According to the Supreme Court website: Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice, was born in the Pinpoint community near Savannah, Georgia on June 23, 1948. He attended Conception Seminary from 1967-1968 and received an A.B., cum laude, from Holy Cross College in 1971 and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1974. He was admitted to law [...]
It’s coming up on presidential primary season and all candidates are dusting off their resumes. “Vote for me!” I’m a Senator. I’m a Doctor. I’m a CEO. I’m a Secretary of State. I’m a Governor. In due course, one of these people will be able to say “I’m the President.” Nice work if you [...]
According to the Supreme Court website: Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice, was born in Sacramento, California, July 23, 1936. He married Mary Davis and has three children. He received his B.A. from Stanford University and the London School of Economics, and his LL.B. from Harvard Law School. He was in private practice in San Francisco, [...]
According to the Supreme Court website: Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, March 11, 1936. He married Maureen McCarthy and has nine children - Ann Forrest, Eugene, John Francis, Catherine Elisabeth, Mary Clare, Paul David, Matthew, Christopher James, and Margaret Jane. He received his A.B. from Georgetown University and the University [...]
Today in Supreme Court History. On this day in 2014, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. In a 5-4 ruling, the Court held that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot force a "closely held company" to cover [...]
Filers and practitioners talk about the “writ of certiorari” all the time. We petition for the writ, oppose the writ, evaluate the chances for the writ, and contemplate the implications of the writ. The words “writ,” “writ of cert,” and “writ of certiorari” pepper the pages of Supreme Court filings—written and read with complete understanding [...]
Amicus curiae briefs are submitted by non-parties to a case as a way of introducing information and concerns to the Court, demonstrating that a case’s outcome may have wider effects beyond the immediate parties to the suit. They can provide valuable assistance to the Court in its deliberations by presenting an argument or citing authorities [...]
In 1971, an attorney representing Ora Spitler McFarlin presented a petition to Indiana Circuit Court Judge Harold D. Stump, asking to have Ms. McFarlin’s fifteen-year-old daughter surgically sterilized. The petition alleged that Linda was “somewhat retarded” and that she associated with “older youth and young men.” Judge Stump granted the order. He did not give notice [...]
On this date in 1803, the Supreme Court decided Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803), the important case that confirmed the legal principle of judicial review – the ability of the Supreme Court to limit Congressional power by declaring legislation unconstitutional – in the new nation. The notion of courts declaring statutes void dates [...]
During this week in 1790, the Supreme Court held its first session--meeting in the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City, then the nation’s capital. The Court first assembled on February 1st, but due to transportation problems for some of the justices, the session was postponed until February 2nd. The U.S. Supreme Court was established [...]