The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Tuesday in a challenge to a Biden administration policy that prioritizes certain groups of unauthorized immigrants for arrest and deportation. Although some justices questioned the legality of the policy, there were also questions about whether the states challenging the policy could bring their lawsuit at all, and whether… Read More
Justices delve into a trio of thorny issues in states’ challenge to federal immigration policy
Justices worry that broad reading of federal bribery law could sweep in lobbyists
The Supreme Court appears poised to reverse the conviction of a powerful New York political aide who took money in exchange for helping to facilitate a real estate development. Joseph Percoco was sentenced to six years in prison for violating a federal fraud law that makes it a crime to deprive members of the public… Read More
In U.S. v. Texas, broad questions over immigration enforcement and states’ ability to challenge federal policies
The Supreme Court will hear oral argument on Tuesday in a dispute over the Biden administration’s authority to set immigration policy. Texas and Louisiana are challenging a federal policy that prioritizes certain groups of unauthorized immigrants for arrest and deportation, arguing that it violates federal law. But the Biden administration and its supporters counter that… Read More
Former aide to Andrew Cuomo wants court to narrow scope of federal bribery law
The Supreme Court will hear oral argument on Monday in the latest in a series of cases involving the reach of federal public-corruption laws. The question before the justices in Percoco v. United States is whether an individual can be convicted of violating those laws even when he is not a government official or employee…. Read More
Court declines to block execution of Missouri man who says his conviction was tainted by racial bias
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to block the execution of Kevin Johnson, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection in Missouri on Nov. 29. There were no recorded dissents from the court’s brief order. Johnson was convicted and received the death penalty for the 2005 shooting death of William McEntee, a police officer…. Read More
Cecilia “Cissy” Marshall, widow of Thurgood Marshall, dies at 94
Cecilia “Cissy” Marshall, the widow of the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, who was the first Black justice to serve on the Supreme Court, died on Tuesday in Falls Church, Virginia, the court announced. She was 94. Cissy Marshall was born in Hawaii. After World War II, she moved to New York City, where she took… Read More
Justices clear the way for House committee to obtain Trump’s tax returns
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a request from former President Donald Trump to block the disclosure of his tax returns to a congressional committee. The brief order clears the way for the House Committee on Ways and Means to obtain six years’ worth of federal tax returns for Trump and his companies. The court… Read More
Biden administration asks justices to revive student-debt relief plan after lower court blocked it
Telling the justices that a lower-court ruling blocking the Biden administration’s student-debt relief program “leaves millions of economically vulnerable borrowers in limbo,” the administration came to the Supreme Court on Friday, asking the justices to allow the $400 billion program to go forward while challenges to it continue in the lower courts. The 40-page filing… Read More
Justices allow another execution to proceed, rejecting final appeal of Oklahoma man
For the fourth time in 24 hours, the Supreme Court declined to block an execution. On Thursday morning, the justices rejected a plea from Oklahoma inmate Richard Fairchild, who had asked the justices to put his execution on hold to give him time to appeal a state court’s ruling on his mental competency. But in… Read More
Justices green-light Texas execution of man who raised religious-rights claim
The Supreme Court rejected a request from Texas inmate Stephen Barbee to postpone his execution, scheduled for Wednesday evening, after a judge ruled that the state was not adequately protecting inmates’ religious rights in the execution chamber. Texas agreed to allow Barbee’s minister to touch him and pray out loud during the lethal injection. But… Read More