Last June, we wrote about a Kansas woman, Mary Anne Sause, who had police come to her house to investigate a noise complaint. During the officers’ investigation, she knelt down to pray, at which point the officers ordered her to stop praying and stand up. She sued them, arguing that the officers violated her First Amendment… Read More Kansas Woman Ordered by Police to Stop Praying Will Get Her Day in Court
Today, the Supreme Court decided a case called Janus, which involves whether public-sector unions (for employees such as teachers, police, firefighters, etc.) can require non-union employees to pay so-called “fair-share” fees to the union when the employees disagree with the political messages the union advocates. (We previewed the case here.) In a 5-4 decision, and in… Read More SUPREME COURT OPINION ALERT: Public-Sector Unions May No Longer Force Nonmembers to Pay “Fair Share” Fees
Third time’s the charm. Today, the Supreme Court upheld the third iteration of President Trump’s executive order temporarily restricting people from several majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States—the so-called “travel ban.” In a 5-4 opinion, written by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court found that the executive order did not violate the Establishment Clause of… Read More SUPREME COURT OPINION ALERT: Court Upholds “Travel Ban 3.0”
Today, the Supreme Court decided NIFLA v. Becerra, which involves whether a California law requiring so-called “pregnancy crisis centers” (pro-life medical facilities that provide a variety of services for pregnant women) to disclose abortion-related information violates the First Amendment. (We previewed the case here.) In a 5-4 decision, and in an opinion written by Justice Thomas, the Court… Read More SUPREME COURT OPINION ALERT: Court Strikes Down California’s Restrictions on Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
A Florida man named Fane Lozman is on a roll. (Yes, his first name is Fane; like ‘fame’ but with an ‘n’ instead of an ‘m’.) In 2013, he won a lawsuit against the City of Riviera Beach at the United States Supreme Court. And today, he won his second. In the mid-2000s, Fane was… Read More Florida Man Wins Second Supreme Court Case in Five Years Against the City of Riviera Beach
Today, the Supreme Court decided Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, which involves whether Minnesota’s ban on “political” apparel at polling places on election day violates the First Amendment. (We previewed the case here.) In a 7-2 decision, and in an opinion written by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court ruled against the state of Minnesota and struck… Read More SUPREME COURT OPINION ALERT: Court Strikes Down Minnesota’s Ban on “Political” Attire at Polling Places
In February 2017, Ryan Duke was arrested and charged with the murder of Tara Grinstead, who went missing almost 12 years earlier. Tara was a south Georgia high school teacher and beauty queen, and her disappearance and Duke’s subsequent trial attracted substantial media attention. (Indeed, her murder has its own Wikipedia page.) Five days after… Read More Gag Order in Georgia Murder Trial Stuck Down
Today, the Supreme Court decided Masterpiece Cakeshop, which involves whether a cake baker can be forced to bake a cake for a same-sex couple’s wedding. (We previewed the case here.) In a 7-2 decision, in an opinion written by Justice Kennedy, the Court ruled in favor of the cake shop and found that the Colorado… Read More SUPREME COURT OPINION ALERT: High Court Rules in Favor of Cake Baker in Same-Sex Wedding Case
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