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SCOTUS Reverses Fourth Circuit, Keeps Immigration Judges’ Free-Speech Case Alive
2 hours ago•Source: The New York Times
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Supreme Court declines NFL appeal in Flores case, steering dispute toward open court
The Supreme Court declined to hear the NFL’s appeal in the Brian Flores arbitration challenge, leaving intact the Second Circuit’s ruling that the league’s arbitration framework—which designates the commissioner as the default arbitrator—may be unenforceable. Flores’ claims against the NFL and several teams will proceed in open court with discovery, and the decision creates a pathway to challenge arbitration in New York federal court, potentially accelerating a settlement or a trial rather than keeping disputes behind closed doors.
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Broadview Six Collapse Triggers DOJ Scrutiny and Sanctions Talk
The Broadview Six conspiracy case collapses after unredacted grand jury transcripts reveal serious prosecutorial misconduct, prompting dismissal of remaining charges, rare apologies from the U.S. attorney, and potential sanctions, highlighting ongoing fallout for the DOJ amid Midway Blitz investigations and related personnel changes.
Judge Recusal Shifts Texas Tech QB Eligibility Fight
A Texas judge recused himself from ruling on whether Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby can play this season in his NCAA eligibility suit. Judge Phillip Hays stepped aside; a replacement will be chosen by the regional presiding judge, Ana Estevez. Sorsby seeks an injunction to allow practice or playing despite a suspension for sports betting, with the NCAA's eligibility ruling still pending in Sorsby v. NCAA, DC-2026-CV-0791.
Valve seeks dismissal of NY gambling suit over CS2 loot boxes
Valve moved to dismiss the New York attorney general’s lawsuit alleging it profited from unregulated gambling via Counter-Strike 2 loot boxes, arguing the virtual items are more like collectible baseball cards with subjective value and that opening cases is not illegal gambling. The company warns banning mystery packs could disrupt billions of daily transactions across everyday products, while NY seeks damages and an injunction; the case, overseen by NY Supreme Court Justice Nancy Bannon, highlights a broader regulatory clash as Valve defends its decade-long practice of selling mystery boxes.
Murdaugh Murder Verdict Vacated, Second Trial Looms
South Carolina's Supreme Court vacated Alex Murdaugh's 2023 double-murder conviction after ruling that Colleton County clerk Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors, denying him a fair trial and setting the stage for a retrial (the prosecutor even signaling the possibility of the death penalty). While Murdaugh remains imprisoned for unrelated financial crimes, the ruling raises questions about venue, media exposure, and trial strategy as both sides brace for a new proceeding, with Hill later pleading guilty to misconduct in office.
Judge halts Kansas ban on gender-affirming care for minors
A Kansas judge granted an injunction blocking the enforcement of a newly approved law banning gender-affirming treatments for minors, after two teenagers’ parents, represented by the ACLU, sued to allow their continuity of care while the case proceeds. The attorney general plans to appeal; if upheld, the injunction would last for the duration of the lawsuit, with the court citing rights to personal autonomy and parental medical decision-making.
Grief, Not Guilt: Nevada Stillbirth Case Exposes Risks of Criminalizing Pregnancy Outcomes
A Nevada mother, Patience Rousseau, spent over two years in prison after a 2018 Facebook post and cop-misinterpreted actions were used to charges of manslaughter in a stillbirth, despite abortion being legal in the state. A 2021 ruling vacated the conviction for ineffective counsel, and she received a $100,000 settlement in 2025; the case underscores a broader trend of prosecutors using broad or old laws to criminalize pregnancy outcomes rather than focusing on the fetus’s harm. It also concerns the mishandling of the baby’s remains and highlights calls for reform and greater support for pregnant people facing loss and poverty.
Weinstein Rape Trial Mistrial Pushes Renewed Pursuit of Case
A New York jury deadlocked on Harvey Weinstein’s third-degree rape charge after three days of deliberations, leading the judge to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors have 30 days to decide whether to retry the count. Weinstein, 74, remains incarcerated from a 2023 Los Angeles conviction, and sentencing on related counts could follow if prosecutors pursue the New York case again. Actress Jessica Mann testified during the trial, while Weinstein’s defense argued reasonable doubt and highlighted aspects of their interaction. The mistrial leaves the central charge unresolved and sets up the possibility of a fourth trial.
California Bans Kars4Kids Jingle Over False Advertising
A California judge ruled that the long-running Kars4Kids jingle constitutes false advertising and ordered the charity to stop airing it in California within 30 days, require disclosures of its religious affiliation and geographic focus, and pay $250 restitution to a plaintiff; the ruling notes the ad's framing can create an unfair playing field for local charities and underscores that funds largely go to Oorah, which uses donations for Israel-based programs, including a building purchase.
SC High Court Orders New Trial for Alex Murdaugh Over Jury Influence
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s two life sentences for the 2021 murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul, ordering a retrial after finding county clerk Becky Hill improperly influenced the jury; the decision remands the case for a new trial, a development that has reportedly angered Murdaugh’s son Buster who fears reliving the trauma and notes growing strain in their relationship.
Supreme Court Keeps Mail-Order Abortion Pill Access Intact
In a shadow-docket ruling, the Supreme Court blocked the Fifth Circuit’s attempt to ban mail-order mifepristone, keeping nationwide access available for now as Louisiana’s challenge moves back to the Fifth Circuit. The 7-2 decision, with Justices Thomas and Alito dissenting, highlights ongoing clashes between state abortion restrictions, federal drug regulation, and the Comstock Act, while the FDA continues its safety review of mifepristone and the case awaits further appellate action.