Civil Procedure

Nationwide injunctions likely exceed federal courts’ authority, Supreme Court says

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the Trump administration Friday when it ruled 6-3 in a case about birthright citizenship that nationwide injunctions likely exceed the authority of federal courts.

Jun 27, 2025 9:22 AM CDT

Change in establishment clause test doesn’t save Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law, 5th Circuit says

A Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Jun 23, 2025 10:05 AM CDT

US can’t target fossil fuel producers through regulations, then argue they don’t have standing, SCOTUS says

Fossil fuel companies have standing to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for approving California’s requirement for the production of more electric vehicles, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday in a 7-2 decision.

Jun 20, 2025 11:39 AM CDT

SCOTUS will consider whether Illinois congressman has standing to challenge ballot-counting law

A downstate Illinois congressman who wants to challenge a state law on the counting of mail-in ballots will have his case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jun 3, 2025 11:24 AM CDT

AARP says it’s not part of challenge to El Salvador deportations, despite case caption

The AARP—formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons—has intervened in a lawsuit filed on behalf of immigrant detainees because of concerns about the case caption.

Apr 23, 2025 2:19 PM CDT

Seeing power abuse by federal judges, 5th Circuit judge warns of ‘hundreds of kings in judicial robes’

A federal appeals judge issued a concurrence to his majority opinion in a death-penalty case last week to remark on federal trial judges who, in his view, abuse their powers to overturn the will of the electorate.

Apr 21, 2025 3:32 PM CDT

Supreme Court’s late-night order barring deportation was ‘extraordinary in many ways;’ what did Alito say?

The U.S. Supreme Court acted quickly after the American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency application Friday evening that sought to block what appeared to be the imminent deportation of its clients.

Apr 21, 2025 9:44 AM CDT

Climate change case that ‘ignited a movement’ ends with Supreme Court’s cert denial

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to revive a climate change lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 youths who contended that the government is a trustee of the environment and has a duty to preserve it.

Mar 25, 2025 2:01 PM CDT

2 firms speak out after Trump seeks lawyer sanctions for ‘unreasonable and vexatious’ suits against US

Two law firms have issued statements criticizing President Donald Trump after he issued a memo late Friday calling for sanctions, ethics referrals and reassessment of security clearances against lawyers and firms that engage in “frivolous, unreasonable and vexatious litigation” against the United States.

Mar 24, 2025 11:20 AM CDT

How firms use AI, financial, remote work technology examined in AffiniPay ‘2025 Legal Industry Report’

Benchmark data can prove to be invaluable when making decisions about the future of your law firm. Understanding how others in the legal profession are using technology to streamline workflows and increase revenues can make all the difference.

Mar 21, 2025 1:51 PM CDT

Citing ‘anti-democratic takeover’ by ‘activist’ plaintiffs, Trump seeks money bond for injunction requests

President Donald Trump is directing federal agencies to seek a money bond when plaintiffs file federal lawsuits against the administration that seek temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions.

Mar 13, 2025 3:38 PM CDT

Law prof suspended over exam question, class discussion can sue for First Amendment retaliation, 7th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has revived a First Amendment retaliation claim by a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law who used an “expurgated racial slur” on an exam question, leading to an investigation, required diversity training, a suspension and denial of a pay raise.

Mar 13, 2025 2:14 PM CDT

Third federal appeals court rejects Trump administration bid on birthright citizenship

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Boston on Tuesday refused to allow President Donald Trump’s order on birthright citizenship to take effect, joining two other federal appeals courts that also ruled against the administration on the issue.

Mar 12, 2025 12:05 PM CDT

BigLaw attorneys who are ‘frequent practitioners’ in federal district can’t be admitted pro hac vice, judge says

Two Baker & Hostetler lawyers won’t be able to represent a compounding pharmacy in a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at least for now, after a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas denied their application to appear pro hac vice.

Mar 5, 2025 3:45 PM CST

Ruling in ABA suit, SCOTUS denies US bid to vacate deadline for foreign-aid payments; Alito is ‘stunned’

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to vacate a judge’s Feb. 26 deadline for the United States to make foreign-aid payments for work already completed in connection with grants and contracts.

Mar 5, 2025 10:33 AM CST