A recent decision by a US federal judge regarding the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist, has drawn attention within legal and civil rights circles. Judge Michael E. Farbiarz of the US District Court for the District of New Jersey refused to order Khalil’s immediate release from immigration detention. This decision comes despite his…
President Donald Trump, along with his allies, is adopting a distinct approach in response to the increasing number of court orders opposing his administrative policies: increasing the financial burden on those who choose to litigate against them. The focal point of this strategy involves House Republicans’ initiative to mandate financial assurances from plaintiffs seeking a…
Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the leading law firms in the U.S., is spearheading an appeal on behalf of former President Donald Trump. The appeal pertains to a 34-count criminal conviction regarding the falsification of business records linked to hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The defense, guided by Robert Giuffra, co-chair…
Progressive advocacy groups have expressed disappointment with the Senate Democrats’ approach during the first judicial nominations hearing for President Donald Trump’s picks. The critique comes as progressives hoped for a more rigorous examination of the nominees, particularly in the wake of the Senate Republicans’ intense scrutiny of President Joe Biden’s judicial candidates during his term….
The Trump administration is poised to enact a controversial plan to transfer thousands of undocumented migrants to the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. According to government documents reported by POLITICO and the Washington Post, 9,000 migrants are currently being vetted for this move, with transfers expected to begin imminently. The Migrant Operations Center at…
The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center announced that David Shapiro, the founder and former director of its Supreme Court and appellate program, will return to serve as the executive director starting August 4. This marks the third leadership transition in the organization’s 40-year history. Shapiro expressed enthusiasm for rejoining the Center, which has significantly…
The decline in shareholder proposals, particularly those focused on environmental and social issues, reflects a significant shift in the business landscape. In the past, activist investors were a driving force behind bringing various ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues to the forefront for publicly traded companies. These proposals ranged from demanding financial institutions to address…
The MacArthur Justice Center, a key player in civil rights litigation, has appointed David Shapiro as its new executive director. Shapiro steps into the leadership role following the departure of Amir Ali, who has been appointed as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Prior to this appointment, Shapiro served…
In a decision that holds potential implications for the provision of legal services to prisoners, the Seventh Circuit Court has upheld a ruling from a federal court in Peoria, Illinois, concerning pro bono legal representation. The court concluded that the Peoria court did not err when discontinuing its efforts to secure pro bono counsel for…
In a remarkable display of judicial productivity, the U.S. Supreme Court issued six opinions in a single day. These decisions address a broad range of legal issues that will likely have significant implications for various sectors. Among the key rulings, the Court interpreted aspects of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, clarifying points related…
A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court will likely simplify the process for straight and white plaintiffs to bring forward claims of reverse discrimination under federal civil rights law. The Court ruled unanimously that such plaintiffs do not need to meet a more stringent burden than minority plaintiffs when filing claims under Title VII…
Supreme Court Decision on Labcorp Class Action On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a petition from Labcorp seeking to restrict the size of a class action lawsuit alleging the company discriminated against blind individuals using their self-service check-in kiosks. The decision, delivered in an unsigned opinion, was deemed improvidently granted, signaling the…
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to review Nicholson v. W.L. York, Inc initially received scant media attention. However, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent brings critical issues to light that merit close consideration by legal professionals, especially those focused on civil rights and workplace equity. The crux of the case involved whether repeated refusals to…
“`html On Thursday, June 5, the legal community will be closely monitoring as the court releases its opinions for one or more argued cases from the current judicial term. This development is scheduled to be covered with continuous updates through live blogging. Such disclosure of judicial opinions can often have significant implications for the legal…
The legal community is poised for another round of opinion releases from the Supreme Court, scheduled for 10 a.m. EDT today. There is heightened anticipation as each new decision has the potential to reshape legal and regulatory landscapes. Legal professionals and enthusiasts alike can participate in real-time discussions through the live blog starting at 9:30…
The Supreme Court has announced the addition of four new cases to its docket for the 2025-26 term, addressing various significant legal issues. This follows the court’s decision to deny review in several other cases, including challenges to gun-control measures in Rhode Island and Maryland. The announcement was detailed in a list of orders released…
The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Kousisis v. United States upheld wire fraud convictions while leaving certain legal definitions, specifically what constitutes a “material” misrepresentation, open to interpretation. Delivered by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the Court’s decision highlights the nuanced application of materiality within wire fraud allegations, a topic of increasing significance…
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) recently declared that New York State’s ban on Native American school mascots violates federal civil rights law. This determination follows a DOE investigation into the state’s mascot prohibitions, which were implemented after the DOE initiated an inquiry in response to a complaint from The Native American Guardians Association (NAGA)….
Harvard University has agreed to transfer ownership of the historic Zealy Daguerreotypes, 175-year-old images of enslaved individuals, to the descendants of those featured in the photographs. This decision concludes a legal battle initiated by Tamara Lanier, a direct descendant of Renty and his daughter Delia, who appear in the images. The settlement also involves the…
The discourse surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the United States has become particularly contentious, reflecting broader societal divisions. Amidst this evolving landscape, former President Donald Trump’s criticism of DEI initiatives as discriminatory remains a focal point. This perspective, however, overlooks persistent discrimination issues in the U.S. workplace, particularly for Black workers, and…
In the latest legal dilemma for the Mississippi-based firm Butler Snow, attorneys are grappling with potential repercussions stemming from the submission of AI-generated legal citations in a significant civil rights case. Butler Snow, retained by the state of Alabama to manage its prison system defenses, has come under scrutiny after a court filing associated with…
A retaliation lawsuit brought by a Black attorney against the prominent legal recruiting firm Major Lindsey & Africa LLC has been dismissed, following a joint stipulation to end the litigation. This development marked the conclusion of a legal battle that had seen Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan of the US District Court for the District…
Charlene Carter, a flight attendant known for her anti-abortion Christian stance, has petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for a revision of its decision regarding imposed religious-liberty training for three attorneys representing Southwest Airlines Co. Carter seeks clarification that a lower court’s sanctions, aside from the training mandate, remain intact. This…
Each weekday, legal professionals and enthusiasts alike keenly await the curated selection of Supreme Court-related news articles and commentary provided by SCOTUSblog. On Friday, May 23, the morning read offered insights into several significant legal developments. One notable piece from NPR discussed the Supreme Court’s decision to allow former President Trump to dismiss members of…
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Civil Rights Office has concluded that Columbia University is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This determination stems from the university’s alleged “deliberate indifference” to instances of student-on-student harassment targeting Jewish students dating from October 7, 2023, to the present….