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27 Jun, 2023

Remembering H. Lee Sarokin: The Judge Who Fought for Justice

2023-06-27T09:06:55-05:00June 27th, 2023|Tags: , , , , |

The judicial world mourns the loss of H. Lee Sarokin, a distinguished federal judge known for his landmark decisions and unwavering dedication to justice. Sarokin, who passed away at the age of 94, played a pivotal role in freeing boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and gained recognition for his bold assertion that tobacco companies conspired to [...]

10 Oct, 2019

Supreme Court Appears Divided Over LGBTQ Employment Law

2019-10-10T17:18:53-05:00October 10th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , |

The Supreme Court appeared to be closely divided after hearing two hours of oral argument this week in three LGBTQ federal law cases.  Two of those cases, No. 17-1618, Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda and No. 17-1623, Bostock v. Clayton County, ask whether a worker can be fired based on their sexual orientation. The third, No. 18-107, R.G. & [...]

18 Aug, 2016

Stats, Damned Stats, and Statistics

2019-03-18T18:47:20-05:00August 18th, 2016|Tags: , , , , , , |

  SCOTUSblog’s Kedar Bhatia released his annual Stat Pack for the October Term 2015 last week – an invaluable resource for the Supreme Court community.  You can access the Stat Pack in full, here.  Here are my top ten takeaways: Merits Stage Cases (80 total) Opinions were released in just 63 cases this term. Four cases [...]

16 Aug, 2016

Transgender Bathroom Likely On Its Way to SCOTUS

2019-03-18T18:47:20-05:00August 16th, 2016|Tags: , , , , |

The Supreme Court appears inclined to address whether transgender individuals have a constitutional right to use the restroom consistent with their gender identities. On August 3rd, the Court issued a one-page order (579 U. S. ____ (2016)) staying a Fourth Circuit ruling that had permitted 17-year-old Gavin Grimm to use the bathroom of his choice. [...]

24 Feb, 2016

President Obama on His Search for the Next Supreme Court Justice

2019-03-18T18:47:22-05:00February 24th, 2016|Tags: , , , , , |

  Official portrait of President Barack Obama on Jan. 13, 2009.(Photo by Pete Souza) President Barack Obama has publicly outlined the traits he seeks in a new Supreme Court Justice.  Via a post at SCOTUSblog.com Wednesday morning entitled “A Responsibility I Take Seriously,” Obama revealed the characteristics he is looking for in a [...]

12 Mar, 2015

The Dean of the Supreme Court Press Corps

2019-03-18T18:47:29-05:00March 12th, 2015|Tags: , , , , , , |

Omaha, NE The Dean of the Supreme Court Press Corps has covered the entire careers of all nine members of the Roberts Court and reported on one-quarter of sitting justices in the Court’s storied history.  In his six decades as a reporter, Lyle Denniston has developed an exhaustive knowledge of the Supreme Court’s docket. His [...]

24 Sep, 2014

Happy 225th Birthday to the U.S. Supreme Court!

2019-03-18T18:47:33-05:00September 24th, 2014|Tags: , , |

  The U.S. Supreme Court was “born” 225 years ago today, September 24, 1789.  This is the date that the Judiciary Act of 1789 (which established the form of the Supreme Court) was signed into law by President George Washington. The first six Justices were also nominated:  John Jay (Chief Justice), John Blair, William Cushing, [...]