Covering the Supreme Court, lower courts, and the law

Even though tomorrow is election day across America, the Supreme Court will be at work as usual, with the nine Justices hearing two new cases, including a case that brings up a familiar theme: how severely may states punish juveniles who commit the most serious crimes?  The audio portion of the hearings can be heard… Read More

With Justice Amy Coney Barrett now a member of the Supreme Court, the full bench of nine Justices resumes this week its “live” broadcasts of the audio portion of its hearings on pending cases.  Because of the pandemic, the hearings are remote, not in-person. No matter how new a Justice is to the bench, they… Read More

The Supreme Court is back in (remote) session on Monday, and will again allow “live” broadcasts of its hearings on pending cases.  This time, the hearings will be before nine Justices, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett taking part for the first time.  Issues of religious freedom, and Justice Barrett’s own work in the past in… Read More

This year, of course, is the year that the every-ten-year national Census is taken, but it has been significantly affected by legal controversy stirred up by the Trump Administration, and that continued this week with two orders by the Supreme Court. So, as of today, where does the 2020 Census stand, as a result of… Read More

The Supreme Court on Wednesday holds the final two hearings in the opening sitting of its new term.  Eight Justices will hear cases focusing on police use of force and on the threat of deportation for non-citizens.  The Court will begin its second sitting with hearings on November 2. First case, starting at 10 a.m.:… Read More

The Supreme Court on Tuesday continues with the “live” broadcast of the audio portion of its hearings.  Two cases will be heard each day, tomorrow and Wednesday, for about one hour each.  Eight Justices will be taking part.  The technical complexity of the law in this week’s cases adds emphasis to the need for a… Read More

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will continue with the TV broadcast of the “live” audio portions of its hearings, with an eight-Justice Court.  The first case audio will be broadcast on C-SPAN1, one of its three TV networks.  Both hearings can also be heard on C-SPAN’s website at http://c-span.org by clicking on the words SUPREME COURT… Read More

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will continue with the broadcast of the “live” audio portion of its hearings, with an eight-Justice Court. It is unclear whether it will be broadcast on any TV station. An audio broadcast is expected on the Supreme Court page of C-SPAN LIVE at this link: https://www.c-span.org/supremeCourt/ Both of the hearings held… Read More

The Supreme Court’s summer recess is now over, and a new term is starting. For the hearings this week, only eight Justices will participate since a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has not yet been approved by the Senate.  If nominee Amy Coney Barrett joins the Court later, she would have the option of… Read More

This is the second of two parts discussing the possible scenario this year of some state legislatures deciding to choose presidential electors, instead of leaving that to the voters.  The first part, appearing here yesterday, described the scenario and how it might play out.  This part describes how it might be challenged, in court or… Read More