“How to Deliberate on the Shadow Docket; Or, Are Critics Seeing Shadows?”
Recent legal headlines highlight a wave of high‑profile moves and rulings. Two leading Trump defense attorneys, Jeffrey Wall and Morgan Ratner, are departing Sullivan & Cromwell for Gibson Dunn, bolstering the latter’s appellate capabilities. Federal appellate courts affirmed a tax‑code ban on home distilling and allowed Texas schools to display the Ten Commandments, setting the stage for a potential Supreme Court showdown. Meanwhile, scholars and commentators intensify debate over the Supreme Court’s “shadow docket,” labeling it a legacy of limited transparency.
“Justices to Hear Case on Catholic Preschools That Reject Children of Gay Parents; Catholic Preschools in Colorado that Decline to...
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case brought by Catholic preschools in Colorado that refuse to enroll children of LGBTQ parents. The schools argue that participation in the state’s publicly funded preschool program would compel them to...
“Conservative Judges’ Early Hiring Fuels Two-Track Clerkship System at Harvard Law”
Harvard Law School’s clerkship pipeline is fracturing as conservative federal judges begin hiring clerks months before the traditional summer season. The early‑hiring practice creates a two‑track system, giving students who secure positions early a competitive edge over peers who apply...
“Boasberg Contempt Hearing for Noem Found on Appeal to Be ‘Abuse’”
A divided D.C. Circuit panel ruled that Judge James Boasberg's contempt inquiry into the Trump administration’s rapid deportation of Venezuelan migrants was an abuse of judicial power, effectively ending the probe. The decision shields the administration from potential sanctions and...
“The Supreme Court’s Stealth Attack on the Regulatory State”
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the conversion‑therapy case signals a covert assault on the modern regulatory state, according to Harvard law professor Noah Feldman’s Bloomberg Opinion essay. By framing the decision as a constitutional rebuke of agency authority, the...
“Trade Court Wrestles with Trump’s Replacement Tariffs; A Three-Judge Panel Mulled the Duties President Donald Trump Imposed After the Supreme...
A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade is reviewing the tariff regime President Donald Trump imposed after the Supreme Court struck down his "Liberation Day" duties. The panel must decide whether the replacement tariffs, enacted via executive...
“When the Supreme Court Nearly Imposed Anarchy on Oklahoma; An Errant 2020 Decision Deprived the Sooner State of Authority to...
Governor Kevin Stitt’s Wall Street Journal op‑ed warns that a 2020 Supreme Court ruling stripped Oklahoma of the power to prosecute many serious crimes, raising concerns about state‑level law enforcement authority. A Fifth Circuit panel later invalidated federal tax code...
“Appeals Court Says Trump White House Ballroom Construction Can Proceed for Now”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an order that allows construction of a new ballroom in the West Wing of the White House to proceed while the underlying lawsuit continues. The panel overturned a lower‑court injunction,...
“The DOJ Keeps Making Corrections In Court, and Judges Want Answers; The Justice Department’s Corrections Come Amid Growing Judicial Mistrust...
The Justice Department has been filing an unprecedented wave of corrective motions in federal courts, prompting judges to demand explanations for the errors. The surge follows a series of structural changes instituted during the Trump administration, which critics say prioritized...
“Winning For Workers Before A Conservative Court: Jennifer Bennett; A Principal at Gupta Wessler, Bennett Has Won Four Unanimous Victories...
Jennifer Bennett, a principal at Gupta Wessler, has achieved four unanimous U.S. Supreme Court victories for employee plaintiffs, reinforcing labor protections in wage‑theft, overtime and safety disputes. Meanwhile, Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s recent Kansas tour sparked headlines as she warned the...
“Only Trump Knows Why He Replaced Bondi as Attorney General, New Leader of Justice Department Says”
President Donald Trump dismissed former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi and installed Todd Blanche as acting attorney general. Blanche told reporters that only Trump knows the specific reason for Bondi's removal and that he would accept a permanent appointment if...
“Trump’s Grip on the Supreme Court Seems to Be Slipping; The Administration’s Early Winning Streak at the High Court May...
President Donald Trump’s early winning streak at the Supreme Court is waning as recent rulings have turned against his policy agenda. Simultaneously, he dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, installing deputy Todd Blanche as acting head of the Justice Department. The...
“J. Klatchko to JAMS”
In March 2026 a wave of notable legal developments unfolded: Jones Day added four Supreme Court clerks from the October 2024 term, including Seanhenry VanDyke; veteran attorney J. Klatchko moved to dispute‑resolution firm JAMS; the Trump administration intensified its challenge...
“US Judiciary Withdraws New Requirements for Amicus Brief Disclosures”
The U.S. Judicial Conference has officially withdrawn a proposed amendment that would have tightened disclosure requirements for amicus curiae briefs. The original rule sought to mandate detailed information about the brief’s sponsors, funding sources, and any related interests. After extensive...
“Pa. Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Life Sentences for 2nd-Degree Convictions”
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life‑without‑parole sentences for second‑degree felony murder are unconstitutional, overturning a decades‑old sentencing scheme. The decision, detailed in a majority opinion and several concurring and dissenting opinions, paves the way for the largest resentencing...