s racketeering … Continue reading Federal court in Mark Meadows case orders extra briefing from attorneys
ATLANTA—Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows testified before a federal judge in Atlanta that because his involvement in the disputed presidential election in Georgia was related to his job as a White House official, his case should … Continue reading Trump White House Chief Meadows says his actions in Georgia recount shielded by federal law
The Venezuelan government is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit a lower court ruling allowing creditors to go after the assets of the parent of its government-owned oil company that does business in the United States as CITGO Petroleum. Any decision the Supreme Court makes could affect an upcoming court-ordered auction of shares in CITGO’s parent company. The case is Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela v. OI European Group B.V., court file 23-140. In addition to the Venezuelan government, that country’s government-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), is also listed as a petitioner. CITGO Petroleum Corp. states on its … Continue reading Venezuela asks US Supreme Court to rule on legal immunity of CITGO parent
The fate of five people accused of conspiring to obstruct access to an abortion clinic in Washington is now in the hands of a federal jury after the prosecution and defense wrapped up their respective cases in federal court last week. … Continue reading Fate of DC pro-life ‘rescuers’ now before federal jury
The state of Alaska is arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court should safeguard state employees’ constitutionally protected free speech rights by preserving a requirement that unionized employees re-register with their union each year. The petition (pdf) for certiorari, or review, … Continue reading Alaska asks US Supreme Court to protect dues deduction method opposed by government union
The Supreme Court may decide next month if it will hear a challenge to New York City’s strict rent control laws. A victory by landlords—assuming the justices agree to hear the case—could set off a chain reaction nationwide, inviting legal … Continue reading Supreme Court may hear challenge to New York City’s rent control system
Taxpayers are challenging the constitutionality of Washington state’s capital gains tax in the U.S. Supreme Court after it was upheld by the state’s supreme court. Unlike most states, Washington state has no income tax on individuals or corporations. Limited-government advocates fear that the capital gains tax, which has an extraterritorial effect, could open the door to a graduated income tax in the state. The petition (pdf) for certiorari, or review, in Quinn v. Washington (court file 23-171), was docketed by the U.S. Supreme Court on Aug. 23. The Olympia-based Freedom Foundation, a good-government group and think tank, filed with the … Continue reading Washington state taxpayers take fight over capital gains tax to US Supreme Court
Former President Donald Trump’s prosecutor in Georgia is wise to pursue conspiracy charges against the former president but is making a mistake by trying him and 18 co-defendants together in a single criminal proceeding, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann says. … Continue reading Georgia prosecutor wrong to try Trump and co-defendants together: former Russia-Collusion prosecutor
Legal experts say that defense counsel for several of former President Donald Trump’s co-defendants are taking a calculated risk by asking for state racketeering charges related to alleged election interference to be “removed” to federal court. President Trump and 18 … Continue reading Trump co-defendants’ bid to transfer Georgia case to federal court a calculated risk, legal experts say
A group of parents and students is asking the Supreme Court to review the admissions policy of a top-rated high school in Virginia that they say engages in illegal racial discrimination against Asian American students. The case gives the court’s … Continue reading Supreme Court asked to review top Virginia high school’s race-based admissions policy
A Supreme Court ruling on Aug. 17 denying a request to block a city-drawn electoral map for Miami that was challenged as illegally racially gerrymandered means the disputed map will be used in the city’s upcoming elections on Nov. 7. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas referred to the full court a community group’s request to vacate a stay issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit that blocked the map. The nation’s highest court then denied the request in an unsigned order. The map that will be used reportedly leaves one commissioner in his district and places … Continue reading Supreme Court refuses to block Miami election map alleged to be racially gerrymandered
The desire of the Atlanta, Georgia, district attorney prosecuting former President Donald Trump on election-related racketeering charges to try him in March of next year is not realistic given the complexities involved in the case, legal experts told The Epoch … Continue reading March 2024 trial date for Trump in Georgia not realistic, lawyers say
The Georgia grand jury’s indictment of former President Donald Trump over his efforts to overturn 2020 election results may violate democratic norms but that doesn’t mean the case will be resolved quickly, legal experts told The Epoch Times. Their comments … Continue reading Legal experts say Georgia charges against Trump violate democratic norms
Five congressional Democrats have asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas over gifts he reportedly received from conservative billionaires. The letter (pdf), dated Aug. 11, was signed by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Jerrold Nadler … Continue reading Top Democrats demand Justice Department investigate Justice Clarence Thomas
The Supreme Court refused on Aug. 10 to dismiss an appeal brought by a litigious litigant opposing counsel accused of participating in “an unethical extortionate scheme,” after the woman asked the court to throw out the case. The refusal also came after one of the woman’s attorneys was recently disciplined by a lower court for professional misconduct in connection with that so-called scheme. The opposing counsel has accused her legal team of committing fraud. The respondent, Deborah Laufer, is a self-identified civil rights “tester” who challenges hotels’ failure to make information about accessibility to disabled people publicly available, even though … Continue reading Supreme Court refuses to dismiss case of civil rights ‘tester’ accused of lawsuit abuse
The Supreme Court put on hold a proposed bankruptcy plan for beleaguered opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, which is accused of playing a major role in fueling the ongoing opioid crisis. Although the Aug. 10 ruling does not finalize the case, … Continue reading Supreme Court freezes $6 billion opioid settlement with drug maker
A federal judge called a recent Illinois law “stupid” that targets maternal health care centers and sidewalk counselors for expressing their pro-life message after he blocked enforcement of the statute. Judge Iain D. Johnston of the Western Division of the … Continue reading US judge calls Illinois law that targets pro-life pregnancy counseling ‘stupid’
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is preparing to argue in federal court on Aug. 10 that the Biden administration’s “vast censorship enterprise” that’s targeting American voices should be permanently halted. Mr. Bailey, a Republican, is scheduled to appear before the … Continue reading Missouri AG gears up to fight Biden admin on social media censorship