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653 ABA Journal Washington articles.

Chemerinsky: This SCOTUS term moved the law ‘dramatically in a conservative direction’

The U.S. Supreme Court's October 2021 term was one of the momentous in history. The only analogy I can think of is 1937 for its dramatic changes in constitutional law. This is the first full term with Justice Amy Coney Barrett on the high court, and we saw the enormous effects of having a 6-3 conservative majority.

Jul 7, 2022 8:46 AM CDT

Supreme Court rules for praying football coach, drops Lemon test

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Monday that a football coach had the right to pray on the field after high school football games under the free speech and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment.

Jun 27, 2022 9:33 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Fish definition includes bees, court says; judge decries ‘fair-weather originalism’

Bees can sometimes be considered fish, court says Bees can be protected under the California Endangered Species Act because they are invertebrates within the law’s definition of fish, the California Third District Court of Appeal ruled May 31. The law defines fish as “a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian…

Jun 10, 2022 11:56 AM CDT

Supreme Court protects Border Patrol agents from constitutional claims; dissent hits ‘drive-by’ immunity

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled against the owner of the “aptly named” Smuggler’s Inn in his quest to sue a Border Patrol agent for allegedly roughing him up and then retaliating against him for reporting the incident.

Jun 8, 2022 1:52 PM CDT

California law requiring women on corporate boards is unconstitutional, judge rules

A California judge has struck down a law requiring public corporations headquartered in the state to include a minimum number of women on their boards of directors.

May 18, 2022 9:11 AM CDT

Gorsuch and Kavanaugh sour on Lemon endorsement test in praying football coach case

During oral arguments Monday in the case of a praying football coach, U.S. Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh appeared ready to abandon a Lemon endorsement test in establishment clause cases.

Apr 26, 2022 1:30 PM CDT

Supreme Court considers whether high school football coach has right to pray on the field

The case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District arrives at a U.S. Supreme Court dominated by conservatives who have shown special solicitude to religious liberty claims in recent years.

Apr 21, 2022 11:11 AM CDT

Judge acknowledges using racial slur ‘in an explanatory context’

A Washington judge accused of using the N-word won’t say whether she plans to run for reelection, but her recent registration with a state commission suggests that she intends to start raising campaign funds.

Apr 20, 2022 9:15 AM CDT

Former judge faces prison time after pleading guilty to sexual assault of 2 court employees

A former judge in Washington, who was accused of sexually assaulting two former court employees, agreed to a plea deal as his trial was set to begin Monday.

Apr 7, 2022 8:41 AM CDT

Law that keeps racist covenants in separate public record helps preserve history, top state court says

The Washington Supreme Court has said a new state law strikes a balance between removing racial covenants from a home’s title while keeping them part of the public record.

Apr 4, 2022 10:29 AM CDT

Many federal courts ease mask requirements; judges often retain discretion in their courtrooms

More than a dozen federal courts have eased or dropped mask requirements since the beginning of March.

Mar 11, 2022 10:04 AM CST

Escrow officer accused of transferring nearly $2M to scammer gives up license as limited practice officer

An escrow officer in Washington has given up her certification as a limited practice officer after she was accused of wiring nearly $2 million in client escrow funds to a scammer.

Mar 10, 2022 11:03 AM CST

Animal cruelty can qualify as domestic violence, state supreme court says

An animal cruelty conviction for beating and killing an intimate partner’s dog can qualify for a domestic violence designation under Washington law, the Washington Supreme Court has ruled.

Feb 23, 2022 9:18 AM CST

Supreme Court will hear case of praying football coach

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the case of a high school football coach who lost his job after defying the school district’s orders to stop praying with students at the 50-yard line after games.

Jan 18, 2022 2:10 PM CST

Some states seek to eliminate racial bias in jury selection with peremptory-challenge changes

Some states are changing the rules for peremptory challenges—and in one case, eliminating them altogether—in an effort to eliminate racial bias in jury selection.

Dec 22, 2021 3:32 PM CST

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