“Two Important Errors at the Watson V. RNC Oral Argument”
The Supreme Court heard arguments that could force states to count only mail‑in ballots received by Election Day, a shift that would tighten absentee voting rules ahead of the 2026 midterms. Simultaneously, federal judges appointed career prosecutor Robert Frazer as New Jersey’s U.S. attorney, ending a protracted leadership dispute that a judge had deemed illegal. Legal analysts also flagged two significant procedural errors in the Watson v. RNC oral argument, underscoring the high stakes of election‑law litigation. Together, these developments highlight a judiciary increasingly influential in shaping election administration and federal law enforcement leadership.
“Will the Majority-Catholic Supreme Court Listen to the Church on Immigration? ‘Immoral.’ That’s What the Catholic Church Told the Supreme...
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging whether absentee ballots must be received by Election Day rather than merely postmarked. The lawsuit, filed by the Republican National Committee and backed by former President Trump, seeks to...
“A ‘Defender General’?”
The Supreme Court’s recent Learning Resources decision produced a fractured opinion on tariff authority, exposing divergent views on the scope of Article I delegation. The split signals a potential recalibration of the Major Questions Doctrine, extending its reach beyond trade into...
“‘Embodied the American Dream’: Sandra Day O’Connor Remembered at Supreme Court.”
The Supreme Court held a bar memorial honoring the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, celebrating her trailblazing role as the first woman on the high court. Colleagues highlighted her pragmatic, consensus‑building jurisprudence and described her as the embodiment of the...
“Professor J. Joel Alicea Named 37th Recipient of the Federalist Society’s Joseph Story Award”
The Federalist Society honored Professor J. Joel Alicea as the 37th recipient of its Joseph Story Award, underscoring his contributions to conservative legal scholarship. In parallel, the Supreme Court deferred a decision on the Trump administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected...
“The Obscure Judge Presiding Over $166 Billion in Tariff Refunds; Judge Richard Eaton, on a Little-Known Trade Court, Is Pushing...
Judge Richard Eaton, a senior member of the U.S. Court of International Trade, is overseeing a massive $166 billion case to refund tariffs deemed illegally collected during the Trump era. The court has ordered the administration to return the funds quickly,...
“These Voting Rights Groups Say It’s a ‘Critical Moment’ for the South; The Groups Are Working to Educate Voters in...
Voting‑rights advocates in the Deep South are warning that a pending court challenge could overturn a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, potentially reshaping election rules in Alabama and neighboring states. The groups are deploying a coordinated voter‑education campaign...
“Ed Martin Faces Disciplinary Proceedings over Actions as D.C. U.S. Attorney; The Senior Justice Department Official Faces Disciplinary Proceedings over...
Ed Martin, the former Trump‑appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, is under disciplinary investigation by the D.C. Bar after sending a letter to Georgetown University Law Center that challenged its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. The grievance...
“DC Circuit Questions If Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Fee Is a Tax”
The episode dissects the legal dispute over whether the Trump administration’s $100,000 H‑1B fee constitutes a tax or a permissible immigration restriction. Drawing on Supreme Court precedent from Learning Resources and related cases, the guests argue that the statute granting...
Sentencing in United States V. Thomas C. Goldstein Is Scheduled to Occur on Tuesday, June 16, 2026
A federal sentencing hearing for United States v. Thomas C. Goldstein has been set for Tuesday, June 16, 2026, following a scheduling order issued by the Maryland district court on Friday. The case, which has attracted attention amid a wave...
“Larry Tribe Slams Sotomayor to Obama; ‘Bluntly Put, She’s Not Nearly as Smart as She Seems to Think She Is’”
On Monday, the Supreme Court granted a stay in the Malliotakis case, a move that legal scholars say could broaden the Court’s emergency‑relief jurisdiction to include rulings from state courts. The decision arrives as the Court’s emergency docket is already...
“Man Held at Gunpoint After Officers Entered Wrong Home Challenges Qualified Immunity Rulings; Tyler Harrington Is Asking the Fifth Circuit...
In this episode, attorney Alessandro Clark‑Anzani argues before the Fifth Circuit on behalf of Tyler Harrington, who was held at gunpoint after police mistakenly entered his home. He contends the district court erred by omitting the crucial second entry where...
“Justice In Balance: The Courts, Civil Rights, and Our Democracy.”
The federal judiciary is confronting a wave of politically charged cases, from the Justice Department’s stalled autopen investigation into President Biden under Trump pressure to a judge ordering over $130 billion in tariff refunds from the previous administration. Simultaneously, the Supreme...
“Justice Department Makes Abrupt Reversal on Law Firm Sanctions; Decision Comes Less than a Day After the Trump Administration Told...
The Justice Department abruptly reversed its decision to drop appeals defending executive orders that sanction law firms, re‑asserting its position within 24 hours. The reversal follows a brief announcement that the Trump administration would cease defending the orders, which targeted...
“White House Faces Thousands of Lawsuits as It Tries to Slow-Walk Tariff Refunds; The Trump Administration Is Attempting to Delay...
The Supreme Court recently struck down a set of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, obligating the White House to refund importers the duties collected. Instead of issuing prompt refunds, the administration has adopted a slow‑walk strategy, arguing fiscal constraints...
“Infiltrating the Supreme Court: A Roundtable Conversation with Top Supreme Court Reporters on Secrecy at the Court, the Justices’ Ethics...
The Justice Department abruptly reversed its decision to drop appeals defending executive orders that sanction law firms, reinstating its defense within 24 hours. At the same time, the Supreme Court signaled willingness to broaden appeal‑waiver exceptions, while declining to hear...
“Trump’s Unilateral Attack on Iran Paves Way for Broader Dispute Over War Powers; Critics Say the President Is Violating the...
President Trump launched a unilateral missile strike against Iran, bypassing any congressional authorization. Legal scholars and constitutional experts argue the move violates the War Powers Clause, sparking a heated debate over executive authority. Democrats, joined by two Republican lawmakers, are...
“Trump Touted Support for Gun Rights but Has Defended Restrictions in Court; The Trump Administration Has Backed some Loosening of...
President Trump has repeatedly proclaimed himself a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, yet his administration’s legal actions reveal a mixed record. The Justice Department has supported modest relaxations of gun rules while simultaneously defending key restrictions, such as the...
“Former Star Supreme Court Lawyer Convicted of Tax Violations; Prosecutors Alleged Thomas Goldstein, Co-Founder of SCOTUSblog, Evaded Taxes From His...
Thomas Goldstein, co‑founder of SCOTUSblog and former Supreme Court litigator, was found guilty on 12 of 16 tax‑fraud counts tied to undisclosed high‑stakes poker winnings. A federal jury concluded he deliberately concealed income and filed false tax returns over several...
“Trump Slams Justices After Supreme Court Strikes Down Most of His Tariffs; The Ruling Deals a Major Blow to the...
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 decision striking down the bulk of President Trump’s global tariff regime, ruling the administration exceeded its statutory authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The ruling, framed around the major questions doctrine,...
“A Case Against 6 Democrats Lacked Urgency. Then Came a Swift Bid for an Indictment. Prosecutors Have Been Repeatedly Caught...
Recent reporting highlights three distinct legal developments: federal prosecutors, under presidential pressure, moved quickly to indict six Democratic lawmakers despite earlier delays; Harvard Law Review elected Alexander Zhao as its 140th president, signaling a shift toward diverse leadership; and the...
“Judicial Notice (02.16.26): An Embarrassing Distraction; The Resignation of Kathy Ruemmler, a Humiliating Defeat for the Trump DOJ, a Judge’s...
The Trump Justice Department suffered a high‑profile loss when senior counsel Kathy Ruemmler resigned after a federal judge labeled the workplace abusive. The resignation follows a court order compelling the administration to restore slavery exhibits at the President’s House, underscoring...