The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in the case of SEC v. Jarkesy, which could have sweeping consequences for the power of federal agencies to enforce the law. The case centers around the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) ability to take enforcement actions outside of the court system. During the oral arguments, the justices questioned the government lawyer about stripping the SEC of some of its enforcement discretion. The outcome of the case could have a major impact on the power of federal agencies to enforce the law, and a ruling is expected in the coming months.
Posts tagged as “the Supreme Court”
Judge Arthur Engoron has denied a motion for a mistrial in the $250 million civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump, calling the motion "utterly without merit" and Trump's rationale for halting the trial "disingenuous". The trial, which began on October 2nd, is expected to last another two months and is being heard in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York. Trump has denied the allegations and has sought to have the case dismissed.
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Florida's bid to enforce a law that would have prohibited children from attending drag shows, keeping in place a lower court ruling as a legal challenge continues. The law was challenged by a restaurant in Orlando known as Hamburger Mary's, arguing that it was unconstitutional and imposed unlawful restrictions on free speech. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch said they would have granted Florida's bid, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett said the court's decision does not speak to their views on the merits of the case.
The Supreme Court has released a code of conduct to guide the ethical behavior of its nine Justices after a year of revelations of unreported trips, gifts, and real estate deals. The code includes rules on gifts, travel, and other activities, as well as requiring justices to disclose any financial interests that could create a conflict of interest. The code is intended to ensure that justices adhere to ethical standards and that the public can have confidence in the court's decisions.
Democrats had a successful night in the off-year elections on Tuesday, winning critical races in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. The abortion referendum and pot legalization referendum both won in Ohio, and Democrats saw over-performance against 2020, current polls, and expectations. The elections also showed that the war in Israel and other hot-button national issues had a smaller impact on the results than expected, suggesting that voters are looking beyond these issues when making their decisions.
With just 68 days until the start of voting in the 2023 presidential election, the Republican candidates face a new challenge as they take the debate stage in Miami on Wednesday. Ohio voters chose overwhelmingly to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, providing a snapshot of voters' attitudes one year from the presidential election. The debate on Wednesday will be a key opportunity for the candidates to make their case to voters and demonstrate why they are the best choice for the Republican nomination.
The third Republican presidential debate in Miami is set to take place on Wednesday, with the candidates debating the issue of Senator Tommy Tuberville's hold on hundreds of high-ranking military promotions. This is in response to the Defense Department's policy of funding leave and out-of-state travel for members of the military seeking abortions, with Senator Tim Scott and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley taking opposing stances on the issue. Meanwhile, Ohio and Kentucky have seen significant political changes, with Ohio becoming the first GOP-led state to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution and Kentucky's Democratic Governor Andy Beshear winning reelection.
Ohio voters have approved a ballot measure that guarantees the right to reproductive medical treatment, including abortion, in the state constitution. This victory comes on the heels of Tuesday's legislative elections in Virginia, where Democrats who campaigned on protecting abortion rights swept the General Assembly. The passage of Issue 1 marks another major victory for abortion-rights advocates in the fight to protect reproductive rights, which is seen as a microcosm of other closely divided states that will be critical in next year's presidential election.