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Judge Drops Proud Boys’ Jan. 6 Case After DOJ Push, Citing Separation of Powers
A federal judge reluctantly approved the DOJ’s motion to drop the Proud Boys’ Jan. 6 seditious-conspiracy case with prejudice, saying he had no authority to override prosecutors who vacated the convictions. The decision ends one of the riot’s most high-profile prosecutions and aligns with Trump-era pardons and DOJ moves to erase related convictions, while Tarrio had been pardoned and others’ convictions were left for appeal or had their sentences commuted; DOJ is also weighing vacating related cases like the Oath Keepers as Amit Mehta weighs those decisions.
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Florida court orders DHS to reinstate bulk-access to SAVE data for voter verification
A Florida federal judge ruled that DHS must allow four Republican-led states to again access the SAVE citizenship-verification database, reinstating bulk-upload and SSN-search features for purging noncitizens from voter rolls, despite a separate D.C. ruling blocking access. The decision creates a clash between courts and is likely to spark stays, appeals, and further litigation, with LWV and EPIC weighing in and the matter potentially heading to the circuit courts or the Supreme Court.

Florida Judge Dismisses Trump’s $3.8B Defamation Case Against Washington Post
A Florida federal judge granted summary judgment for the Washington Post in Donald Trump’s $3.8 billion defamation suit, finding no clear and convincing evidence of actual malice over a 2023 report linking Trump Media Group to obscure Caribbean-linked financing; the ruling follows corrections and adds another setback for Trump in media-related lawsuits.

SCOTUS allows bans on trans girls in girls’ sports, but leaves broader rights debates unresolved
The Supreme Court ruled that states may ban transgender girls from female sports teams under the Constitution and Title IX, but stopped short of requiring bans or broad transgender-rights rulings beyond athletics. The decision is narrowly framed around sports, with Justices Kavanaugh and Thomas emphasizing safety, fairness, and biological distinctions, while Justice Gorsuch notes the ruling relies on Title IX text rather than reworking wider rights. Liberal justices and advocates say many transgender rights issues remain for future cases, and the ruling leaves ongoing battles over bathrooms, locker rooms, and funding to subsequent litigation and policy fights.

Eleventh Circuit Rules Florida’s Stop WOKE Act Violates Professors’ Free Speech
An Eleventh Circuit panel ruled that Florida's Stop WOKE Act violates professors' First Amendment rights and affirmed a district court's finding that the law restricting how race- and gender-related topics are taught in public universities is unconstitutional; the decision signals that lawmakers cannot impose broad, viewpoint-based limits on campus instruction, even as they retain some authority to shape curriculum.

Two Roberts rulings, one term, two opposite visions of power
Chief Justice John Roberts authored two major decisions this term that pull in opposite directions: Slaughter ends independent agency status by allowing presidential firing for any reason, while Cook carves out a Fed-specific exemption to preserve independence, a split critics say is cynical and incompatible, revealing a judiciary agenda that strengthens executive power for business interests and undermines civil-service independence.

Forensic tests sharpen Tony Hsieh estate dispute over 2015 will
Forensic analysts in Nevada are examining a disputed 2015 will in Tony Hsieh’s estate after his death in a Connecticut fire, testing ink and signatures to determine authenticity amid family and executor disputes; a Las Vegas judge has appointed a special master to oversee the process as the origin of the document remains murky.
Court rejects Herridge’s emergency bid, source-disclosure fines loom
The Supreme Court declined former Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge's emergency appeal to halt $800-a-day fines for refusing to reveal her sources in a Privacy Act-related case tied to a Virginia training firm with alleged ties to the Chinese military, leaving the fines to accrue while keeping open the possibility of further review. Justice Kavanaugh reportedly would have granted the request, and Paul Clement has joined the case on Herridge's behalf as Fox News defends protecting journalistic sourcing.

Gorsuch hints at potential limits of birthright citizenship in Trump order
Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote a brief dissent in the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling, suggesting the Trump administration's order could face constitutional challenges if applied to children born to parents unlawfully present; he contrasts that with the majority's view that birthright citizenship attaches to anyone born in the United States under the Fourteenth Amendment, a point Chief Justice Roberts framed with the 'soil, not blood' principle.

SCOTUS narrows ruling on trans athletes, foreshadowing state-by-state battles
The Supreme Court left in place two state bans on transgender girls competing on girls’ sports teams, a narrow ruling that does not strike down trans protections nationwide or rewrite Title IX, but is expected to be cited to justify further discrimination in many states and schools, potentially fueling ongoing battles and increasing harassment risks for trans youth even as some jurisdictions maintain inclusive policies.

SCOTUS upholds trans girls’ sports bans, prompting vows to continue the fight
The Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, upheld Idaho and West Virginia laws banning transgender girls from girls’ sports teams, signaling support for similar bans in about 25 states; proponents say the ruling is narrow and not a nationwide ban, while many states still permit inclusive policies. Trans athletes and families vow to keep advocating for fair access and safety in sports amid ongoing backlash, threats online, and concerns about enforcement and privacy.