Yesterday marked the 54th birthday of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, currently the youngest justice serving on the U.S. Supreme Court. Amidst the daily developments, the court on Wednesday refused a stay of execution for Charles Victor Thompson, who was executed hours later in Texas. Thompson was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend, as detailed in court documents.
Another notable matter pending is the challenge to California’s redistricting map, spearheaded by a group of California Republicans. The state is expected to respond to this interim docket matter by 4 p.m. EST today. Additionally, an interim docket case challenging California’s policies on parental notification when public school students choose different pronouns or gender identities is ready for a potential decision by the court at any moment.
Looking ahead, the Supreme Court has not announced its next opinion release date, though it could potentially be on Friday, Feb. 20, which coincides with their next session. Arguments will resume on Monday, Feb. 23, marking the start of the February sitting.
In other news, the Federal Reserve opted to keep interest rates steady at its first Federal Open Market Committee meeting of 2026, amidst scrutiny involving Fed Chair Jerome Powell and upcoming Supreme Court deliberations on the employment status of Fed Governor Lisa Cook. More on this can be found through CBS News.
A legislative action of significant interest involved the Alabama House passing a bill permitting the death penalty for child sexual assault cases. This proposal follows ongoing national discussions to revisit the Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling in Kennedy v. Louisiana, which banned capital punishment for child rape.
On the academic front, Yale University has initiated a policy offering free tuition to families with incomes under $200,000, a move succeeding the 2023 Supreme Court decision restricting university actions to recruit diverse student bodies. More about Yale’s decision can be found at The New York Times.
Finally, another case of major interest is Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County. The Supreme Court is contemplating revisiting a state-level tort claim seeking to hold energy companies accountable for climate-related costs. The federal government, supporting Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil, argues that federal law precludes such state-law claims. The case’s outcome could influence ongoing litigation against energy companies nationwide. Detailed information is available here.