Trials & Litigation

Retired Supreme Court Justice Breyer will hear cases with 1st Circuit

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is returning to the federal bench.

Jan 2, 2025 1:49 PM CST

First Amendment bars kosher inspector from suing Jewish nonprofit, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has found that an inspector who ensured that food products complied with Jewish dietary law cannot pursue a job-related lawsuit against the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, a nonprofit corporation that runs the country’s largest kosher certification program.

Jan 2, 2025 1:23 PM CST

Houston judge should not have received public reprimand, special review court says

A Houston judge who was issued a public reprimand for failing to timely rule on motions has been exonerated.

Jan 2, 2025 11:41 AM CST

New Jersey bar can reserve positions for members of underrepresented groups, appeals court says

The New Jersey State Bar Association has a First Amendment right to expressive association that would be violated if forced to change a diversity program for leadership positions, a state appeals court has ruled.

Dec 23, 2024 2:22 PM CST

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court confirms conservative leanings in 2024, shows no signs of changing

The last year at the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed what has been clear since President-elect Donald Trump selected three justices between 2017 and 2020: It is a very conservative court. Those who are conservative celebrate this, and those who are liberal decry it. But no one disputes that when the court is ideologically divided, it is virtually always a 6-3 decision with a conservative result. This was certainly true in 2024, and it is likely to remain that way for many years to come.

Dec 23, 2024 8:46 AM CST

Poll: Which ABA Journal magazine cover from 2024 was your favorite?

We covered a wide array of diverse, in-depth and hard-hitting legal topics at the ABA Journal this year.

Dec 20, 2024 10:35 AM CST

Check out our favorite 2024 photo galleries

From cartoon captions to court rulings that shaped the Endangered Species Act to book recommendations for lawyers, the ABA Journal presents our favorite photo galleries from this year. Which photo gallery was your favorite?

Dec 20, 2024 9:18 AM CST

Fani Willis disqualified from Trump election case by Georgia appellate court

A Georgia appellate court overturned a judge’s ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis to remain in charge of the criminal racketeering case against Donald Trump—a decision that could doom the high-profile prosecution.

Dec 19, 2024 9:38 AM CST

Litigating the Tower of Pisa fiasco

I have always been interested in mistakes, also known as errors, blunders or, in my best legalese, boo-boos. I am especially interested in historical iconic mistakes. I just read that the city of Bologna, Italy, has two towers, “le due torri,” both closed to visitors because they also are now…

Dec 19, 2024 9:04 AM CST

NRA must hire court-approved compliance consultant, says judgment in New York’s civil suit

A civil lawsuit that sought the dissolution of the National Rifle Association has ended with a final judgment that reforms the group’s governance and requires court approval of deals to resolve a $5.4 million judgment against former CEO Wayne LaPierre.

Dec 17, 2024 12:11 PM CST

When judges turn to Christmas movies for help

’Tis the season for the staple of classic Christmas movies. They leave lasting memories for everyone—and for some judges, that includes calling them back for assistance when deciding cases.

Dec 17, 2024 11:31 AM CST

TikTok asks SCOTUS to block law that would shut down app

TikTok has asked the Supreme Court to block a federal law that would shut down the wildly popular platform in the United States next month unless the company divests from Chinese ownership.

Dec 17, 2024 11:25 AM CST

Party at federal judge’s home involved ‘significant underage drinking,’ leading to fight and plaintiff’s injuries, suit says

Updated: A federal judge who oversaw one of the criminal cases against Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, is facing a lawsuit alleging that two “heavily intoxicated underage minors” got into a fight in front of the judge’s home during a party there that involved "significant underage drinking," leading to significant injuries for the plaintiff.

Dec 17, 2024 8:46 AM CST

Tween’s parents can’t sue video chat service for child porn and sex trafficking, 11th Circuit rules

Parents who alleged that their 11-year-old daughter was tricked and threatened into making child pornography can’t sue an online service that randomly places people into video chat rooms, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Dec 16, 2024 12:00 PM CST

Top Montana court allows gender-affirming care for trans minors during litigation, citing privacy protections

The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday cited state constitutional privacy protections when it upheld a judge’s decision to block a law that bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Dec 12, 2024 11:52 AM CST