Weekly Briefs: Decision overturning skirts-only rule survives; 'Hurricane Carter' judge dies
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SCOTUS lets stand decision overturning skirts-only rule
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let stand a federal appellate decision holding that a public charter school in North Carolina violated the equal protection clause when it required girls to wear skirts. The case is Peltier v. Charter Day School. (American Civil Liberties Union press release)
Federal judge who freed Hurricane Carter dies
Former Judge H. Lee Sarokin of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has died at the age of 94. He is mostly known for his liberal decisions as a federal district judge, including his opinion overturning the triple-murder conviction of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Sarokin said prosecutors wrongly made an “appeal to racism.” (The New York Times, Law.com)
SCOTUS allows challenge to Louisiana voting map to proceed
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday vacated a stay that had blocked a challenge to Louisiana’s congressional voting map. Louisiana’s population is about 30% Black but it has only one majority-Black congressional district. Challengers say a second is needed. The case, Robinson v. Ardoin, heads back to a federal appeals court. (The June 26 Supreme Court order list, the New York Times, American Civil Liberties Union press release)
Indiana’s abortion ban upheld
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state’s near-total abortion ban on Friday. The law revokes medical licenses for all abortion clinics in the state, but permits hospital abortions for up to 10 weeks post-fertilization in cases of rape or incest. Abortions are allowed for up to 20 weeks for a lethal fetal abnormality or a need to protect the life or health of the mother. “Our laws have long reflected that Hoosiers, through their elected representatives, may collectively conclude that legal protections inherent in personhood commence before birth,” the supreme court said. The case is Members of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana v. Planned Parenthood Great Northwest. (The Associated Press, the Indianapolis Star, the June 30 opinion)
Lawyer must pay attorney fees for fake news article
A federal appeals court says Seattle lawyer Edward C. Chung must pay relevant attorney fees and costs for submitting a fake news article to the court in a bid to revive an $18 million arbitration award against Chevron. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a trial judge should decide how much Chung should pay toward the $251,000 in legal fees claimed by Chevron. The lawyer, who practices with Chung Malhas & Mantel, had claimed the “Saudi Sun” news article was a “hypothetical paper” that was intended to summarize the court record. He said he had informed the court of the purpose. (Law360, Reuters, the June 26 order)
