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Ed Martin exits DOJ after turbulent tenure that strained colleagues
3 days ago•Source: The Washington Post
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Texas Ten Commandments in Schools Could Reach the Supreme Court
Civil liberties groups have asked the Supreme Court to hear a challenge to Texas's law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms, a move that could trigger a landmark clash over church-state separation after the 5th Circuit upheld the law citing a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.
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White House ballroom battle advances to Supreme Court
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Ex-SPLC CFO indicted over payments to informants
The Washington Post•12 days ago
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Trump tests limits of court rulings with policy pushes
President Donald Trump is seeking ways to preserve major policies after adverse Supreme Court rulings on tariffs, birthright citizenship and the Fed, through new tariffs, renewed efforts to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook, and executive orders to limit birthright citizenship. Experts say these moves push the court’s rulings without signaling outright defiance, aiming to keep his priorities alive while the court’s authority remains in play.
Blanche Takes DOJ Helm Amid Trump Pressure and DOJ Shortages
Todd Blanche, Trump’s former criminal-defense lawyer, is sworn in as attorney general but faces a DOJ strained by vacancies and low morale, while balancing the president’s demands with legal obligations amid a skeptical judiciary and ongoing investigations.
Prosecutors Drop Vandalism Charge in Reflecting Pool Case Against Former Olympian
Federal prosecutors dropped the felony vandalism charge against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn in the Reflecting Pool case, saying Interior Department documents show contractor errors during a rushed renovation—not vandalism—and following public assertions by Trump that vandals were to blame.
Rising ICE Detentions at Philly Airport Prompt Immigrant Advocacy
ICE arrests at Philadelphia International Airport have surged since mid-July, detaining at least seven people who initially entered the U.S. on visas and sought status changes; one detainee was a 74-year-old grandmother with a pending asylum case. Advocates say the Philadelphia spike mirrors a broader nationwide uptick at airports across the country and warn noncitizens to avoid air travel until more is known. Detainees have been transferred to facilities in other states, and families are raising funds for legal help while city and federal officials offer limited comment.
Cheltenham High hazing case triggers charges against coaches and players
Montgomery County prosecutors charged four Cheltenham High School football coaches and six players after a six‑month grand jury investigation uncovered two hazing incidents in 2025, including assault and the use of a broomstick. The head coach Terance Tolbert, associate head coach Darian McFadden, assistant coach Benjamin Johnson III, and volunteer coach Ralph Burnley face child endangerment and conspiracy charges; two 18‑year‑old players, Isaiah Simpson (assault and conspiracy) and Josiah Peeler (false swearing), are charged as adults, while four younger players are charged as juveniles. Cellphone and text evidence reportedly showed attempts to cover up the assaults. The district canceled the season; a Title IX investigation remains ongoing, and the grand jury urged changes to hazing laws to recognize hazing as child abuse.
Trump seeks Supreme Court reversal of Carroll defamation ruling
President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to overturn the $83 million defamation verdict tied to E. Jean Carroll’s allegations, arguing broad presidential immunity may shield him; Separately, the Justice Department is seeking to substitute the U.S. as the defendant in the case.
Trump seeks Supreme Court backing for stricter mail-ballot limits
Trump asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for an executive order that would tighten mail-in voting for the November midterms; a federal appeals court blocked the order, saying it would sow confusion and disenfranchise voters, a decision supported by Biden- and Bush-appointed judges and opposed by a Trump appointee, as the administration and states wage a high-stakes fight over voting access ahead of key elections.
Tenant Alleges Rent-Setting Software Fueled Price Coordination in Philly
A Philadelphia tenant has filed a lawsuit against Willow Bridge Property Company and RealPage, accusing their use of RealPage’s rent-setting software of violating the city’s new antitrust law that bans price coordination in rents; the suit targets Vue 32 in University City and Rittenhouse Row in Center City (244 apartments) and seeks damages up to triple the actual amount or $2,000 per violation, marking what’s believed to be the first case under the Feb 2025 law. The case follows a DOJ settlement with RealPage over its pricing algorithm, and representatives for the defendants did not comment.
High-stakes booze case tests Alaska plane forfeiture at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will review Ken Jouppi’s appeal challenging Alaska’s plan to confiscate his 1969 plane after he carried beer to a dry village, arguing the forfeiture violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on excessive fines; Alaska defends the seizure as a response to the societal harms of illegal alcohol.
Trump fires newly sworn U.S. attorney in under an hour
Roger Rogoff, sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, was fired by President Trump within an hour, adding to a pattern of firing top federal prosecutors in his second term and raising questions about how U.S. attorneys are appointed.