Ten days ago lawyers for President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to temporarily block a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that upheld a subpoena for Trump’s financial records. Today the justices granted that request, at least until the president’s lawyers file a petition for review of… Read More
Justices issue more orders from November 22 conference
This morning the Supreme Court issued more orders from last week’s private conference. The justices did not add any new cases to their merits docket for this term, and they denied review in several closely watched cases. Perhaps most notably, they turned down a request to reconsider one of last term’s significant decisions – even… Read More
Justices grant government’s petition in dispute over lawsuit against FBI agents
The Supreme Court added one new case to its merits docket this morning. The justices agreed to hear the government’s appeal in FNU [First Name Unknown] Tanzin v. Tanvir, a dispute over whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act allows lawsuits for money damages against individual federal employees. The question arises in a lawsuit filed by… Read More
Justices take up battle over New York City gun ban – and the scope of the Second Amendment?
It has been nearly 10 years since the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment right of individuals to keep and bear arms applies fully to state and local governments. When the justices return to the bench next month, they will wade into the Second Amendment fray once again, this time hearing oral argument in… Read More
No new grants today
This morning the Supreme Court issued orders from last week’s private conference. The justices granted four cases from that conference on Friday afternoon, so they did not add new cases to their docket today. The justices denied review in the case of Victor Saldano, an Argentinian citizen who has been on death row in Texas… Read More
Trump returns to Supreme Court, asks justices to intervene in dispute over financial records
Yesterday lawyers for President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to review a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ordering the president to provide New York prosecutors with his tax returns. Those lawyers were back at the court today, this time asking the justices to temporarily put on hold a… Read More
Justices grant four new cases
This afternoon the Supreme Court issued orders from the justices’ private conference earlier in the day. The justices granted four petitions for review, two of which will be consolidated, for a total of three additional hours of argument this term. The cases will likely be argued early next year. Among the grants today was Google… Read More
Justices debate, but do not resolve, pleading standard for lawsuits alleging racial discrimination in contracts
This morning the Supreme Court heard oral argument in a lawsuit filed by Entertainment Studios Network, a media company owned by African American entrepreneur and entertainer Byron Allen, against cable giant Comcast. ESN and the National Association of African American-Owned Media, an organization with which ESN is affiliated, argue that Comcast violated 42 U.S.C. Section… Read More
Justices torn, hard to read in challenge to decision to end DACA (UPDATED)
It has been more than two years since the Trump administration announced that it would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, an Obama-era policy that allows undocumented young adults who came to the United States as children to apply for protection from deportation. Today the Supreme Court heard oral argument… Read More
Justices grant government’s trademark petition
This afternoon the Supreme Court added one new case to its merits docket for the term, granting the federal government’s petition for review in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office v. Booking.com. The case arose when Booking.com, which operates a website that allows customers to book travel and hotel accommodations, applied for a trademark. The U.S…. Read More