Abortion

What does Equal Rights Amendment ratification in Virginia mean for its chances?

The Equal Rights Amendment has been battling the numbers since 1979, at which time it fell three states short of becoming part of the Constitution. As of 2020, however, just one state was needed to meet a state count threshold to pass the ERA—that’s until Virginia made history on Wednesday, ratifying the amendment.

Jan 16, 2020 4:19 PM CST

Over 200 federal lawmakers urge SCOTUS to reconsider Roe; DOJ takes narrower stance

More than 200 members of Congress filed an amicus brief Thursday that encouraged the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider and possibly overrule Roe v. Wade when it decides a case on a restrictive Louisiana abortion law.

Jan 6, 2020 3:27 PM CST

Chemerinsky: It’s likely to be an amazing year in the Supreme Court

No U.S. Supreme Court term in recent memory has had more potential blockbuster cases on the docket than this one. The court is likely to dominate the headlines in May, and especially June 2020, with rulings on almost every major controversial area of law.

Jan 2, 2020 11:17 AM CST

SCOTUS goes into the new year with a loaded plate as impeachment trial looms

The U.S. Supreme Court has multiple high-profile cases on its docket this term, including cases to be argued in early 2020 on state aid to religion, abortion and President Donald Trump’s desire to shield his personal finances from government subpoenas.

Jan 2, 2020 9:37 AM CST

Chemerinsky: 2019 was all about setting up the blockbuster year 2020 promises to be

The past year was unusual in the U.S. Supreme Court because the justices handed down only a few blockbuster decisions but then filled their docket with a stunning number of cases of potentially great significance to be decided in spring 2020. Interestingly, the court could have taken many of these cases in the October 2018 term for decisions in June 2019, but it did not do so.

Dec 23, 2019 9:34 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Retired lawyer liable for son’s death; SCOTUS rejects homelessness case

93-year-old retired lawyer is found liable for son’s shooting death On Friday, jurors in San Diego found a 93-year-old retired lawyer liable for $9.5 million in damages for killing his son with a shotgun a year ago. The lawyer, Richard Peck, had claimed that he shot his son in self-defense.…

Dec 16, 2019 4:42 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS won’t review abortion ultrasound law; 9th Circuit edits its Taylor Swift decision

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…

Dec 9, 2019 4:36 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: ‘Not qualified’ judicial nominee confirmed; white nationalist group awarded attorney fees

Judicial nominee rated ‘not qualified’ wins confirmation Judicial nominee Sarah Pitlyk was confirmed Wednesday to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri despite a “not qualified” rating by the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary. The ABA says its rating was based on a lack of…

Dec 5, 2019 4:56 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: AG Barr said to disagree with IG; 350-plus lawyers who had abortions file SCOTUS brief

AG Barr reportedly disagrees with DOJ watchdog on justification for Russia probe U.S. Attorney General William Barr reportedly disagrees with a key conclusion in an upcoming report by the Department of Justice’s inspector general on the origins of the Russia investigation. Sources told the Washington Post that Barr thinks the…

Dec 3, 2019 4:40 PM CST

ABA amicus brief urges SCOTUS to follow precedent in Louisiana abortion case

The ABA filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday that urges the justices to reverse an appellate decision upholding a Louisiana law that requires physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.

Dec 2, 2019 4:33 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Chief justice blocks Trump accounting subpoena; Ginsburg’s back at work

Chief justice temporarily blocks subpoena for Trump accounting records U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. temporarily stayed an appeals court ruling Monday that upheld a House committee subpoena for President Donald Trump’s financial records from his accounting firm Mazars USA. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the…

Nov 18, 2019 4:36 PM CST

Live blog of confirmation hearings, Day 1: Kavanaugh pledges an open mind in every case

Updated: Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon that he “will keep an open mind in every case” if he is confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Kavanaugh said he looks forward to the confirmation hearing, without mention of the stormy start to the hearing…

Sep 4, 2018 5:25 PM CDT

ABA committee gives Kavanaugh a well-qualified rating

The confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh begins Tuesday, with an introduction by a liberal litigator and later testimony by the ABA committee that rates judicial nominees.

Sep 4, 2018 6:00 AM CDT

Chief Justice Roberts slides into the high court’s ideological middle

Anthony M. Kennedy has been the median justice since Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s 2006 retirement. That role now may fall to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

Sep 1, 2018 2:15 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: What’s at stake if Kavanaugh is on the Supreme Court

To a very large extent, liberals and conservatives agree as to the likely effects of Judge Brett Kavanaugh replacing Justice Anthony Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court. They disagree, of course, as to whether these changes are desirable. With the hearings on the Kavanaugh nomination scheduled to begin Sept. 4, it is important to consider what his confirmation would mean.

Aug 29, 2018 6:15 AM CDT