American lawyer and jurist; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
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 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.
Recent memos show the US Supreme Court has been increasingly using secretive, expedited procedures to make major decisions, bypassing traditional deliberation. This shift began in 2016 with the blocking of Obama's climate policy and has since impacted numerous cases, raising concerns about transparency and judicial independence.
The Supreme Court, in an unsigned 6-3 decision, has upheld Pedro Hernandez’s murder conviction for Etan Patz, reversing a lower court that had granted him a new trial. The ruling clarifies the limits of federal review over state court decisions and preserves a decades-long effort by Manhattan prosecutors. Patz disappeared in 1979, becoming a national symbol in the search for missing children.
The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that prosecuting a marijuana user for illegal gun possession violates the Second Amendment. The decision narrows, but does not erase, the government’s power to restrict firearms for drug users, and cites a trend toward more permissive cannabis policy. The ruling centers on Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas resident charged in 2023 after FBI agents found drugs in his home.
The Supreme Court has ruled that American courts are not the proper venue for Falun Gong plaintiffs' lawsuits regarding Cisco’s alleged China-linked activities, under ATS and TVPA. The decision narrows the reach of U.S. courts over foreign-government conduct and could shield companies from certain international-law claims.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act does not permit lawsuits for monetary damages against prison staff, even when a prisoner’s religious rights are violated. The decision maintains that liability cannot attach to individual employees who did not consent to be sued.
The Fifth Circuit has ruled that immigrants in ICE detention must receive a bond hearing within 90 days of detention. The decision emphasizes due process rights and could affect thousands of detainees in Texas and Louisiana as the administration faces its mass detention policy. The ruling signals a likely Supreme Court review.
California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act has gone into effect after signing in 2022. It requires producers to cut single-use plastics, increase recycling, and fund waste programs. A coalition of 17 states and environmental groups are suing, arguing the law overreaches and raises consumer costs. California defends the law as pushing toward a circular economy.
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.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that Hawaii’s private-property gun-in-venue permit requirement imposes a new burden on the Second Amendment. Private property owners may still prohibit guns, but the court has shifted the default away from a blanket access rule. The decision aligns with Bruen-era tests and signals ongoing shifts in how states regulate guns in public.
The Supreme Court has ruled 7-2 that federal pesticide law bars state failure-to-warn lawsuits over Roundup, overturning a $1.25m jury verdict and imperilling thousands of similar claims against Bayer. The decision follows the EPAs position that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer and clears the way for dismissal of many pending suits.
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 geofence warrants—used to identify suspects by collecting location data from people in a crime scene area—are subject to Fourth Amendment protections. The justices have affirmed that location data collected by third parties still warrants a warrant, focusing on privacy expectations in the digital age. The decision sends the case back to lower courts for further analysis.
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 upheld birthright citizenship, rejecting an executive order that would have stripped citizenship from children born to non-citizens. The majority emphasizes the long-standing link between birthplace and rights, while dissenters argue the decision reflects a narrower view of the citizenship clause.
The USMCA renewal process is under way as the three North American partners weigh changes to the pact. Canada and Mexico seek a 16-year extension, while the United States signals willingness to renegotiate to boost domestic production. Negotiations are ongoing, with no immediate agreement expected, and the fate of tariffs and auto rules remains uncertain.