Health Law

After appeals court revives Texas abortion law, docs could be liable for abortions performed in prior 2 days

A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily revived Texas’ restrictive abortion law, raising the possibility that abortion providers could be sued for any procedures performed in a two-day window when the law was blocked.

Oct 11, 2021 9:25 AM CDT

CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom had circulated proposed suit seeking to overturn election

The president and CEO of a conservative Christian legal group played a behind-the-scenes role in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a bid to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to a report by the New York Times. The lawyer is Michael Ferris of Alliance Defending…

Oct 8, 2021 2:45 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: BigLaw firm promotes 151 to partner; legal industry adds 4,300 jobs; big gifts to law schools

Legal industry gains 4,300 jobs The legal services industry gained 4,300 jobs in September, following a gain of 4,000 jobs in August, according to seasonally adjusted and revised numbers by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The legal industry had 1,145,600 jobs in September, a gain of 31,500 jobs since…

Oct 8, 2021 2:40 PM CDT

6th Circuit rules for student athletes denied religious exemption from vaccine mandate

Sixteen student athletes at Western Michigan University who were denied a religious exemption from a vaccine mandate will likely succeed in their lawsuit, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Oct 8, 2021 10:15 AM CDT

New PBS documentary examines Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s legacy

Not long ago, PBS reached out to me regarding a new installment in their “American Experience” series, entitled Sandra Day O’Connor: The First. I was immediately interested; however, I had already started work on two other columns that would take precedent. Be that as it may, I hate to pass up an invitation from a respectable distributor. Consequently, I wanted to take the time to review the program, as I feel later is better than never.

Oct 7, 2021 11:03 AM CDT

Federal judge who blocked Texas abortion law cites these reasons for US standing to sue

The federal government has standing to sue over Texas’ restriction abortion law, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, when he blocked the law as “flagrantly unconstitutional.”

Oct 7, 2021 10:15 AM CDT

It might be better to do away with SCOTUS after objectionable rulings, over one-third of Americans say

More than one-third of Americans say they would agree with the idea of abolishing the U.S. Supreme Court or stripping it of jurisdiction in some areas if its decisions are objectionable to most Americans or Congress.

Oct 6, 2021 12:48 PM CDT

California’s ban on private prisons unconstitutionally interferes with immigration enforcement, 9th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court has ruled that a ban on private prisons in California unconstitutionally restricts the federal government’s authority to operate private detention facilities in the state.

Oct 6, 2021 11:42 AM CDT

Judge on top New York court is reportedly banned from courthouse after refusing to reveal COVID-19 vaccine status

Just one judge in New York’s court system has refused to comply with the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Oct 6, 2021 10:36 AM CDT

Sotomayor refuses to block vaccine mandate for New York City school employees

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday refused to block a vaccine requirement for employees of New York City schools.

Oct 4, 2021 9:25 AM CDT

Kavanaugh tests positive for COVID-19 but has no symptoms

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, although he has no symptoms.

Oct 1, 2021 10:28 AM CDT

Alito defends ‘shadow docket,’ says SCOTUS is wrongly portrayed as ‘dangerous cabal’

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. used a law school speech Thursday to defend the U.S. Supreme Court’s "shadow docket" of emergency orders and summary decisions.

Oct 1, 2021 10:19 AM CDT

An increasing number of physicians are dismissing patients, but are they doing it legally?

Few physicians will admit to ghosting a patient. It’s the type of behavior that could lead to a lawsuit or a patient complaint to a state medical board. In some areas of medicine, patient dismissal rates are increasing, with physicians firing their patients directly and telling them to seek care elsewhere.

Oct 1, 2021 2:40 AM CDT

Senate Democrats criticize SCOTUS ‘shadow docket’ in hearing; Republicans see attempt at justice intimidation

Is the U.S. Supreme Court’s “shadow docket” of emergency orders and summary decisions being misused in a way that undermines the court’s legitimacy? Or are Democrats who are criticizing the docket trying to intimidate the justices?

Sep 30, 2021 12:59 PM CDT

The Supreme Court is in the building—contentious rulings behind, more major cases ahead

U.S. Supreme Court justices are hanging up their phones after a year and a half of teleconference arguments because of the pandemic and returning to the bench for the new term that begins Monday.

Sep 30, 2021 10:40 AM CDT