Excerpts from my commencement address to the graduating class of the University of Nebraska College of Law, in Lincoln on May 7. Today I am especially delighted to join you and those who have helped you come so far – and, for some of you, footed the bill. This is such a splendid day for… Read More
Most cameras in federal courts to remain dark
A committee of federal judges, citing indifference by the public, worries among judges, and the costs, has decided not to resume a five-year experiment in allowing live television coverage of non-criminal cases in federal trial courts. That means that, in eleven of the fourteen participating federal district courts, the “pilot project” that was ended last… Read More
Compensation for wartime wrongs?
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, borrowing an idea from the belated government effort to make up for holding loyal Japanese-Americans in prison camps during World War II, on Monday proposed a similar approach to wrongs committed by government officials in carrying out the “war on terrorism.”
Federal judge threatens to end new immigration policy
NOTE TO READERS: The following post catches up with developments while the writer was necessarily away from work this week. The federal judge in Texas who is handling the claim of 26 states that the Obama administraiton’s new deferred-deportation policy is illegal threatened this week to strike down that policy altogether, even without holding a full trial.
Ouster of state judge Moore sought
A liberal legal advocacy group on Wednesday filed an ethics complaint against Alabama Chief Justice Roy S. Moore, seeking his removal from the bench. The challenge by the Southern Poverty Law Center was based upon the judge’s public protests about federal courts’ rulings on same-sex marriage.
Court docket on lawyer discipline to be public
Beginning on February 1, the Supreme Court will publicly disclose documents on actions it is considering or taking to discipline lawyers who are members of its bar, long shielded in privacy, the Court announced on Tuesday. Currently, that file is treated as confidential, although final disciplinary actions are made public along with regular orders on pending… Read More
Oklahoma takes next step on executions (UPDATED)
The state of Oklahoma will ask the Supreme Court on Monday to delay three executions by lethal drugs while the Justices weigh a new test case, but it will also seek the option of resuming executions if the officials put together a new drug protocol, l…
Court denies one same-sex marriage case (UPDATED)
UPDATED 11:21 a.m. The four same-sex marriage cases challenging the Sixth Circuit’s ruling that upheld four states’ bans have now been set for consideration by the Justices at their Conference on Friday of this week. The post below ha…