Constitutional Law

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

Foreign-aid pause likely unconstitutional, federal judge rules in ABA case

A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration’s “sudden, blanket suspension of congressionally appropriated” foreign aid was likely arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act and was likely a violation of the constitutional separation of powers.

Mar 11, 2025 11:42 AM CDT

Supreme Court will review Colorado ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether a Colorado ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors—which aims to change sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling—violates the First Amendment.

Mar 10, 2025 1:38 PM CDT

PETA asserts First Amendment right to receive communications from NIH monkeys

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asserting a First Amendment right to receive communications from macaque monkeys held in a government research lab.

Mar 10, 2025 8:57 AM CDT

DC Circuit allows federal watchdog’s removal pending expedited appeal; US argued he had gone ‘rogue’

Updated: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to remove the leader of the Office of Special Counsel when it granted an emergency government request to stay a federal judge’s order pending appeal.

Mar 6, 2025 11:15 AM CST

Supreme Court appears likely to rule against Mexico in suit against gun-makers for cartel violence

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared likely to side with U.S. gun companies arguing that Mexico cannot sue over the flow of firearms into the country because of a 2005 law providing gun-makers with immunity for third-party crimes committed with their products.

Mar 5, 2025 12:46 PM CST

This Harvard Law prof thinks constitutional theory is a terrible way to pick a judge

What if we are asking the wrong questions when selecting American judges? Mark Tushnet thinks our current criteria might be off.

Mar 5, 2025 9:04 AM CST

Justice Thomas argues college bias-response teams may chill speech in dissent to cert denial

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a First Amendment challenge to Indiana University's use of bias-response teams.

Mar 4, 2025 9:45 AM CST

Judge’s deadline to resume foreign-aid payments is not ‘review-worthy,’ ABA, other plaintiffs tell SCOTUS

The ABA and other groups that receive funding for foreign assistance programs told the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday that a federal judge’s deadline to resume some payments “presents no review-worthy legal question.”

Mar 3, 2025 11:53 AM CST

Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent watchdog agency

A federal judge on Saturday said President Donald Trump cannot summarily fire the head of an independent watchdog agency, setting up a likely Supreme Court battle over Trump’s sweeping attempt to reshape the federal workforce and expand presidential power.

Mar 3, 2025 8:55 AM CST

DOJ nominees hedge on whether court orders must always be followed

Two Department of Justice nominees refused to say whether court orders must always be followed during questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Feb 27, 2025 3:24 PM CST

Averting immediate showdown, chief justice pauses judge’s deadline for US to restore foreign-aid funds

The U.S. government doesn’t have to comply with a federal judge’s Wednesday night deadline to restore foreign-aid funds after Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay in the matter.

Feb 27, 2025 10:36 AM CST

Cutting Off the Cartels: Mexico takes aim at US gun manufacturers before the Supreme Court

Amid escalating tensions with its northern neighbor over immigration, drug smuggling, tariffs and other matters, Mexico is about to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court in a major lawsuit against members of the U.S. gun industry. Mexico alleges that U.S. gun manufacturers deliberately market and sell firearms that make their way to drug cartels, fueling an epidemic of violence.

Feb 27, 2025 8:54 AM CST

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS likely to revisit president’s power to fire executive branch officials

The first case involving the second Trump administration has come to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although the high court has not gotten involved at this stage in the litigation, the case involves an issue of enormous significance.

Feb 26, 2025 2:17 PM CST

State’s failure to correct accuser’s lithium testimony entitles death row inmate to new trial, SCOTUS rules

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that an Oklahoma death row inmate is entitled to a new trial because the prosecution failed to correct testimony by the man who implicated him.

Feb 25, 2025 2:28 PM CST