American jurist, associate justice of the Supreme Court since 2018
The US Supreme Court has rejected President Trump’s executive order that would have denied automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on US soil. In a 6-3 ruling written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court has affirmed that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to those born in the United States, while three justices dissented.
The judiciary is tightening oversight on executive actions as courts assess the scope of presidential power in civil service and immigration matters. Recent rulings have implications for how federal agencies operate and how the administration handles asylum policy and courthouse arrests.
The United States marks its semiquincentennial while commentators insist America is still a work in progress. The nation has celebrated, debated, and confronted its founders’ legacy, with civics, law, and culture in the spotlight.
The Supreme Court has upheld Mississippi’s policy allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within five days, a decision that maintains state flexibility and could affect upcoming midterms. Justice Barrett writes for the majority, while Justice Alito dissents.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the president can remove leaders of most independent federal agencies, overturning the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent, while carving out an exception for the Federal Reserve. The decisions leave Lisa Cook in place for now but open the door for presidents to exert new control over agencies such as the FTC, shifting regulatory power toward the White House.
The Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil, rejecting Trump’s bid to limit citizenship based on parents’ status. The decision maintains the 14th Amendment’s promise, even as the administration vows to pursue further restrictions through legislation and enforcement.
The US Supreme Court has upheld Idaho and West Virginia laws that bar transgender girls from girls' sports, ruling those bans survive Title IX and equal-protection challenges. The decision preserves similar statutes in roughly two dozen states, hands conservative groups a legal lever, and shifts the next fights to state courts, school boards and athletic bodies.
The Supreme Court has ruled that children born on US soil to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment, maintaining birthright citizenship. The decision blocks President Trump’s bid to end automatic citizenship by executive order, with Chief Justice Roberts writing for the court and joined by a cross-ideological majority.
The Supreme Court has agreed to review challenges to AR-15 bans in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois. The cases arrive as federal and state actions on semiautomatic rifles intensify after Bruen’s history-and-tradition framework, with gun-rights groups arguing that bans are unconstitutional while supporters say they protect public safety.
The Supreme Court has struck down the administration’s birthright citizenship order. Trump urges Congress to act while officials warn that redefining citizenship faces constitutional hurdles. Analysts say the issue remains politically charged as lawmakers weigh legislative routes amid ongoing legal battles.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the coordinated spending limits that restrict party expenditures with campaigns violate the First Amendment, overturning a decades-old cap. The decision, in a 6-3 vote, shifts fundraising dynamics ahead of the midterms as parties can coordinate more with candidates and may attract bigger donations.
The Supreme Court has denied Catherine Herridge's bid to stay a civil contempt fine in the case involving scientist Yanping Chen and leaked materials from a government probe. Herridge had sought relief while Chen’s Privacy Act suit against the FBI and DOJ proceeds. The decision is described as a setback for press freedom as reporters face potential fines amid investigations that may reveal confidential sources.
Barrett has authored a 5-4 ruling allowing states to count mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day, while other decisions reject global tariffs and birthright citizenship restrictions. The court’s conservatives maintain a controlling stance, though Barrett’s recent votes show occasional divergence from Trump positions. The publishing window spans early July 2026 and stems from Independent reporting.
The Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, rejecting President Trump’s bid to end it. The ruling maintains that citizenship is granted at birth to anyone born in the United States, including children of undocumented migrants. Trump has pledged to seek a rehearing and press Congress on immigration.
Senator Lindsey Graham has died at 71 after a "brief and sudden illness," his office has said. Graham had just returned from a visit to Kyiv and had met President Volodymyr Zelensky. Officials say a preliminary medical examiner found an aortic dissection; South Carolina's governor will appoint a temporary replacement ahead of November's elections.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has died after a brief illness, leaving allies in Washington and Kyiv recalibrating support amid renewed sanctions talks with Russia. He had just returned from Ukraine, where he was advancing sanctions legislation and strengthening ties with Kyiv. World leaders and lawmakers are paying tribute as Republicans and Democrats weigh the political implications.
Senator Lindsey Graham has died, prompting immediate questions about a temporary appointment and the path to a likely special election. The governor will announce a pick to fill the seat as Graham’s passing reverberates through national politics.
Trump has recommended Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Nordone, as interim Senator for South Carolina following Graham’s death. McMaster is expected to announce a replacement later today as lawmakers scrutinize the late senator’s legacy and the state’s political stability.
Two sitting Supreme Court justices have testified before Congress, urging a budget increase to expand personal protection and enhance security amid rising threats to judges nationwide. The hearing followed a landmark term and highlighted concerns about ethics oversight and court transparency.
Troy Jackson has won the Maine Democratic nomination to replace Graham Platner and will challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Jackson has consolidated delegate support at a special convention in Bangor and is positioning a working‑class, progressive agenda while critics and Jewish voters express concern over his recent stances on Israel.
The Supreme Court is being pressed as states challenge President Trump’s March executive order to create a national voter list and restrict mail ballots. Courts have blocked key provisions, while the administration seeks emergency relief ahead of the midterms.
Funeral services for Senator Lindsey Graham have taken place in Washington and South Carolina after his sudden death on July 11. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have attended memorials that have highlighted Graham’s influence on U.S. foreign policy and set off a scramble for his Senate seat in South Carolina.
The DOJ has repeatedly lost in federal courts as it seeks voter rolls and citizenship data to back President Trump’s election-security push. Courts across the country have rebuffed its requests, citing constitutional boundaries and procedural limits, while some states have begun sharing data that is publicly available. The legal battle continues as cases move toward potential Supreme Court review.
Federal judges have blocked key parts of President Trump’s attempts to centralise voter-roll control and to curtail birthright citizenship, and lawyers have asked courts to treat his new August orders as violations of earlier injunctions. Separately, the Fifth Circuit has reversed a lower court ruling and restored Texas’s 2021 election restrictions.
President Donald Trump has named Will Scharf as White House counsel and assistant to the president, effective Sept. 1. Scharf has served as White House staff secretary and chaired the National Capital Planning Commission; he has represented Trump in major cases, including at the Supreme Court. The change comes weeks after Trump elevated other former personal lawyers to senior legal roles.
The Kennedy Center faces a legal and financial dispute as a federal judge has blocked closures and a $250 million renewal plan; Chuck Redd has been awarded attorneys’ fees after a dispute over his Christmas Eve concert, and the center plans to appeal.
Missouri’s highest court has ordered the state to use the congressional map from 2022 for the November general election and to put a referendum on voters’ ballots, overturning a Republican-drawn mid‑decade map used in August primaries. Federal courts have issued conflicting orders, prompting appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court and persistent confusion for voters and officials as November approaches.
The Supreme Court has ordered that Missouri must use the 2022 district map for the November elections after a series of rulings and appeals involving the state’s redistricting map and a referendum petition.
The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the government’s bid to enforce Trump’s mail-voting rules as states prepare for midterm elections. Courts have blocked the rules, while USPS and administration officials argue for a streamlined process. Ballots are already being mailed in several states, and lawsuits over the rules continue.
Protect Democracy finds 34.8 million Americans have moved districts since 2024; Missouri’s redistricting chaos culminates as the Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed maps and reverts to 2022-24 boundaries ahead of November elections. Lawsuits allege election interference and misused funds, while voters face confusion over district placement.
The Supreme Court has denied the Trump administration's request to lift lower-court orders that blocked new U.S. Postal Service rules narrowing mail-in ballots, leaving states to use their existing procedures for the Nov. 3 midterms. Justices Alito and Thomas dissented; the court has not decided the rule's longer-term legal fate.
The Supreme Court has not lifted constraints on mail voting, and states are continuing to administer ballots under existing procedures as officials prepare for the midterms. Officials warn of potential interference, while voters are urged to act early to ensure timely delivery.
The Supreme Court has stepped in amid a multipart legal battle over Missouri’s midterm map. Lower courts have grappled with whether Republicans can deploy a new district configuration or revert to the old lines for November. Absentee voting is underway as the outcome hinges on the high court’s next move.