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Supreme Court Justice Alito Dissents in Taliban Suicide Bomber Case

Supreme Court Justice Alito Dissents in Taliban Suicide Bomber Case

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito dissented from a majority opinion in a case involving a lawsuit filed by former Army specialist Winston T. Hencely. Hencely, who was injured in a Taliban suicide bombing at a U.S. base in Afghanistan, sought damages under South Carolina law against military contractor Fluor Corporation. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Clarence Thomas, vacated the appeals court's judgment that state-law claims against military contractors are preempted by federal law during wartime. Alito, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, argued that state regulation of military base security in active warzones should be preempted by the federal government's exclusive war powers.
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Supreme Court Allows Soldier's Negligence Suit Against Fluor to Proceed

Supreme Court Allows Soldier's Negligence Suit Against Fluor to Proceed

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a lawsuit filed by a U.S. soldier, Winston Hencely, against defense contractor Fluor Corp. can proceed. The suit alleges that Fluor failed to protect Hencely from a 2016 bombing attack in Afghanistan. Justice Clarence Thomas stated that no statute or constitutional provision expressly preempts Hencely's suit. The Fourth Circuit Court had previously ruled that the combatant activities exception in the Federal Tort Claims Act barred the suit, but the Supreme Court found this interpretation lacked constitutional or statutory foundation. Hencely's lawsuit claims that Fluor, which was contracted by the U.S. Army, negligently managed Afghan employees, leading to the attack that injured him and killed several others.
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Elizabeth Freeman's Fight for Freedom: A Founding Mother's Legacy in U.S. Democracy

Elizabeth Freeman's Fight for Freedom: A Founding Mother's Legacy in U.S. Democracy

Elizabeth Freeman, originally known as Mumbet, was an enslaved woman who played a pivotal role in challenging the exclusionary practices of early American democracy. In 1776, while working for the Ashley family in Massachusetts, Freeman was inspired by the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence and later the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, which stated that all men are born free and equal. She approached lawyer Theodore Sedgwick to plead her case, arguing that slavery was unconstitutional under the new state constitution. On August 21, 1781, Freeman won her freedom in court, becoming the first enslaved woman to have her independence legally recognized. Her case set a precedent for challenging the limitations of the founding documents and asserting the rights of marginalized groups.
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Supreme Court Decision Favors Oil and Gas Companies in Louisiana Environmental Lawsuits

Supreme Court Decision Favors Oil and Gas Companies in Louisiana Environmental Lawsuits

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of oil and gas companies, allowing them to move lawsuits concerning coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana to federal court. This decision overturns a previous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The lawsuits, which include a significant case where Chevron was ordered to pay $740 million for coastal damage, argue that oil and gas infrastructure has significantly contributed to land loss in Louisiana. The Supreme Court's decision is based on the argument that the work done by these companies was under federal supervision during World War II, thus qualifying for federal court jurisdiction.
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Supreme Court rules for Michigan in its fight to shut down an aging energy pipeline

Supreme Court rules for Michigan in its fight to shut down an aging energy pipeline

The Supreme Court has sided with Michigan in ruling that the state’s lawsuit seeking to shut down a section of an aging pipeline beneath a Great Lakes channel will stay in state court
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Supreme Court Shows Little Interest in Expanding Curbs on SEC's Disgorgement Powers

Supreme Court Shows Little Interest in Expanding Curbs on SEC's Disgorgement Powers

Supreme Court Shows Little Interest in Expanding Curbs on SEC's Disgorgement Powers
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Supreme Court Considers DHS Authority Over Green Card Entries

Supreme Court Considers DHS Authority Over Green Card Entries

The U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating on the extent of discretion immigration officers should have when admitting lawful permanent residents at the border under parole status, especially when there are suspicions of criminal activity. The case involves Muk Choi Lau, a Chinese national and lawful U.S. resident, who was paroled into the country due to pending charges of trademark counterfeiting. The government argues that immigration officers' decisions in such cases are not subject to judicial review. However, the court's liberal justices have raised concerns about potential misuse of this power, while the conservative justices question the necessity of accepting such hypotheticals.
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Chief Justice Roberts' Role in Supreme Court's Shadow Docket Revealed Through Leaked Memos

Chief Justice Roberts' Role in Supreme Court's Shadow Docket Revealed Through Leaked Memos

Leaked memos from 2016 have revealed Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.'s significant role in the Supreme Court's adoption of the 'shadow docket,' a process allowing for expedited decisions often without full briefing or oral arguments. The memos, obtained by The New York Times, show Roberts advocating for the use of this docket to block President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, citing unconventional sources like a BBC interview and an EPA blog post. This approach has been criticized for bypassing standard legal procedures and has been used to secure victories for President Trump on various issues. The memos highlight internal disagreements among justices, with Roberts dismissing proposed compromises from Justices Breyer and Kagan.
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Supreme Court Clerks Offer Mixed Views on Justice Elena Kagan's Leadership

Supreme Court Clerks Offer Mixed Views on Justice Elena Kagan's Leadership

A new book titled 'Alito: The Justice Who Reshaped the Supreme Court and Restored the Constitution' by Mollie Hemingway reveals contrasting opinions among former Supreme Court clerks about Justice Elena Kagan. Some clerks describe Kagan as an emotionally abusive and demanding boss, while others defend her, suggesting that such views are exaggerated. The book highlights Kagan's reputation as a sharp legal mind and a strategic leader within the Court's liberal bloc. Despite the mixed reviews from clerks, Kagan remains popular with the public, holding a high favorability rating among Supreme Court justices.
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Supreme Court Clerks Offer Mixed Views on Justice Elena Kagan's Leadership Style

Supreme Court Clerks Offer Mixed Views on Justice Elena Kagan's Leadership Style

A new book by Mollie Hemingway, titled 'Alito: The Justice Who Reshaped the Supreme Court and Restored the Constitution,' reveals contrasting opinions among former Supreme Court clerks about Justice Elena Kagan. While some clerks describe Kagan as emotionally abusive and demanding, others defend her as a tough but fair boss. The book highlights Kagan's reputation as a sharp legal mind and a strategic leader within the Court's liberal bloc. Despite the mixed reviews from clerks, Kagan remains popular with the public, holding a high favorability rating among Supreme Court justices. The book also contrasts Kagan's leadership style with that of Justice Samuel Alito, who is portrayed more favorably by his clerks.
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Supreme Court Justices Venture into Children's Literature Amid Growing Political Celebrity

Supreme Court Justices Venture into Children's Literature Amid Growing Political Celebrity

Several Supreme Court justices, including Neil M. Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor, are engaging in writing children's books, capitalizing on their status as political celebrities. Justice Gorsuch is set to release his first children's book, 'Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence,' aimed at educating children about America's Founding Fathers. Justice Sotomayor has already published multiple books for young audiences, with her works achieving significant commercial success. This trend reflects the justices' increasing public profiles and the publishing industry's interest in leveraging their name recognition. The justices' foray into children's literature is part of a broader pattern where public figures, including celebrities and politicians, are entering the children's book market.
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Supreme Court to Review Deference to Sentencing Guidelines in Federal Courts

Supreme Court to Review Deference to Sentencing Guidelines in Federal Courts

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that will examine the level of deference federal courts must give to the U.S. Sentencing Commission's commentary on sentencing guidelines. The case involves Kendrick Jarrell Beaird, who challenged the enhanced sentencing range applied to his felon-in-possession conviction due to a large capacity magazine. Beaird argues that the commentary improperly expanded the guidelines' scope and that courts should have more discretion. The case will revisit the precedent set by the 1993 Stinson v. U.S. ruling, which established the authority of the Sentencing Commission's commentary.