SCOTUS in the headlines again as it weighs voting rights, religious rights, and international-liability cases; the nation's top court.
As of early April 2026, US 30-year fixed mortgage rates have climbed to 6.37%, up from under 6% six weeks ago, driven by the Iran war's impact on energy prices and inflation fears. This rise is slowing US home sales and mortgage applications during the spring buying season. In the UK, house prices fell 0.5% in March, slipping below £300,000, with mortgage rates rising above 5%, signaling a cooling housing market.
Tennessee's Senate passes a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in schools, joining Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas in efforts to incorporate religious symbols into public education. Legal challenges persist, with courts ruling against such mandates, raising constitutional questions about separation of church and state.
The US Supreme Court has upheld a ruling preventing DNA testing in the case of death row inmate Mr. Reed, convicted of the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites. The decision leaves unresolved questions about his innocence, despite ongoing calls for testing that could exonerate him.
Former President Donald Trump cast a mail-in ballot in a Florida special election for state legislature, despite his vocal criticism of mail-in voting. Records show he has been registered in Palm Beach since 2019 and has previously mailed ballots. His vote coincides with his ongoing campaign against mail-in voting laws.
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing cases on Trump-era asylum policies, focusing on the legal definition of 'arrive in' the U.S. and the use of 'metering' to limit asylum applications. Decisions will impact border enforcement and asylum access, with a ruling expected by June 2026.
Texas Republican lawmakers are being urged by Stephen Miller, a Trump ally, to pass legislation restricting public education funding to children of those 'lawfully present' in the US. This challenges Supreme Court precedent and reflects ongoing partisan debates over immigration policy in the state.
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing an appeal in a Mississippi case involving allegations of racial discrimination in jury selection. The case echoes a 2019 ruling that overturned a previous death sentence due to similar bias. The decision could impact future capital cases and jury practices.
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments on Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship, a case that tests the interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The case has attracted protests and high-profile attendance, including President Trump. A decision is expected later this year, with significant legal and political implications.
The US Supreme Court has ruled 8-1 that laws banning certain talk therapies for LGBTQ youth violate the First Amendment. The decision sends the case back to lower courts, complicating enforcement of similar laws in other states. The ruling reflects ongoing tensions over religious freedom and LGBTQ rights.
The US Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors likely violates the First Amendment, citing free speech protections. The decision questions the legality of similar laws in over 20 states, emphasizing the importance of free medical and speech rights in therapy practices.
President Trump has issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of eligible voters and barring the U.S. Postal Service from sending absentee ballots to anyone not on these lists. The order aims to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the November midterms but faces multiple legal challenges citing constitutional overreach and risks of voter disenfranchisement. The American Postal Workers Union has launched a campaign defending mail voting, emphasizing its safety and efficiency.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a decade-old judgment allowing victims of attacks linked to the Palestinian Authority and PLO to pursue lawsuits in U.S. courts. The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling last June supporting a 2019 law enabling these cases to proceed. The victims have waited over 22 years for justice.
President Trump announced plans for 50% tariffs on countries supplying military weapons to Iran, but legal constraints from the Supreme Court's February ruling limit immediate action. The move signals ongoing tensions over Iran's regional support and US sanctions, with potential impacts on global trade and security.
The US is facing ongoing legal battles over President Trump's authority to impose tariffs. Courts are questioning whether he has properly invoked laws to justify new tariffs, which are scheduled to expire in July. Meanwhile, business leaders expect tariffs to remain a fixture in US trade policy beyond the current administration.
The Supreme Court has unanimously approved oil companies' move to federal court after a Louisiana jury ordered Chevron to pay over $740 million for coastal damage. The case involves decades of alleged environmental violations by Chevron and Texaco, with implications for future climate litigation and state-federal jurisdiction disputes. Today’s decision shifts the legal battleground.
Senator JD Vance has indicated he will not challenge Marco Rubio for the 2028 Republican nomination, despite ongoing speculation about their rivalry. Trump has been assessing both men as potential successors, with Vance representing the US in Iran peace talks and Rubio maintaining a hawkish stance. The dynamics suggest a competitive future for the GOP race.
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 is considering an appeal from Catholic preschools in Colorado, which argue their religious rights are being violated by exclusion from a state-funded preschool program due to their policies on LGBTQ+ children and families. The case highlights ongoing tensions between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws, with the court's conservative majority signaling a willingness to reconsider precedent.
The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Michigan's lawsuit to shut down part of the Line 5 pipeline will stay in state court. Justice Sotomayor has found that Enbridge Energy missed the deadline to move the case to federal court, reinforcing state authority over pipeline regulation amid environmental concerns.
The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Texas law allowing the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The ruling reverses a lower court decision, citing no violation of the First Amendment, and sets the stage for a potential Supreme Court review. Critics oppose the law, arguing it breaches separation of church and state.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Texas’ Ten Commandments display in public schools, ruling it does not violate students’ or parents’ rights. The decision reinforces similar laws in Louisiana and Alabama and comes as debates over religion in classrooms intensify, with several states proposing or expanding displays and Bible-related curricula.
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Florida parents challenging a school district's support for a transgender student. The case involves issues of parental rights, privacy, and school policies on gender identity. The court's decision continues the legal debate over transgender rights in schools.
The administration has launched new investigations into forced labor and overproduction that could bring tariffs. Hearings are under way, with business groups warning costs will pass to consumers while supporters argue the measures will protect workers and boost domestic production. Refunds are being issued for previously deemed illegal tariffs, but the impact on prices and supply chains remains uncertain.
The Supreme Court has issued a closely watched ruling on Louisiana's district map, delivering a 6-3 decision that preserves some protections under the Voting Rights Act while labeling the map an unconstitutional gerrymander. The ruling signals tensions over how race can be used in redistricting and may influence political maps ahead of upcoming elections.
The US Supreme Court has heard arguments in Chatrie v. United States, testing whether geofence warrants — court orders that compel companies to produce location histories for devices near a crime — violate the Fourth Amendment. The case stems from a 2019 Virginia bank robbery that used a Google geofence to identify a suspect.
A string of court decisions has kept Temporary Protected Status in play as the Supreme Court weighs termination actions for Haiti and Syria. Rulings have required due process reviews amid broader political battles over humanitarian protections.
The Supreme Court is evaluating whether the Alien Tort Statute allows liability for aiding and abetting human rights abuses by a tech company linked to actions in China, with higher scrutiny from conservative justices about federal court reach in foreign conduct.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled unanimously that the government’s interpretation of the 1996 immigration law defies its plain text, affecting how immigrants detained under the policy are treated and potentially prompting further Supreme Court review as the White House defends the policy amid growing lawsuits.
Federal judges in New York and Washington have barred the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians. The administration is appealing, arguing DHS can end TPS, while opponents say the process was not followed. The cases affect hundreds of thousands and come as the Supreme Court weighs related immigration and asylum issues.
Mexico indicates purchases will be steel produced in Mexico. The move follows steep U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and comes as talks to adjust the USMCA continue. Officials emphasize a preference for local supply, while the United States has signaled limits on tariff relief for the sector.
The Supreme Court has kept the core protections of the Voting Rights Act intact while ruling that Louisiana’s map-drawing to favor a Black-majority district was unconstitutional, signaling a shift in how race can be used in redistricting and prompting immediate map reviews in several states.
The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed First Choice Women’s Resource Centers to pursue a federal First Amendment challenge over a state subpoena seeking donor information, moving past a procedural hurdle in New Jersey’s investigation into alleged donor deception. The decision follows the court’s 2022 Roe v. Wade reversal backdrop and aligns with prior precedent on government demands that burden First Amendment rights.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Louisiana’s congressional map constitutes an illegal racial gerrymander, prompting state officials to suspend or delay House primaries. Early voting is starting as absentee ballots have already been mailed, with a path forward being developed with lawmakers and the Secretary of State.
President Donald Trump has given the EU until 4 July to implement the Turnberry trade deal or the US will raise tariffs on EU cars and trucks from 15% toward 25%. He has said he spoke to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, set the deadline tied to US Independence Day, and warned of "much higher" duties if the bloc does not act.
Federal district court in Washington has heard arguments on President Trump's March 31 executive order to create state voter registries and curb mail‑in voting. The administration faces lawsuits from Democrats and nonpartisan groups, arguing the president lacks constitutional authority over elections. A DOJ lawyer has suggested the case is premature as the lists are not yet created.
A Virginia court has ruled that the state legislature violated procedural requirements when placing the mid-decade redistricting referendum on the ballot. Despite a narrow April 21 vote in favor, the ruling nullifies the outcome and heights partisan tensions as Republicans gain momentum in map redrawing ahead of the midterms.
The Supreme Court is weighing an emergency petition to pause a Fifth Circuit ruling that would restrict mifepristone access, while allowing telemedicine and mail delivery to continue for now. The government and manufacturers urge a rapid decision, as lower-court moves threaten broad abortion access.
The South Carolina governor has signaled a potential special session to redraw the state’s congressional map, aiming to shift the GOP advantage and potentially eliminate the sole Democratic seat held by Rep. Jim Clyburn. The move follows pressure from President Trump and intra-party debate among Republicans about the timing and risks of a new map.
Rallies have organized in Selma and Montgomery to push back against Supreme Court rulings that have weakened the Voting Rights Act. Veterans and new activists call for renewed defense of Black political power as Alabama redraws districts and faces legal challenges.