Recent Decisions
Thompson v. Clark (April 4, 2022)
To demonstrate a favorable termination of criminal prosecution for purposes of a section 1983 Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claim, a plaintiff need not show that the criminal prosecution ended with some affirmative indication of innocence but need only show that his prosecution ended without a conviction.
Badgerow v. Walters (March 31, 2022)
The “look-through” approach to determining federal jurisdiction does not apply to requests to confirm or vacate arbitral awards under sections 9 and 10 of the Federal Arbitration Act.
Ramirez v. Collier (March 24, 2022)
A death row inmate is likely to succeed on his claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act because Texas’s restrictions on religious touch and audible prayer in the execution chamber burden religious exercise and are not the least restrictive means of furthering the state’s compelling interests.
Houston Community College System v. Wilson (March 24, 2022)
A member of a public institution's board of trustees does not possess an actionable First Amendment claim arising from the board’s purely verbal censure of his board-related conduct.
Wisconsin Legislature v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (March 23, 2022)
Supreme Court strikes the Wisconsin Supreme Court's selection of a map of State Assembly districts that created an additional majority-black district; the state failed to conduct an adequate analysis under the Voting Rights Act.
Latest Supreme Court News
A squabble over a procedural deadline will test the limits of “plain language” textualism
SCOTUSblog,
Plain language versus structure. That’s the debate the parties offer the court Tuesday morning in Kemp v. United States. The case involves a small detail of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure – the correct pigeonhole in Rule 60(b) for an argument that a judge... The post A squabble over a procedural deadline will test the limits of “plain language” textualism appeared first on SCOTUSblog.
This Is Not the Year of the Optimist
The New York Times,
But there’s got to be a silver lining here somewhere.
Supreme Court Rejects Case on Juror Said to Harbor Racial Bias
The New York Times,
The court’s three liberal members dissented, saying that Kristopher Love, a Texas death row inmate, should have been allowed to pursue his claim.
Justices to consider scope of “clear and unmistakable error” review of Veterans Affairs decisions
SCOTUSblog,
Since Congress first established it in 1930, the Department of Veterans Affairs has administered a federal program that provides various benefits to U.S. military veterans. The relevant statute, regulating disability benefits, provides that “the United States will pay [compensation] to any veteran” who is “disabled”... The post Justices to consider scope of “clear and unmistakable error” review of Veterans Affairs decisions appeared first on SCOTUSblog.
The Chief Justice’s Dissents Confirm He’s Not In Charge. Let’s Just Call It the “McConnell Court”
Justia's Verdict,
Former federal prosecutor Dennis Aftergut comments on three recent Supreme Court decisions in which Chief Justice John Roberts joined the dissent, demonstrating that he does not carry sway in decisions on central issues such as a woman’s right to choose, voting rights, or protecting the environment. Mr. Aftergut points out that how the Justices vote in the upcoming decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will reveal whether the Roberts Court can preserve the core principles of judicial restraint in constitutional adjudication and stare decisis—or whether it is more appropriately called the “McConnell Court.”
Press Release Regarding April Oral Argument Session
Supreme Court of the United States,
The Court will hear all oral arguments scheduled for the April session in the Courtroom. Courtroom access will be limited to the Justices, essential Court personnel, counsel in the scheduled cases, and journalists with full-time press credentials issued by the Supreme Court. Out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees, the Courtr oom session will not be open to the public. The Court will continue to closely monitor public health guidance in determining...
Current Supreme Court Justices
Chief Justice of the United States
Associate Justice
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Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Photos of the justices courtesy of the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States