Within the traditionally opaque walls of the United States Supreme Court, instances of leaks have intermittently disrupted the institution’s veneer of secrecy. The most recent attention-grabbing incident occurred in May 2022 when Politico published a draft opinion suggesting the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This act sparked national protests and even culminated in an attempted…
In a significant ruling, the United States Supreme Court has addressed how actuaries should handle calculations for employers withdrawing from multi-employer pension plans. The case, M&K Employee Solutions v. Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund, hinged on whether the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) necessitates using outdated economic assumptions when determining…
In an effort to provide greater transparency and accountability within the Supreme Court’s operations, Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, has proposed legislative reforms targeting the “shadow docket.” This term refers to the Court’s expedited and often non-transparent procedures in issuing emergency orders without public legal justification. The proposed legislation aims to change that…
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in Havana Docks Corporation v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, finding in favor of Havana Docks Corporation, a U.S. company that prior to 1960 held operating rights to docks in Havana’s port. The case revolves around the cruise industry’s use of the port facilities, confiscated by the…
The United States Supreme Court has decided to leave in place a lower court ruling in the ongoing case of Hamm v. Smith, concerning Joseph Smith, an Alabama death-row inmate. In a succinct one-sentence order, the Supreme Court dismissed Alabama’s petition by stating that it was “improvidently granted,” thus supporting the U.S. Court of Appeals…
Legal News Once again, the United States Supreme Court has deferred its decision on whether to review the $5 million jury verdict against former President Donald Trump. The jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a lawsuit filed by journalist E. Jean Carroll in 2022. Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her…
As the legal community hangs on the edge of their seats, the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to release new opinions in argued cases, sparking widespread anticipation among practitioners and scholars alike. The announcements are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT, as reported on a live blog hosted by SCOTUSblog. The justices are not…
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to critically assess two contentious legal matters: the application of the Daubert standard in expert testimony and the reach of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) in federal habeas proceedings. These issues have significant implications for legal practitioners navigating complex litigation and criminal defense. First, the case…
The role of the United States Supreme Court extends beyond being the arbiter of federal legal disputes. Traditionally perceived as the entity that resolves disagreements among lower courts, the Court also shapes significant federal law policy decisions. This dual role has once again come into focus as the Court embarks on deliberating high-profile immigration cases…
The behavior of Supreme Court justices during oral arguments has long been viewed as a significant indicator of case outcomes. Analysts typically describe the process as a form of legal theater where justices ask pointed questions but rarely change their preliminary decisions based on these exchanges. However, recent analysis, as highlighted in a SCOTUSblog article,…
During a recent legal conference in Washington, D.C., Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed concerns about the Supreme Court’s handling of a significant voting rights case, as reported by The Washington Post. Justice Jackson’s critique focused on the timing of the Court’s ruling regarding the expedited Louisiana v. Callais case. She emphasized that the Court’s decision…
The Supreme Court’s approach to emergency docket petitions has once again come under scrutiny, this time at the center of a discourse involving Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. In her recent remarks at Yale Law School, Jackson challenged the traditional method the Court employs when dealing with emergency petitions from the executive branch. As opposed to…
The recent Supreme Court case, Louisiana v. Callais, has raised significant concerns regarding the application of the Purcell principle in relation to the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The Purcell principle, originating from Purcell v. Gonzalez (2006), advises federal courts against altering election laws shortly before elections. In Louisiana v. Callais, however, the conservative justices proceeded…
“`html The upcoming U.S. Supreme Court term will feature a significant case addressing sex discrimination claims under Title IX, a federal civil rights law, which has implications for educational institutions receiving federal funding. Set to be heard in the 2026-2027 docket, the case will determine whether school employees can file sex discrimination lawsuits. This inquiry…
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in the Crowther v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia case during its 2026-2027 term. This case will evaluate if employees at educational institutions that receive federal funding have the right to file lawsuits for sex discrimination under Title IX of the Education…
In the intricate landscape of the U.S. Supreme Court, judicial alliances often defy straightforward categorization, as evidenced by historical cases where ideological lines become blurred. A poignant example is the relationship between Justices Hugo Black and John Marshall Harlan II, whose judicial philosophies and personal backgrounds contributed to an unexpected alliance with complex implications for…
The United States Supreme Court has opted not to reinstate the contested Virginia congressional map, a decision that has generated significant discontent among prominent Virginia Democrats. This determination, as detailed in the supreme court’s official order, came shortly after Virginia’s Democrats and Attorney General Jay Jones submitted a request to allow the state to implement…
In a recent decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has established a critical precedent for arbitration proceedings conducted under the Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties case. Led by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court’s unanimous opinion affirms federal courts’ authority to confirm arbitration awards when they arise in the context of pre-existing federal cases. This ruling effectively…
The ongoing battle over the congressional map in Virginia has taken another twist, as the Supreme Court recently declined a request to allow the state to implement a new congressional map favoring Democrats for the 2026 elections. The request was filed by Virginia’s Attorney General, Jay Jones, along with other Democratic legislators, but was dismissed…
Justice Clarence Thomas recently shared his insights on shared national values and the evolution of friendships within the Supreme Court in a conversation at a conference attended by judges and lawyers from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Reflecting on his upbringing in segregated Georgia, Thomas underscored that despite the period’s racial…
The United States Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that freight brokers can be subject to negligent hiring lawsuits under state law, thereby excluding them from protection under federal legislation—specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) of 1994. This landmark decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II has significant ramifications for freight brokers, shippers, and…
In the formal setting of the United States Supreme Court, where decorum and tradition hold sway, the behavior and conduct of attorneys are under constant scrutiny. The recent oral argument in Mullin v. Doe provides a fresh lens through which to examine courtroom protocols, especially concerning the use of language and other informal gestures. To…
In a recent development, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to keep the abortion pill, mifepristone, accessible by mail. This decision follows a series of intricate legal challenges and reflects the ongoing national debate over access to reproductive healthcare. The Supreme Court ruling effectively halts a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
In a significant turn of events, a group of Republican legislators, alongside an election official and two registered voters, have filed with the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to uphold the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision that nullified a constitutional amendment. This amendment would have allowed the Virginia General Assembly to draft a new congressional…
“`html In a recent development, the United States Supreme Court has decided to temporarily allow the continued mailing of mifepristone, a drug utilized in medication abortions, while ongoing litigation proceeds in the lower courts. The order was issued to extend a pause on a ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. This federal appeals…