Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS won’t review abortion ultrasound law; 9th Circuit edits its Taylor Swift decision
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Supreme Court won’t review Kentucky abortion law requiring ultrasounds
The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a challenge to a Kentucky law requiring doctors to display fetal ultrasounds and describe the images to women who request abortions. Doctors who challenged the law claimed that it violated their First Amendment rights. Federal appeals courts are divided on the issue. (The New York Times, the Associated Press)
9th Circuit deletes eyebrow-raising paragraph from its Taylor Swift opinion
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco has deleted a controversial paragraph from an October decision that had reinstated a copyright suit against singer Taylor Swift. The deleted paragraph had raised eyebrows because it said disputes about originality are questions of fact, and it would be dangerous for such decisions to be made quickly by a judge. Experts said that approach could limit judges’ gate-keeping function. The deletion does not affect the result, which reinstated a lawsuit claiming that Swift’s “Shake It Off” lyrics infringed the copyright to a song called “Playas Gon’ Play” by female R&B group 3LW. (Law360)
PG&E announces $13.5B California wildfire settlement
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has agreed to a settlement valued at $13.5 billion to pay claims by California wildfire victims. The settlement covers claims associated with four wildfires that occurred over four years, beginning in 2015. A federal bankruptcy judge will have to approve the settlement. In previous settlements, PG&E agreed to pay $1 billion to cities and counties and $11 billion to insurers that have paid insurance claims. Lawsuits have blamed wildfires on the utility company’s alleged failure to maintain equipment. (The Washington Post, the New York Times)
Ginsburg temporarily blocks subpoena for Trump’s financial records
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg temporarily blocked a subpoena Friday for President Donald Trump’s banking records by two House committees. The one-week stay gives the Supreme Court time to consider a longer stay to allow the filing of a cert petition. (SCOTUSblog, Politico)
