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Supreme Court Addresses Mosaic Theory in Fourth Amendment Surveillance Cases

Supreme Court Addresses Mosaic Theory in Fourth Amendment Surveillance Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court has increasingly addressed the 'mosaic theory' in the context of Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. This legal premise suggests that while individual pieces of information may not, on their own, constitute a search, their aggregation can reveal a detailed picture that implicates a legally protected interest. This theory is particularly relevant to prolonged or comprehensive government surveillance. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals first applied this theory in *United States v. Maynard* (2010), ruling that extended GPS surveillance constituted a Fourth Amendment search. Although the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in *United States v. Jones* (2012) on a property/trespass theory, concurring opinions supported the privacy implications of long-term data collection. More recently, in *Carpenter v. United States* (2018), the Supreme Court held that acquiring extensive historical cell-site location information (CSLI) was a Fourth Amendment search, ...

New York Federal Court Denies Motion to Dismiss National Origin Discrimination Claims Against Auto Shop

New York Federal Court Denies Motion to Dismiss National Origin Discrimination Claims Against Auto Shop

A New York federal district court has denied E & N Chop Shop, Inc.'s motion to dismiss national origin discrimination and retaliation claims. The lawsuit was brought by an undocumented auto shop worker. The court found that the worker plausibly alleged termination based on national origin and immigration status. Furthermore, the court determined that the employer's report to immigration authorities, which occurred after the worker engaged in protected pre-litigation activity, was plausibly retaliatory. This decision allows the worker's claims to proceed to trial, indicating that there is sufficient evidence to warrant further legal proceedings.

Supreme Court Declines to Halt NLRB Ruling Against Software Firm

Supreme Court Declines to Halt NLRB Ruling Against Software Firm

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a request from a software company, Vermont Information Processing LLC, to freeze a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) order. The NLRB had mandated the company to compensate a worker for economic losses incurred due to an unlawful termination. Chief Justice John Roberts declined the emergency petition, which sought to recall and stay a formal mandate from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that enforced the NLRB's ruling. This marks the third instance this month where an employer has failed in an attempt to secure a high court shield against an NLRB ruling.

TED Conferences and ACC Foundation Host TEDLaw Event for Legal Leaders in New York

TED Conferences and ACC Foundation Host TEDLaw Event for Legal Leaders in New York

TED Conferences and ACC Foundation Host TEDLaw Event for Legal Leaders in New York

U.S. Supreme Court Examines Indiana Cases, Shaping National Precedent

U.S. Supreme Court Examines Indiana Cases, Shaping National Precedent

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law recently hosted a Constitution Day event, reviewing several Indiana cases that reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in landmark rulings. The event highlighted how constitutional law is applied at both state and national levels. Among the cases discussed was *Crawford v. Marion County Election Board* (2008), where the Supreme Court upheld Indiana's voter photo ID law, a decision still cited in election law cases. Another significant case, *Hammon v. Indiana* (2006), helped define what constitutes a 'testimonial statement' under the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause, impacting when out-of-court statements can be used against a criminal defendant. Additionally, *Armour v. City of Indianapolis* (2012) was examined, where the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Indianapolis had a rational basis for treating two groups of homeowners differently regarding special assessment reimbursements, thus not violating the Equal Protection Clause. The discussion empha...

From Freeman's Farm to Surrender, Saratoga Changed the Course of the War

From Freeman's Farm to Surrender, Saratoga Changed the Course of the War

The Battles of Saratoga, fought on September 19 and October 7, 1777, near Saratoga, New York, represent a crucial turning point in the American Rev...

New York State Monument at Valley Forge Commemorates Revolutionary War Contribution

New York State Monument at Valley Forge Commemorates Revolutionary War Contribution

The New Yorkers State Monument, located at Valley Forge National Historical Park, was donated by the state of New York in 1970. This marker is nearly identical to the one erected for New Hampshire, a reflection of the fact that regiments from both states served under the same commander, Enoch Poor, during the encampment. Although New York contributed only four regiments to the Continental Army, these units were generally larger than those from other states. Additionally, New York maintained an extensive militia to protect its troubled frontier during the Revolutionary War. The monument features an inscription quoting Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt of the 2nd New York Regiment, from a letter to Governor George Clinton on February 13, 1778, stating, "... IT IS BEYOND DESCRIPTION TO CONCEIVE WHAT THE MEN SUFFER..."

Legal Services NYC and Partners Relaunch 'Fair Hearing Help NY' Website for Low-Income New Yorkers

Legal Services NYC and Partners Relaunch 'Fair Hearing Help NY' Website for Low-Income New Yorkers

Legal Services NYC, in collaboration with The Legal Aid Society, Empire Justice Center, and New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), has relaunched the 'Fair Hearing Help NY' website. This free, virtual legal resource is designed to assist low-income New Yorkers who are representing themselves in administrative hearings with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). The updated website, hosted on Empire Justice Center's platform, features improved navigation, a Q&A section, and enhanced accessibility. It aims to empower individuals to challenge benefit denials, reductions, or terminations related to SNAP benefits, Cash Assistance, and other public benefits. The initiative addresses the complexities of administrative legal hearings, providing tools and information to help New Yorkers confidently participate and exercise their due process rights. The original website launched in June 2023 to make the process of requesting a Fair Hearing more accessible and less intimidating.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Common sense has a checkered history | Strictly Legal

Common sense has a checkered history | Strictly Legal

Opinion: It may come as a surprise to my readers, but I am not a big fan of "common sense," especially when it's used in an argument.

Arizona Republic

Paul Bender, legal scholar and former ASU law school dean, dies at 93

Paul Bender, legal scholar and former ASU law school dean, dies at 93

Paul Bender, a U.S. and Arizona constitutional law expert, took on major legal cases and causes in a career that spanned the 1950s to the 2010s.

Department of Justice Sues San Jose Over Allegedly Unconstitutional $1,600 Firearm Permit Fee

Department of Justice Sues San Jose Over Allegedly Unconstitutional $1,600 Firearm Permit Fee

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the City of San Jose, California, and its Police Department, alleging that the city's nearly $1,600 fee for a firearm carry license is unconstitutional. The DOJ contends that this exorbitant fee violates the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm for self-defense. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated that the right to bear arms is not a luxury and that a fee several times higher than the cost of the firearm itself is illogical and an unconstitutional impediment. The lawsuit highlights that San Jose's fee is the highest in the nation, significantly surpassing those charged by other major U.S. cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Chicago. The Civil Rights Division's Second Amendment Section is responsible for enforcing the Second Amendment and encourages individuals who believe their rights have been infringed upon to submit a complaint.

Representative Josh Riley Criticized for Vote on 'Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act'

Representative Josh Riley Criticized for Vote on 'Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act'

Representative Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) has drawn criticism for his vote in favor of the 'Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act' on September 3, 2026. This legislation mandates that universities receiving federal funding must certify they will not engage in 'nonexpressive commercial boycott of a major strategic partner of the United States.' Critics argue that this act undermines the First Amendment right to boycott, which the Supreme Court, in *Buckley v. Valeo*, recognized as a form of protected speech. The bill defines a 'major strategic ally' of the U.S. as Israel, a point of contention for those who view the legislation as a 'litmus test' on the U.S.-Israel relationship rather than a measure to protect academic freedom. Riley's district includes several prominent universities, such as Cornell University and Ithaca College, and his vote has been described as antithetical to the academic freedom and integrity these institutions represent. Despite Riley's assertion that no schools in his district were in ...