No separate hearing required when police seize cars loaned to drivers accused of drug crimes, SCOTUS rules

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against two women who loaned their cars to others arrested for drug crimes while using the vehicles, leading Alabama police to seek civil forfeiture of the cars.

May 9, 2024 10:44 AM CDT

Kindergarten boy may pursue sex-bias claim after expulsion for wearing earrings, 10th Circuit says

A federal judge applied the wrong standard when he tossed a sex-bias lawsuit filed on behalf of a 5-year-old boy who was expelled for wearing blue stud earrings to kindergarten, a federal appeals court has ruled.

May 1, 2024 9:52 AM CDT

DNA issues ‘cast a pall’ over murder conviction, warranting SCOTUS review, ABA amicus brief says

The U.S. Supreme Court should once again consider the case of a Texas death row inmate whose conviction was based on DNA evidence tested by a lab that “consistently and egregiously mishandled DNA evidence,” the ABA has said in an amicus brief.

Mar 28, 2024 9:02 AM CDT

Judiciary ‘has no power to unimpeach,’ federal judge says while citing Dr. Seuss

A federal judge has tossed former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pro se lawsuit seeking the right to run for political office, despite his impeachment and conviction, saying the complaint is “riddled with problems” and is an “Issue-Spotting Wonderland.”

Mar 26, 2024 8:57 AM CDT

SCOTUS ballot ruling raises new questions even as it answers others

The Supreme Court quickly and unanimously resolved a case this week that had divided legal scholars for months, clearing a path for Donald Trump to remain on the ballot for president nationwide. But in doing so, the justices unleashed new questions that could confront Congress and the courts after the November election. “They’ve introduced new uncertainty,” said Richard Hasen.

Mar 8, 2024 11:45 AM CST

Judge tells US it’s not his job to search for better evidence as he strikes down minority business program

A federal judge in Texas appeared exasperated with government lawyers when he ruled that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency unconstitutionally denies benefits based on race.

Mar 7, 2024 3:17 PM CST

Did ‘grand bargain’ fail to materialize in Trump ballot case? Metadata leads to speculation

The U.S. Supreme Court left "a big clue dangling in the metadata" about potential negotiations when it issued a unanimous decision Monday that kept former President Donald Trump on the ballot in Colorado, according to an article in Slate.

Mar 5, 2024 10:07 AM CST

SCOTUS unanimously keeps Trump on ballot amid sparring over reach of decision; did it ‘insulate’ insurrectionists?

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Colorado can’t kick former President Donald Trump off the primary ballot because it is up to Congress, not the states, to enforce the constitutional ban on insurrectionists holding office.

Mar 4, 2024 9:08 AM CST

Chemerinsky: How not to decide Trump’s Colorado ballot case

How the U.S. Supreme Court writes its opinion in Trump v. Anderson could have enormous long-term implications. The oral arguments on Feb. 8 left no doubt that the Supreme Court will reverse the Colorado Supreme Court and hold that Donald Trump is not disqualified from being on the ballot for the Republican primary in that state.

Feb 21, 2024 8:17 AM CST

Supreme Court seems poised to keep Trump on the Colorado ballot

The Supreme Court on Thursday seemed prepared to keep Donald Trump on the Colorado ballot, expressing deep concerns about the ability of a single state to disqualify a candidate from seeking national office.

Feb 8, 2024 9:30 AM CST

Florida can’t enforce law blocking real estate purchases by Chinese citizens against 2 plaintiffs, court rules

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Florida law barring real estate purchases by Chinese citizens can’t be enforced against two plaintiffs while their court challenge continues.

Feb 6, 2024 1:05 PM CST

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court will hear some of its biggest cases of the term this month

Some of the most important cases of the term will be argued this month before the U.S. Supreme Court. On Feb. 8, the justices will return to the bench earlier than planned to hear Trump v. Anderson, which considers whether former President Donald Trump is disqualified from again being president because of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. On Feb. 26, the court will hear two cases that could have a profound effect on the internet and social media, Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton.

Feb 1, 2024 8:51 AM CST

Yale Law’s Owen Fiss talks about threats to democracy and ‘Why We Vote’

After 50 years as a professor at Yale Law School, Owen Fiss says his students are still idealistic and passionate about the rights won in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. A classroom discussion prompted his new book.

Jan 31, 2024 8:47 AM CST

Arrested citizen journalist wasn’t ‘martyr’ for journalism, 5th Circuit says in tossing her First Amendment suit

Police and prosecutors have qualified immunity that protects them in a lawsuit filed by a citizen journalist arrested for publishing nonpublic information provided by a police source, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Jan 25, 2024 9:24 AM CST

Trump ballot access case on ‘exceptionally fast’ briefing schedule’ in SCOTUS; ‘sprawling’ arguments possible

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Feb. 8 following its decision Friday to hear former President Donald Trump’s petition to overturn Colorado’s decision to keep him off the ballot in that state.

Jan 8, 2024 9:52 AM CST