The Supreme Court on Thursday tossed out a challenge to a Delaware constitutional provision requiring that appointments to the state’s major courts reflect a political balance. The justices unanimously agreed that John Adams, the Delaware lawyer contesting the requirement, lacks a legal right to sue, known as standing, because he did not show that he… Read More
Justices allow Muslim men placed on “no fly” list to sue FBI agents for money damages
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday that three Muslim men who say that they were put on the “no fly” list after they refused to become FBI informants can sue the FBI agents who put them there for money damages. The decision was a significant one not only for the plaintiffs but also for… Read More
Argument analysis: “Very hard questions” in dispute over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shareholder suit
The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Wednesday in a high-stakes battle over the regulation of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the wake of the 2008 housing crisis. Shareholders in the company have challenged both the constitutionality of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which Congress created to oversee the two companies, and… Read More
Trump asks to enter Texas election lawsuit
President Donald Trump on Wednesday joined Texas in a last-ditch and unprecedented effort to persuade the Supreme Court to delay the Electoral College vote and block four states – Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – from casting votes for President-elect Joe Biden, who won the popular vote in each state. Trump argued that election officials… Read More
Case preview: The $124 billion questions – Justices to hear argument in dispute over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shareholder suit
The Supreme Court in June ruled in Seila Law v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that statutory restrictions on the president’s ability to remove the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau violated the Constitution’s separation of powers. On Wednesday, the court will consider whether a different set of restrictions, governing the removal of the director… Read More
Justices won’t stop Pennsylvania from certifying election for Biden
The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a request from Pennsylvania Republicans to block the state from certifying the results of the Nov. 3 election for President-elect Joe Biden. With less than eight hours remaining before the “safe harbor” deadline for states to finalize the post-election certification of their votes in the Electoral College, the… Read More
Texas tries Hail Mary to block election outcome (updated)
In a last-ditch effort to forestall the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, Texas sought late Monday to file a lawsuit directly in the Supreme Court, attempting to delay the Electoral College vote and prevent four states – Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – from casting their Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden, who… Read More
Argument analysis: Many questions, few solutions on immunity in claims arising from Nazi-era art sale
The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Monday in a dispute over a collection of medieval Christian art on display at a Berlin museum. The question before the justices in Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp is whether the lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., by the heirs of several German Jewish art dealers who allege… Read More
Justices seek government’s views in antitrust case
The Supreme Court issued orders on Monday from the justices’ private conference on Dec. 4. The justices had already granted two new petitions for review, involving the legality of Medicaid work requirements, from that conference on Friday, so it was no surprise that the justices did not add any new cases to their merits docket… Read More
Case preview: Justices to consider immunity for Germany in claims arising from Nazi-era art sale
It has been nearly 90 years since Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany, and 75 years since the end of World War II. Despite the passage of time, efforts to recover valuable works of art that were seized by the Nazis, or sold to them under duress, are still ongoing. On Monday, the Supreme… Read More