American jurist serving on the Supreme Court
Charles Winters and other Black employees allege systematic racial discrimination at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Planet Fitness facilities, claiming reduced duties, stricter supervision, unlawful terminations, and denial of promotions. Lawsuits seek tens of millions in damages as the cases unfold in Los Angeles Superior Court and related venues.
Donald Trump and the Department of Justice have asked the US Supreme Court to overturn an $83.3m defamation judgment won by writer E Jean Carroll, arguing presidential immunity and the Westfall Act shield statements made while Trump was in office. Lower courts have split on immunity questions; the filings argue the appeals court avoided deciding the core constitutional issue.
Eight scheduled executions across Georgia, Texas and Alabama have moved in flux this week as courts issue stays and statements from prosecutors and defense teams. In Georgia, Stacey Humphreys has a stay under the Survivor Justice Act as hearings consider whether abuse shaped his crime; in Texas, LeJames Norman remains scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CDT) execution as legal challenges loom. Alabama is set to carry out Jeffery Lee next day, while Florida remains the national pace-setter.
A three‑judge panel of the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals has largely upheld a lower court ruling that found the Department of Homeland Security’s third‑country removal policy unlawful, saying migrants must get a meaningful chance to raise safety concerns before removal. The panel narrowed one part of the decision on procedural grounds. The administration is expected to appeal.
Missouri remains under the 2022 map for November elections after the Supreme Court blocked changes and lower courts weigh conflicting rulings. Absentee voting is underway, with state courts holding hearings amid a nationwide redistricting push tied to midterms.
The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the Department of Homeland Security to resume using the revamped SAVE database to verify voter citizenship, reversing a lower-court ban. Three liberal justices have dissented. Voting rights groups warn the system has flagged U.S. citizens and could lead to wrongful removals ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
Christa Pike, convicted of a 1995 murder at Knoxville Job Corps, has faced a last-minute stay of execution in Tennessee. A federal appeals court halted the planned lethal injection to allow review of claims that childhood sexual abuse and mental illness were not weighed at sentencing. Tennessee officials say the execution could proceed if stays are lifted; supporters argue for clemency review.