The Supreme Court has allowed Alabama to use a new congressional map with only one majority-Black district, sending the case back to a lower court amid ongoing voting rights litigation. The decision follows a recent ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act.
Posts tagged as “Elena Kagan”
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a case challenging President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants, focusing on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. Justices expressed skepticism about the administration’s narrow reading of “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” with several questioning the practicality and historical basis of excluding children of undocumented parents from citizenship. The Court’s forthcoming decision could significantly impact immigration policy and constitutional rights, with indications that a majority may uphold the longstanding broad protections of birthright citizenship.
The Supreme Court has allowed the use of a 2021 map for the upcoming election in Galveston County, despite the fact that it wiped out the county's only majority-minority precinct in violation of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The decision has raised concerns about the future of the VRA and has been met with criticism from civil rights groups, who argue that it undermines the VRA and will have a detrimental effect on minority voters. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has been asked to take up the case en banc and reverse its decision, setting a precedent that could be used to justify the use of racially gerrymandered maps in the future.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case that could determine the future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Noel Francisco, who argued on behalf of the trade associations challenging the CFPB's funding structure, faced tough questioning from the justices. If the court rules in favor of the trade associations, it could gut the agency’s funding and have a major impact on the post-financial crisis regulatory landscape. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on the case in the coming months.
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has expressed her support for an ethics code for the court, while noting that the justices are divided on the issue. This follows a series of controversial rulings and ethical controversies, and Kagan has suggested that Congress could take action to address the issue. It remains to be seen what action Congress will take.
The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling on Thursday that race-conscious admission programs at two colleges were unconstitutional, with Chief Justice John Roberts arguing that it violated the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the primary dissent, joined by Justice Elena Kagan, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson also penned a separate dissent, joined by Kagan. The ruling has been met with criticism from civil rights groups, and is likely to have far-reaching implications for universities across the country.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Billy Counterman, who was convicted of making "true threats" to a local musician on Facebook. The court raised the bar for establishing when a statement is a "true threat" not protected by the First Amendment, making it more difficult for prosecutors to prove that a statement is a true threat. The ruling is seen as a victory for free speech advocates, and is expected to have a major impact on how prosecutors handle cases involving threats made on social media.
The Supreme Court has sided with whiskey maker Jack Daniel’s in a trademark dispute with the makers of the Bad Spaniels dog toy. The lower court had ruled in favor of VIP Products LLC, but the Supreme Court overturned this decision and sent the case back for further review. Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the use of the trademark fell within the “heartland of trademark law” and that the lower court should have taken this into account when making its ruling. This decision is a victory for Jack Daniel’s and other companies that rely on trademarks to protect their products.