All articles tagged with #law and courts
Justice Elena Kagan rejects the claim that the Supreme Court is a rubber stamp for President Trump, highlighting several recent rulings that thwarted his policies—such as tariffs, a Federal Reserve firing, and immigration-related actions—while acknowledging disappointment with other conservative outcomes and noting improvements in the court’s explanations in emergency decisions.
A 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel, in an en banc decision, ruled that New Jersey's assault weapons ban and its 10-round magazine limit violate the Second Amendment under Bruen’s historical-tradition framework, extending a lower-court ruling and signaling potential changes to the state's stringent gun regulations.
The family of Kirk Foyle, a Texas father of four, filed a lawsuit against Green Mesquite BBQ and nearby property owners after a diseased pecan tree the complaint calls the 'Widow Maker' collapsed onto him while he was dining outdoors in Austin, killing him. The suit accuses staff of gross negligence for failing to inspect, maintain, remove, or warn about the dangerous condition despite visible signs of disease, and seeks at least $1 million in damages for death, mental anguish, and costs. The incident occurred May 19 during storms at 1410 Barton Springs Rd.
A Lancaster County Circuit Judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking Virginia’s new assault weapons ban from taking effect July 1, finding the plaintiffs are likely to succeed under the Virginia Constitution and applying the Bruen framework. The injunction, which keeps enforcement paused through December 31 or until a final order, allows one plaintiff to proceed after a standing finding; the case involves Gun Owners of America, the Virginia Citizens Defense League and John Crump, and the commonwealth has signaled an appeal, while similar relief is being sought by the NRA in another county.
The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed the homicide convictions of two former Aurora paramedics in Elijah McClain’s 2019 death, ruling the trial court misapplied the standard of care by instructing jurors to rely on generic meanings rather than a professional standard under the circumstances. The decision means new trials for Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, who were convicted of criminally negligent homicide (Cooper also for second‑degree assault) and were sentenced to probation. The ruling emphasizes the need for jurors to apply a professional standard of care rather than a generic “reasonable person” standard in such cases.
The 9th Circuit struck down California's law requiring federal officers to display identification on duty, ruling it directly regulates the federal government and conflicts with the Supremacy Clause. The DOJ had challenged the rule along with a separate mask ban on federal agents, continuing a larger legal fight over immigration enforcement powers.
The Supreme Court rejected Kim Davis's attempt to revisit the 2015 Obergefell marriage equality ruling, highlighting procedural issues and the unlikely interest of the court's full bench in overturning substantive due process protections, while emphasizing ongoing concerns about the court's direction on LGBTQ rights and other issues.
An appeals court has temporarily halted a judge's order requiring CBP's Greg Bovino to meet daily with a judge regarding immigration enforcement in Chicago, after the DOJ appealed the order, arguing it oversteps judicial authority.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to reconsider a previous ruling that could have allowed President Trump to deploy National Guard troops in Portland, Oregon, maintaining the current uncertain status of 200 troops under federal control as legal proceedings continue.
Gregory Bovino, a U.S. Border Patrol commander known for his role in Chicago's aggressive deportation efforts, is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Chicago to address allegations related to the use of tear gas on protesters and a lawsuit challenging federal tactics. The hearing, presided over by Judge Sara Ellis, may include Bovino's testimony and possible contempt findings, amid ongoing scrutiny of federal law enforcement practices in Chicago.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appeared skeptical of an Oregon judge's order that restricted the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, indicating they may lift the restriction.
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to end temporary protected status for over 600,000 Venezuelans in the U.S., dismissing lower court rulings and raising concerns about the court's use of the shadow docket and the impact on affected families.
The Supreme Court is fast-tracking a case to determine if President Trump can use emergency powers to impose tariffs globally, with a decision potentially impacting presidential authority and international trade policies. The case involves legal questions about the authority granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and includes multiple challenges from different groups, with oral arguments scheduled for early November.
The Supreme Court temporarily lifted a lower court's restriction on federal immigration patrols in Los Angeles, allowing them to conduct stops without specific suspicion, amid ongoing legal disputes over Fourth Amendment rights and immigration enforcement practices.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett's new book, 'Listening to the Law,' aims to explain her judicial reasoning and rebuild public trust in the Supreme Court amid political polarization and recent controversial decisions, while emphasizing her commitment to neutrality and the rule of law.