In a significant legal ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit has affirmed an $83.3 million jury award for defamation in the case of E. Jean Carroll against former President Donald Trump. This decision rejects Trump’s defense that the 2024 Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity should shield him from liability. The contentious lawsuit is linked to Trump’s comments following Carroll’s accusations of rape. It is distinct from a previous $5 million award related to a separate sexual abuse liability, a verdict that Trump’s team plans to challenge at the Supreme Court, as covered by The New York Times.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court might soon deliberate a case involving Florida parents January and Jeffrey Littlejohn, who have petitioned against the Leon County school system. The Littlejohns claim the school violated their parental rights through a clandestine gender-support plan for their child. This case was dismissed at the district level and upheld by the 11th Circuit, compelling the Littlejohns to seek further appeal, as detailed in the Tallahassee Democrat.
New York finds itself at the center of a looming legal battle regarding abortion access, with Attorney General Letitia James committed to defending state protections for abortion providers. This interstate legal skirmish with Texas stems from a lawsuit involving telehealth abortion services and is potentially headed for the Supreme Court. This can be traced to the larger legal shifts following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, as reported by The 19th News.
The discussion on the Supreme Court’s handling of its emergency orders continues, with Steve Vladeck critiquing the terminology “shadow docket” versus “interim docket,” as coined by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Vladeck’s insights on the permanency and lack of transparency of these orders were shared in his One First newsletter.
Lastly, a new documentary shedding light on the legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice of the Supreme Court, is airing. “Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect” offers an insightful exploration of his contributions to civil rights through expert interviews and accounts from those close to him. Coverage of the documentary’s premiere is available via Above the Law.
The full roundup of these and other Supreme Court-related updates can be accessed through the SCOTUSblog.