The Supreme Court is once again the focal point of national attention as several states are considering policies echoing a debate from decades past. On this day in 1980, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Stone v. Graham, striking down a Kentucky statute that mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. This ruling, citing the First Amendment’s establishment clause, remains pertinent as some states look to reintroduce similar displays, a development highlighted by SCOTUSblog earlier this year.
- After a private conference last Friday, the Supreme Court justices deliberated on various petitions for review.
- This morning, the court is slated to release an order list at 9:30 a.m. EST, potentially announcing new cases for consideration this term, as detailed in their timeline.
- The Trump administration and Illinois along with Chicago’s legal teams are scheduled to submit their final briefs concerning Trump v. Illinois, which delves into presidential authority over deploying the National Guard.
- The Supreme Court is being urged to halt California laws mandating corporate disclosures on climate impacts, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and allies argue these requirements encroach on First Amendment rights.
- According to the Associated Press, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane announced he would approve a settlement involving Purdue Pharma. This agreement, updated from a prior plan disallowed by the Supreme Court, commits the Sackler family to contribute up to $7 billion over 15 years.
- The Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump has altered food tariffs amid a Supreme Court review of his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
- Two catholic preschools have petitioned the Supreme Court to reconsider a decision restricting participation in a state-funded program contingent on nondiscrimination policies concerning LGBTQ admissions. Chalkbeat provides further context.
- Michael Bobelian, in a Time article, explores parallels in judicial scrutiny faced by the Supreme Court across different eras, drawing on the pressures of the McCarthy period.
In the ongoing legal intricacies surrounding the estate of Ferdinand Marcos, the Second Circuit previously endorsed a mandate for the Republic of the Philippines to repatriate billions allegedly siphoned by the former dictator. This decision was temporarily paused at the Supreme Court, albeit now resumed after Justice Sonia Sotomayor vacated the stay.
Additionally, the Federalist Society’s recent National Lawyers Convention spotlighted judicial oversight themes, while other deliberations at the Supreme Court include the examination of “extraordinary and compelling” cases for compassionate release, as detailed in separate reporting by SCOTUSblog.