High court rejects Texas Democrats’ gerrymandering complaint
The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from the Texas Democratic Party charging that the Republican-controlled Legislature illegally gerrymandered the state’s electoral maps.
Supreme Court of the United States
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Federal courts create workplace conduct committee
On the heels of a call from the U.S. Supreme Court to review the judiciary’s sexual harassment response policies, the U.S. Courts Administrative Office has established a working group to review the safeguards in place for protecting court employees from inappropriate workplace conduct.
Supreme Court to hear sales tax collection case
The Supreme Court agreed Friday to wade into the issue of sales tax collection on internet purchases in a case that could force consumers to pay more for certain purchases and allow states to recoup what they say is billions in lost revenue annually.
U.S. Supreme Court takes wheel in 2 vehicle search cases
The United States Supreme Court’s justices put themselves in the driver’s seat Tuesday, hearing arguments in two cases involving vehicle searches, but it was unclear what routes the justices will take to resolve the cases.
Chief Justice Roberts addresses sexual harassment in judiciary
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts used his end-of-the-year report to highlight the “new challenge” of sexual harassment coming in 2018.
District court to reconsider convicted robber’s sentence
A man convicted in federal court of two armed robberies will get a chance at a more lenient sentence after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent warranted review of the sentence previously imposed on the man.
COA allows spoliation claim to proceed
The Indiana Court of Appeals has struck down a claim for a private right of action raised under Indiana’s medical record production statute, but allowed a spoliation claim against a doctor who no longer possesses a patient’s medical records to proceed. However, two judges urged the Indiana Supreme Court to reconsider a 1991 opinion that required them to strike the private right of action claim.
13 states sue to stop cage free eggs law in Mass.
Massachusetts is being sued by 13 other states that claim a voter-approved law to ban the sale of eggs and other food products from farm animals that are confined in overly restrictive cages is unconstitutional.
U.S. Supreme Court declines gay-rights work discrimination case
The Supreme Court is leaving in place a lower court ruling that a federal employment discrimination law doesn't protect a person against discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
Banta: Supreme Court weighs patent invalidity case procedures
Accused infringers might have a greater incentive to save their patent invalidity arguments for federal court or International Trade Commission litigation after the U.S. Supreme Court renders its decision in SAS Institute, Inc. v. Matal, U.S., No. 16-969.
Federal Circuit decision nudges patent examiners to be reasonable
Although it only affirms what has been said before, a September decision from the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals is nevertheless surging in popularity among inventors and their attorneys because it reminds the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the standard of “broadest reasonable interpretation” for evaluating patent applications does not mean “broadest possible interpretation.”
SCOTUS to decide whether patent challenges must be heard in court
In the wake of hefty attorney fees and an onslaught of what was viewed as unnecessary litigation filed by “patent trolls,” Congress authorized the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to begin conducting inter partes reviews of patent challenges in 2012 as an efficient and cost-effective alternative to patent litigation. But now, the popular IPR process could be in jeopardy as the United States Supreme Court considers whether federal law requires patent challenges to be adjudicated in court.
Lawyers: Trump too busy to face woman’s defamation lawsuit
Lawyers for President Donald Trump argued on Tuesday that a defamation lawsuit filed by a former contestant on his reality TV show “The Apprentice” who accused him of unwanted sexual contact should at least be blocked while he’s in office because he’s too busy and important.
Kennedy wrestles with wedding cake case at Supreme Court
His vote likely to decide the outcome, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy voiced competing concerns Tuesday about respecting the religious beliefs of a Colorado baker who wouldn’t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, and the gay couple’s dignity.
Indiana among 13 states challenging California egg law
Indiana is among more than a dozen states that banded together Monday to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block a California law requiring any eggs sold there to come from hens that have space to stretch out in their cages.
SCOTUS suggests it may side with states in sports betting case
The Supreme Court on Monday suggested it may side with New Jersey in its effort to make sports gambling legal in a case that could make betting on football, basketball and other sports widely available.
Indiana joins bid to upset prohibition against sports gambling
Eighteen states, including Indiana, have joined New Jersey at the United States Supreme Court in crying foul over a 25-year-old federal statute that prevents them from legalizing gambling on collegiate and professional basketball, football, baseball and other sporting events.
Opponents in LGBT case agree: It’s not about wedding cake
In a legal case with profound implications for LGBT rights and religion’s place in public life, the opposing sides agree on this: It's not about the cake.
New Chapter 13 plan form, creditor bankruptcy rules take effect
New rules and procedures for individuals filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 13, and creditors certain bankruptcy cases will have less time to file proof of claims, federal courts announced.
U.S. Supreme Court wrestles with whistleblower protection issue
The Supreme Court of the United States on Tuesday seemed reluctant to broadly apply whistleblower protections passed by Congress after the 2008 financial crisis, suggesting those particular protections only apply to people who report problems to the government.