A federal judge in Washington, D.C., upheld a controversial $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B visa applications introduced during the Trump administration, affirming the executive branch’s authority to regulate the entry of noncitizens. This ruling came as a setback for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which contested the fee, arguing it would significantly impact businesses reliant…
The United States Supreme Court recently thwarted the Trump administration’s efforts to dispatch National Guard troops to Chicago. The court, through an unsigned order, denied the administration’s request to overturn a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by Judge April Perry of the Northern District of Illinois. Perry’s TRO had stated that there was “no credible…
A US federal judge ordered the Trump administration to ensure due process for Venezuelan migrants who were removed from the United States and sent to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). The ruling, delivered by Judge James Boasberg of the District Court for the District of Columbia, described the deportation of 137 Venezuelan individuals as…
The 1842 Supreme Court case of Prigg v. Pennsylvania may seem an obscure historical footnote, but its implications persist today, intersecting strikingly with modern immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The verdict, which struck down Pennsylvania’s “personal liberty laws” meant to shield free Black individuals from slavecatchers, highlights the continuous tension between state rights and…
In a recent interview, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin reflected on his tenure tackling a range of contentious issues such as actions against the Trump administration, gun control, and public corruption. Platkin’s tenure has been marked by aggressive stances on these topics, and his reflections provide insight into the challenges and successes of these…
In 2025, immigration attorneys navigated a rapidly evolving landscape of policy changes, characterized by frequent and significant reforms. These changes prompted urgent responses from legal professionals as they addressed panicked calls from clients caught off-guard by the shifting rules on visas, work authorizations, and enforcement actions. The year marked a significant challenge for those in…
The prospect of a definitive legal ruling on the constitutionality of former President Donald Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order remains uncertain as the U.S. Supreme Court navigates through a complex procedural landscape. The court’s decision to hear Barbara v. Trump, while placing Washington v. Trump on hold, hints at an elusive path towards a direct…
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) continues to command attention as it navigates complex issues this winter session. As of Monday, December 22, SCOTUS has made noteworthy decisions and is poised to adjudicate cases with significant implications for both the legal and corporate landscapes. On Friday, the Supreme Court decided against a request…
The recent conviction of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan for obstructing federal immigration officers has ignited a complex legal discourse, centering on judicial immunity, the interpretation of obstruction statutes, and the boundaries of judicial conduct. In April 2025, Judge Dugan was charged with obstructing a federal proceeding and concealing a person from arrest. The…
Civil rights and access to justice underwent profound shifts in 2025, marked by significant events that shaped the legal landscape in the United States. Notably, sweeping changes under President Donald Trump’s administration, which returned to office, affected policies ranging from immigration enforcement to federal criminal justice funding, voting rights, and the death penalty. In April,…
The recent decision by the US Department of State to revoke visas of senior electoral officials from Honduras has added a significant dimension to the ongoing electoral turmoil in the Central American country. This move, which affects key figures such as Mario Morazán, head of Honduras’ electoral court, and Marlon Ochoa, a member of the…
In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, Catalonian authorities have evicted over 400 migrants from the Badalona 9 (B9) informal settlement, a site that functioned as a makeshift community for many displaced individuals. The United Nations experts have expressed alarm over this eviction, labeling it as “a serious violation of…
In a noteworthy legal development, Wisconsin circuit court judge Hannah Dugan has been convicted by a federal jury of felony obstruction for her actions during an incident involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Milwaukee courthouse. She was found guilty under 18 U.S.C. § 1505 for obstructing a federal proceeding, making her the first…
The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed a group of immigration judges to proceed with their lawsuit challenging restrictions on their First Amendment rights. This decision came after the Trump administration failed to demonstrate that it would suffer irreparable harm from a lower court’s ruling favoring the judges. The Fourth Circuit had previously revived the lawsuit,…
Yale Law School has announced that Cristina Rodríguez will assume the role of dean, effective February 1, 2026. Currently serving as the deputy dean, Rodríguez will step into the position following the tenure of Heather Gerken, who departed in August to lead the Ford Foundation. Rodríguez’s appointment marks a significant transition for one of the…
The Supreme Court recently denied the Trump administration’s attempt to intervene in a dispute regarding a policy restricting the speaking engagements of immigration judges. This decision came after a federal appeals court remanded the case to a lower court for further examination of the independence of the existing administrative framework handling federal employee claims. Central…
For those following the latest in Supreme Court news, Friday’s edition of SCOTUStoday offers a wide array of legal developments. Starting with a lighter note, in Minnesota, a group of judges and justices are not only dispensing justice but also music. They convene twice a month in an old law library to perform with their…
“`html A Massachusetts judge has been convicted for her role in preventing federal immigration authorities from arresting a migrant at a courthouse. This case has stirred debate about the boundaries of judicial discretion and federal authority within state premises. The judge, Shelley Joseph, reportedly facilitated the escape of an undocumented immigrant who was facing deportation…
The complex case of a Wisconsin judge alleged to have obstructed federal immigration enforcement is now in the hands of a federal jury. The trial delves into the contentious intersection of judicial independence and federal immigration authority, raising questions about whether the judge’s actions were an overreach or an exemplar of legal discretion. The judge…
Democratic lawmakers have taken a step toward greater transparency within the U.S. Supreme Court by introducing legislation aimed at demystifying the court’s so-called “shadow docket.” This term refers to decisions made without full oral arguments or detailed opinions, often expedited and perceived as lacking transparency. These rulings can address significant issues that affect millions, from…
The Italian Court of Cassation has confirmed the acquittal of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in the widely followed Open Arms case. This decision by the court, Italy’s court of last instance, makes the acquittal final, dismissing the appeal by the Prosecutor’s Office of Palermo that sought to annul the initial acquittal from December 2024….
Today marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s divisive 1944 decision in Korematsu v. United States, where the Court upheld the wartime internment of Japanese Americans. While the decision remains officially unoverturned, it has faced substantial historical criticism, most notably from Chief Justice John Roberts, who labeled it as having “no place in law” in…
In 2025, the federal circuit courts experienced a year marked by a significant influx of lawsuits originating from actions taken during the Trump administration. This surge created substantial pressure on the courts, as judges grappled with complex legal issues and released opinions marked by animated rhetoric directed at litigants and sometimes their fellow jurists. Notably,…
In 2025, federal circuit courts were marked by a dynamic landscape shaped by lawsuits originating from the Trump administration’s final years. The judicial benches, often animated in their language, grappled with the implications of these cases, while the addition of relatively few appellate judges seemed to wield significant influence, further bolstering a conservative shift during…
A recent judicial nomination by former President Donald Trump has sparked significant dialogue in the Senate, where concerns have been raised regarding the religious sermons of Lawrence VanDyke, an appointee for a position on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The scrutiny chiefly arises from VanDyke’s past religious activities, which some argue may influence his…