Harvey Weinstein, Sexual Assault, And Prior Bad Acts

One of the biggest pre-trial issues in the criminal case against Harvey Weinstein will be the issue of how many women other than his accuser will be able to testify against him.

Video Captures Pennsylvania Cop Tasing Unarmed, Compliant African-American Man

Another incident involving what clearly seems to be the inappropriate use of force against an African-American man.

Comparative Judiciaries

The current discussion about SCOTUS is a good excuse to look at how other countries handle these things.

Trump’s Supreme Court Short List

President Trump’s short list of potential Supreme Court nominees consists mostly of conventionally conservative, well-qualified, jurists.

Anthony Kennedy’s Son Loaned Trump One Billlllllion Dollars

A really weird detail buried in a New York Times story about President Trump’s efforts to get the Justice to retire.

White House Plans Supreme Court Pick By July 9th

The White House is hoping for a relatively quick turnaround time to pick a replacement for Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Mike Lee for the Supreme Court?

President Trump is reportedly considering the 47-year-old Utah Senator to replace Anthony Kennedy.

Pittsburgh Area Cop Who Killed African-American Teenager Indicted

A Pittsburgh area police officer has been indicted on homicide charges after a video emerged that appears to show him shooting a fleeing suspect in the back

Jeff Flake Just Made It Easier For Trump’s Supreme Court Pick To Be Confirmed

Retiring Arizona Senator Jeff Flake says that he will not seek to block President Trump’s nominee to replace Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

Did The Supreme Court ‘Overrule’ Korematsu? Not Really

Contrary to what many people have claimed, the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Hawaii did not overturn one of the most controversial decisions in its history.

How’s That ‘Living Constitution’ Working Out for You?

Progressive enthusiasm for the notion that our governing framework is dynamic and ought be constantly updated by the judiciary is waning.

The Merrick Garland Precedent and the Kennedy Vacancy

The unconscionable violation of norms in 2016 won’t apply in 2018; it’s a matter of power, not principle.

Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy Announces Retirement

After thirty years on the bench, during which he played a central role in some of the Supreme Court’s most significant rulings, Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring.

Supreme Court Strikes A Blow Against Public Sector Unions

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that public sector unions cannot force employees to pay membership fees.

Supreme Court Ends Term With No Retirement Announcements [Update: Kennedy Retires]

It’s been eight years since we’ve seen a Supreme Court retirement, and despite speculation there were none announced today.

Supreme Court Punts Another Political Gerrymandering Case

The Supreme Court term began with hopes that the Justices would shake up the redistricting process with rulings against partisan gerrymandering. It has ended with three whimpers.

SCOTUS Strikes Down Law Requiring Crisis Pregnancy Centers To Provide Abortion Information

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down a California law requiring Crisis Pregnancy Centers to provide information about abortion.

Supreme Court Upholds Final Version Of Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban

In a ruling that largely relies on the authority granted by Congress to the President to regulate immigration on national security grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld the final version of the Administration’s travel ban.

Supreme Court Upholds Trump Travel Ban

In a 5-4 party-line vote, the High Court declared that the Constitution and Federal Law give the President broad authority over immigration.

Donald Trump Once Again Goes To War Against The Rule Of Law

Donald Trump continues to demonstrate that he has nothing but utter contempt for the Rule of Law. At some point, he will either be called to account for this or our nation’s institutions will suffer as a result.

Supreme Court Largely Rejects Racial Gerrymandering Challenge Against Texas

The Supreme Court has largely rejected a challenge to state and Federal redistricting maps in the State of Texas.

SCOTUS Declines Case Of Florist Who Refused To Provide Services For Same-Sex Wedding

The Supreme Court declined, for now, to hear the appeal of a Washington state florist who declined to provide services for a same-sex wedding. The issues it raises, though, are likely to return to the Court in the future.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Abolish ICE? If You Do, It’ll Just Be Replaced By Another Agency

Some activists on the left are calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be abolished. While that may be a great sound bite, it doesn’t really accomplish anything.

Supreme Court Rules That Cell Phone Site Data Is Protected By The Fourth Amendment

In a case that pit the new rules of cyberspace against the old rules about when the Fourth Amendment protects privacy, the Supreme Court ruled today in a way that breathes new life into both privacy and the Fourth Amendment.

Supreme Court Hands States A Big Win On Taxation Of Internet Sales

Overruling precedent dating back 51 years, the Court has ruled that states can require businesses that sell to residents within their state collect and remit appropriate sales taxes.

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Civil Asset Forfeiture Case

We may finally get a ruling applying the Excessive Fine Clause to the states and limiting the ability of police to confiscate property.

SCOTUS Punted On Partisan Gerrymandering, But The Issue Isn’t Going Away

The Supreme Court avoided ruling on the merits of two partisan gerrymandering cases, but the issue will be back before them sooner rather than later.

Judge Strikes Down Kansas ‘Proof of Citizenship’ Voting Law

A federal trial court has ruled the practice an unconstitutional infringement on suffrage.

Supreme Courts Let Partisan Gerrymandering in Wisconsin and Maryland Stand (For Now)

A 9-0 ruling side-stepped the broader issue of to what extent purely political considerations may be applied.

This Moment in Time

The Trump administration’s approach to immigrant children is a serious test of our national morality.

A Busy Two Weeks Ahead For The Supreme Court And Supreme Court Watchers

With two more weeks to go, there are plenty of “big” cases still awaiting the release of a decision.

Former Trump Campaign Manager Paul Manafort Heads To Jail

Donald Trump’s former Campaign Manager was sent to jail, a move that likely increases the pressure on him to cooperate with Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

D.O.J. Inspector General Finds No Political Bias In F.B.I.’s Clinton Email Investigation

The Department of Justice’s Inspector General found that former F.B.I. Director James Comey was ‘insubordinate’ in regard to the Clinton email investigation, but found no evidence of political bias at the Bureau.

New York Attorney General Sues Trump And His Family, Alleging Charity Fraud

The Attorney General of New York has filed a Complaint against President Trump and several members of his family alleging widespread fraud in the operation of Trump’s charitable Foundation.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban On “Political Apparel” At Polling Places

In a significant First Amendment ruling, the Supreme Court has held that a Minnesota law barring “political apparel” at polling places is unconstitutional.

Cohen ‘Likely’ to Cooperate

Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer is expected to cooperate with the Mueller investigation.

Trump DOJ Won’t Defend Obamacare ‘Must-Carry’ Mandate

Longstanding policy that the Justice Department defend an Act of Congress if there is “any reasonable argument” it is constitutional is being ignored.

Trump Administration Joins State Effort To Undo DACA

The Federal Government is signing on to an effort by Texas and several other states to have the DACA program declared unlawful.

Trump Administration Won’t Defend Obamacare, Says Mandate Is Unconstitutional

The Trump Administration is declining to defend the Affordable Care Act in Court, arguing that the individual mandate is now unconstitutional because the tax penalty has been eliminated.

Supreme Court Upholds Ohio Infrequent Voter Purge Law

In Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, Samuel Alito authored a 5-4 opinion ruling that removing voters from the rolls after four years is perfectly legal.

Justify Wins Triple Crown

For the second time in three years, we have a Triple Crown winner.

Robert Mueller Tightens The Screws On Paul Manafort

Former Trump Campaign Director Paul Manafort has been hit with a new round of charges.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration Policy On ‘Sanctuary Cities’

Another Federal Judge has held that the Trump Administration’s efforts to punish so-called ‘sanctuary cities’ violates both Federal law and the Constitution.

Could SCOTUS’s Ruling In Masterpiece Cakeshop Impact Trump’s Muslim Ban?

Some legal scholars are speculating that the Court’s ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop could impact the ruling on the President’s Muslim Travel Ban. This seems unlikely.

Trump Unblocks Twitter Users, Appeals Ruling That He Can’t Block Twitter Users

President Trump has unblocked Twitter users, but at the same time his lawyers are appealing the ruling that he can’t block Twitter users.

The President Probably Can Pardon Himself, But If He Does He Should Be Impeached

Based on a strict reading of the Constitution, a sitting President probably does have the power to pardon himself. That doesn’t mean he should be allowed to get away with it without consequence.

In Narrow Ruling, Supreme Court Sides With Baker In Same-Sex Wedding Discrimination Case

In an exceedingly narrow ruling, the Supreme Court sided with a Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding reception. However, the ruling did not address the broader issues raised by the case.

Trump Administration Argues It Didn’t Need Congressional Authorization To Attack Syria

Echoing the Obama Administration, the Trump Administration is arguing that it did not need Congressional authorization to attack Syria earlier this year.

Trump’s Nixonian Response To The Russia Investigation: ‘L’etat c’est moi’ (‘I am the state’)

President Trump’s attorneys have put forward a shockingly expansive view of the powers of the President.

Is The E.R.A. Really Just One State Away From Ratification? Maybe, Maybe Not.

Earlier this week, the Illinois legislature ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. What’s unclear is if this act has any meaning at all.