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Justice Neil Gorsuch Part of Supreme Court Majority in White House Ballroom Case

Justice Neil Gorsuch Part of Supreme Court Majority in White House Ballroom Case

Justice Neil Gorsuch was among the five conservative justices who formed the majority in a recent 5-4 Supreme Court ruling. This decision dismissed a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which aimed to challenge President Trump's plans for constructing a White House ballroom. The majority opinion, as reported by SCOTUSBlog, stated that the plaintiff likely lacked the legal standing to challenge the project. Harvard University legal scholar Noah Feldman highlighted that this ruling has broader implications beyond the specific ballroom project, suggesting it significantly narrows the grounds for federal lawsuits by watchdog groups. The dissent in this case included Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Democrat-appointed Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan. The majority consisted of GOP-appointed Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch.

Supreme Court Faces Scrutiny Over Ethics and Political Influence Amidst Election Concerns

Supreme Court Faces Scrutiny Over Ethics and Political Influence Amidst Election Concerns

The Supreme Court is under increasing scrutiny regarding its ethical practices and perceived political leanings, particularly in the context of upcoming elections. Concerns have been raised about the majority's decisions, especially those issued via the 'shadow docket,' which are unsigned and unexplained, undermining transparency and accountability. Critics argue that these rulings often favor President Trump's agenda, including a recent temporary decision allowing his administration to proceed with actions related to mail balloting, which some view as an attempt to derail the election process. There are also significant ethical questions surrounding individual justices, such as Chief Justice John Roberts, whose wife's financial dealings as a legal recruiter for firms appearing before the high court have come under fire. Roberts reportedly amended his public disclosure after a whistleblower revealed details about his wife's commission deal and his equity in her subsequent employer, information previously o...

Erosion of 'Presumption of Regularity' Challenges Trump Administration's Executive Actions in Courts

Erosion of 'Presumption of Regularity' Challenges Trump Administration's Executive Actions in Courts

The 'presumption of regularity,' a legal doctrine that assumes public officials have properly discharged their duties, is facing significant erosion in courts when evaluating the Trump administration's executive actions. Historically, courts have largely trusted the executive branch's stated reasons for its actions. However, since the start of the second Trump administration, courts have increasingly expressed distrust of the federal government's factual representations, leading to a greater willingness to set aside or rebut this presumption. This shift is evidenced by numerous cases where courts have found the administration's justifications to be incomplete, inaccurate, or pretextual. For instance, a federal district court rejected the government's claim that a mass layoff at the Department of Education was for 'operational efficiency,' instead finding it was intended to 'shut down the Department.' Courts have also found the administration's rationales to be 'inconsistent with the facts on the ground,' '...

Republicans Seek Supreme Court Intervention for Discounted TV Ad Rates

Republicans Seek Supreme Court Intervention for Discounted TV Ad Rates

Republican campaign groups, with the support of the Trump administration, have petitioned the Supreme Court to allow them to purchase television advertising at discounted rates. This emergency appeal follows a decision by the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that federal law provides lower ad rates only for candidates, not for political parties or other entities. Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had issued guidance suggesting that political parties were also entitled to these lower rates, a decision widely seen as beneficial to Republicans who often raise more money through party committees. The House and Senate Republican party committees stated they had budgeted tens of millions of dollars for ad buys under the FCC's interpretation, but broadcast stations are now rescinding those rates due to the appeals court ruling. The Republican committees argue that federal courts lack jurisdiction over the case because the FCC's guidance was neither agency action nor final....

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Review Military Policy on Transgender Service Members

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Review Military Policy on Transgender Service Members

The Trump administration has formally requested the U.S. Supreme Court to assess the legality of its policy that effectively restricts transgender-identifying individuals from serving in the military. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a petition asking the high court to determine if the War Department’s rule, which generally disqualifies individuals with gender dysphoria, a history of the condition, or related interventions, violates the equal-protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause. This policy stems from a February 2025 Pentagon memo, which itself was a directive to comply with President Trump’s January 2025 executive order. That order mandated War Secretary Pete Hegseth to revise military policy regarding gender dysphoric individuals within 60 days. The request to the Supreme Court follows a series of legal challenges, including a preliminary injunction issued by D.C. District Judge Ana Reyes in March 2025, which was later partially upheld by a D.C. Circuit panel in June 202...

Senator Susan Collins Endorses Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court, Highlighting Bipartisan Support

Senator Susan Collins Endorses Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court, Highlighting Bipartisan Support

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, has publicly endorsed Ketanji Brown Jackson for the Supreme Court. This endorsement is highlighted by Mary Ann Lynch, a retired lawyer and lifelong Democrat, who is supporting Senator Collins' reelection. Lynch points to Collins' history of bipartisan actions, including her votes against repealing Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood, and her role in repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Collins was also the first Republican senator to endorse Ketanji Brown Jackson, and previously voted to confirm Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Her record also includes co-authoring the Respect for Marriage Act with Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, which was signed into law in December 2022 to protect same-sex and interracial marriages. President Biden credited Collins for her leadership on this legislation.

Reproductive Rights Group Launches $250K Campaign Against Senator Susan Collins Over Kavanaugh Vote

Reproductive Rights Group Launches $250K Campaign Against Senator Susan Collins Over Kavanaugh Vote

Reproductive Freedom for All (RFFA), one of the nation's oldest abortion rights organizations, in conjunction with the Senate Majority PAC, has initiated a $250,000 direct-mail campaign targeting Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine). The campaign aims to reach over 100,000 Maine households, specifically women who advocate for reproductive freedom. The core of the campaign criticizes Senator Collins for her 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Justice Kavanaugh was part of the majority that ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. This marks the first time Senator Collins has faced voters since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, despite having run for reelection once before since the Kavanaugh confirmation. RFFA and Senate Majority PAC accuse Senator Collins of failing to uphold her promises regarding reproductive rights and highlight her support for numerous judges appointed by President Trump.

Will SCOTUS stop Trump's mail ballot scheme? I asked judges. | Opinion

Will SCOTUS stop Trump's mail ballot scheme? I asked judges. | Opinion

The battle over mail-in ballots is being waged in U.S. courts, including the Supreme Court. I asked three judges if they think Trump will succeed.

Supreme Court lets Trump's White House ballroom construction continue

Supreme Court lets Trump's White House ballroom construction continue

Acting on an emergency appeal, a divided court said a federal judge wrongly paused the project until a legal fight could be resolved.

Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump’s $400 million ballroom

Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump’s $400 million ballroom

The Supreme Court is allowing the White House to continue construction on President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project while his administration appeals a judge’s order halting the work

Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump’s $400 million ballroom

Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump’s $400 million ballroom

The Supreme Court is allowing the White House to continue construction on President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project while his administration appeals a judge’s order halting the work

The Latest: SCOTUS allows Trump’s White House ballroom construction to continue

The Latest: SCOTUS allows Trump’s White House ballroom construction to continue

A divided Supreme Court has allowed the White House to continue construction on a $400 million ballroom project as lawsuits play out