U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court Issues Sentencing Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that an attempted burglary conviction is a violent felony requiring a 15-year sentence under federal law, SCOTUSblog reports. The decision is James v. United States, No. No. 05–9264. (PDF supplied by SCOTUSblog.) Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote for the majority. He was joined by…

Apr 18, 2007 4:07 PM CDT

School Recruiting Dispute Before Supreme Court

A Tennessee athletic association contends a letter encouraging 12 eighth graders to attend football practice was a recruiting violation that merited a $3,000 fine. The private school that sent the letter responds that the penalty is a violation of its right to free speech. The dispute between the Brentwood Academy…

Apr 18, 2007 3:16 PM CDT

Tougher Regulations Eyed After Bank Ruling

A ruling supporting federal regulation of national bank subsidiaries could shape congressional debate over new laws that would give more protections to consumers, according to a New York Times article. Consumer groups had urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold state authority at a time when foreclosures are increasing and…

Apr 18, 2007 1:31 PM CDT

Supreme Court Rules in Global Crossing, Two Other Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a private company may sue a long distance carrier for failing to pay for calls made without coins from pay phones, scotusblog reports. The 7-2 ruling (posted by scotusblog) reinforces the regulatory authority of the Federal Communications Commission, Associated Press reports. Justice Stephen…

Apr 17, 2007 4:06 PM CDT

No New Cases for U.S. Supreme Court Today

The U.S. Supreme Court granted no new cases on the merits today. However, the high court asked the U.S. Solicitor General to weigh in with his thoughts on three others involving employee benefits, federal labor law and patent rights, reports SCOTUSblog. A response is expected in time to allow the…

Apr 16, 2007 7:14 PM CDT

High Court Works on Overtime

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a case seeking overtime wages for home health care workers. Plaintiff Evelyn Coke, a Jamaican immigrant, worked up to 70 hours a week without overtime pay while caring for the elderly, according to the Chicago Tribune. A federal regulation exempts home…

Apr 16, 2007 4:16 PM CDT

Today in Legal History: Hughes Born, Holocaust Trials Begin & End

On this day in 1910, Charles Evans Hughes was born. A renowned political figure, he twice was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court and served as Chief Justice from 1930 to 1941. On this day in 1961, the trial of Adolf Eichmann, for crimes against humanity in Nazi Germany during…

Apr 12, 2007 1:30 AM CDT

Vermont Emissions Law on Trial

Trial begins in a Vermont court on Tuesday in a case challenging states’ efforts to limit vehicle emissions. The case will be heard in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Reuters reports. “This trial is about whether or not states have the authority to set their own fuel-economy standards. And we…

Apr 10, 2007 1:30 PM CDT

Yale Dean on High Court Short List

Yale Law School Dean Harold Hongju Koh is being talked about as a possible U.S. Supreme Court nominee, should a Democrat win the 2008 Presidential election. Koh would be the first Asian American on the court, the Yale Daily News reports. (Part one of this two-part article is here.) He…

Apr 5, 2007 2:24 PM CDT

A Sixth Sense About Criminal Trials

A young litigator unites Justice Scalia and the court’s liberals over defendants’ rights

Apr 2, 2007 6:30 AM CDT

A Death Sentence Is Brought to Mind

Court examines mental illness and an inmate’s understanding of execution

Apr 2, 2007 6:26 AM CDT

Court Takes Cases Out of the Office

Firing, racial bias, minimum wage fill out employment law issues

Apr 2, 2007 6:14 AM CDT

April 20, 1971

School Busing Gets the Green Light

Apr 2, 2007 6:12 AM CDT

The Strong, Silent Type

Washington Post reporters Kevin Merida and Michael A. Fletcher are the latest journos to explore the enigma that is U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Their book, Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas, drops April 24. Our resident Supreme Court guru, Richard Brust, has these questions for the…

Apr 2, 2007 4:37 AM CDT

Paging Dr. Miles: Antitrust Law Examined

Absent for a decade, price-fixing and competition are back before the high court

Mar 24, 2007 7:50 AM CDT