Outside the Beltway

Last week, the Washington State Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional. The latest in a string of victories for opponents of capital punishment.

The State of Texas is arguing in Court that a school district can force a student to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. This is a blatant violation of the First Amendment.

A group of lawsuits filed across the country are seeking to challenge the predominant method for allocation of Electoral College votes. These lawsuits appear to have little merit.

Another Federal Judge has ruled in favor of a transgender student seeking the right to use the gender that conforms to the gender they identify with.

Another Federal Judge has dealt a legal blow to President Trump’s effort to shut down the DACA program.

A Federal Judge in Oregon has rejected an efforts by a parent’s group to block a school district policy that allows transgender students to use the restroom facilities that conform to their gender identity.

The situation isn’t as awful as portrayed by the AP—but it’s still pretty bad.

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.

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.

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

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

A Federal Judge in Virginia has handed a significant legal victory to a student who sued their school district because they were barred form using the bathroom of the gender they identify with.

The Trump Administration has suffered another setback in its efforts to repeal DACA.

A Federal Judge has struck down the revised version of the ban on transgender members of the military from serving openly, and the ruling has significance that goes well beyond the issue at hand.

Leland Bohannon objects to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. What rights should he have to act on that belief?

A Federal Judge In New York City is allowing a lawsuit against the President’s DACA order to go forward, and he based part of his ruling on the President’s own rhetoric.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in the second partisan gerrymandering case of the term, and once again they appear to be divided.

A woman who was at the center of one of the most important Supreme Court cases in American history has died at the age of 75.

Another Federal Court has ruled in favor of a student seeking to use the restroom facilities that correspond with their gender identity.

Within hours after the new Florida gun law was signed by Governor Rick Scott, the National Rifle Association had filed a lawsuit seeking to strike it down.

Is it legal for retail businesses to restrict gun sales based on age? The short answer appears to be yes.

A Federal Court in North Carolina has issued a stinging ruling against the partisan gerrymandering undertaken by the Republican legislature in that state.

A Federal Judge has put a hold on the impending end of the DACA program.

Transgender Americans will be able to enlist in the military beginning January 1st thanks to a ruling from a Federal District Court Judge.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a second case dealing with political Gerrymandering.

The Supreme Court held oral argument in a case that pits First Amendment rights against the rights of LGBT Americans.

A Federal Judge in Washington, D.C. has blocked the Trump Administration from implementing its ban on transgender soldiers.

A complicated concurrence to Steven Taylor’s recent postings.

Reversing an Obama Era position, the Justice Department has rescinded a legal interpretation that purported to apply previously adopted civil rights laws to transgender individuals.

The Supreme Court appears split on the question of whether or not partisan Gerrymandering is unconstitutional.

The Trump Administration has been hit with two new lawsuits over the President’s decision to end the DACA program.

The University of California has joined the list of Plaintiffs suing the Trump Administration over its decision to end DACA.

As expected, a group of Democratic states is suing the Trump Administration over the decision to end the DACA program.

Several Democratic Attorneys General are threatening to sue the Trump Administration over the decision to end DACA, but their legal arguments appear to be especially weak.

President Trump’s effort to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military faces two new legal challenges.

President Trump’s shameful decision to ban transgender Americans from the military has nothing to do with military readiness and everything to do with pandering to his far-right base.

Yes, even Nazis must have their rights to peaceful speech and assembly protected.

Just about two weeks after being announced, the President’s proposed ban on military service by transgender troops is being challenged in Court.

Thoughts on the quality of our democracy.

On the second anniversary of its decision in Obergefell, the Supreme Court struck another blow in favor of LGBT rights.

A Federal appellate court has ruled that a transgender student must be allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument yesterday in a case dealing with whether Missouri can deny a religious school from participating in a program to make school playgrounds safer.

More fireworks on the second day of the questioning of Neil Gorsuch, but his confirmation nonetheless seems assured.

Another judicial slap at the Trump Administration.

Wherein a law professor makes the absurd argument that the Electoral College, which exists pursuant to the Constitution, is unconstitutional.

More than any politician that spoke last night, it was the father of a fallen solider who stole the night.

Mississippi tried to provide special protection to opponents of same-sex marriage and transgender rights. A Federal District Court Judge, properly, finds the law to be unconstitutional.

In a somewhat surprising opinion from Justice Kennedy, the Supreme Court upheld the University of Texas’s race-based admissions program.

Donald Trump’s open contempt for the Rule of Law and Freedom of the Press should disqualify him from being considered an acceptable candidate for President.

Surprising results from a new poll regarding “bathroom” bills and transgender Americans.