Thanks, Lawrence!
Legal affairs reporter at The Wall Street Journal. Send tips to: lydia.wheeler@wsj.com
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Thanks, Lawrence!
Thanks, Liz!
Excited to announce I’ve joined The Wall Street Journal as a legal affairs reporter based in D.C. Today is my first day with this talented team. Send tips on court cases, controversies and legal issues to lydia.wheeler@wsj.com or contact me securely on Signal: LWheeler.72
NEW: The US Supreme Court is fueling criticism that it’s treating presidential administrations differently and acting as a partisan partner of Donald Trump in continuing to greenlight his policies without any explanation. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
NEWS: Former Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar is rejoining Cooley LLP, where she worked before representing President Joe Biden’s administration at the US Supreme Court. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
The Fourth Circuit had the second-highest number of its rulings reviewed by the Supreme Court and they reversed every one. The data suggests attorneys have been testing the waters to see if the liberal-leaning court could counterbalance the conservative Fifth Circuit.
Good morning from the Supreme Court on the last day of the term. We’re expected to get 6 rulings starting at 10 on Obamacare preventive services, religious opt outs to LGBTQ-themed books in elementary school, and Trump’s birthright citizenship restrictions.
We've got 6 decisions coming from the Supreme Court tomorrow, which is the last day of the term. They involve Trump's efforts to restrict birthright citizenship, an age verification law for porn sites in Texas, and Obamacare's no-cost coverage of preventive health services. Today's big ruling:
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson called textualism “incessantly malleable” and accused her colleagues of giving the perception that the Supreme Court favors moneyed interests over ordinary citizens in two pointed dissents issued Friday.
Good morning from a Supreme Court that’s getting a face lift. More opinions are coming at 10. We’re waiting for rulings on religious opt outs for LGBT books in school, enforcement of Trump’s birthright citizenship restrictions and Obamacare coverage for certain preventive health services.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reported making over $2 million off her memoir last year, according to her financial disclosure released Tuesday. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
My colleague @kimberlyrobinsn.bsky.social will answer all your burning questions about the Supreme Court and its cases this term. Join the discussion on Reddit starting at 1 pm ET.
The court has 27 cases left to decide, including a challenge to a Tennessee law that bans gender affirming care for transgender minors.
We'll get opinions from the court starting at 10. Join the media and refresh this page incessantly: www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/sli...
The US Supreme Court is pausing automated email notifications for court actions after it accidentally sent alerts in pending cases three days early last week. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Have a tip related to the Supreme Court, its cases or the parties involved? Do you know about something happening with its staff, security or operations? Share it with me privately on Signal.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear several cases corporate America brought seeking to rein in class actions this term only to later say they shouldn’t have taken the appeals. It’s an emerging and potentially worrisome pattern. @kimberlyrobinsn.bsky.social and I report on why.
We'll get Supreme Court opinions starting at 10 am. The justices have 33 cases left to decide.
Conservative justices all but invited additional gun rights cases and advocates will soon have multiple chances to try again for a constitutional right to own an AR-15.
Supreme Court rejects two major gun cases, leaving in place a Maryland ban on so-called assault weapons and a Rhode Island ban on high-capacity magazines.
Tfw your mom texts on a Saturday morning that she’s going to your little hometown library’s very impressive book sale and asks what books you want her to try to find 🥰📚😍
Trump’s angry at judges he nominated even as his policies are faring better with his appointees. The wins don’t appear to be enough for Trump, who attacked the adviser he relied on to fill vacancies. The move risks alienating the conservative legal movement that helped elect him in 2016.
In a statement, Leo said he's "very grateful" for Trump transforming the courts "and it was a privilege being involved. There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy."
Trump is upset over a recent ruling against his tariffs that came from a panel, which included a judge he appointed during his first term.
President Trump slammed the Federalist Society and it's former leader on Truth Social, calling Leonard Leo a "sleazebag." news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
The Supreme Court reined in environmental impact studies and in doing so told courts they have to defer to agencies. But the justices weren't limiting their decision last term in Loper Bright. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
My colleagues @kimberlyrobinsn.bsky.social has the story here:
Court says DC Circ. didn't afford the US Surface Transportation Board judicial deference and incorrectly interpreted that federal law required the board to consider the environmental effects of upstream and downstream projects that are separate in time or place. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Only one decision from the Supreme Court: Seven County Infrastructure v. Eagle County, Colorado. Court reversed DC Circuit decision 8-0. Gorsuch recused. Case deals with an environmental impact statement for railroad line construction.
Good morning from the Supreme Court where we'll get opinions starting at 10 am ET. You can find those posted here: www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/sli...
BREAKING: Supreme Court splits evenly major church-state case, thwarting an effort in Oklahoma to create the nation’s first faith-based charter school. 4-4 split doesn’t set a nationwide precedent.
The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to halt a lower court ruling that forces it to answer questions and turn over documents about Elon Musk's DOGE. Solicitor General John Sauer argues DOGE is a "presidential advisory body" that's not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
A federal district court judge in California has already cited the Supreme Court's language in granting temporary relief in a class action. www.bloomberglaw.com/public/docum... Story updated to reflect ruling.
Tucked into the Supreme Court’s decision blocking President Donald Trump from sending additional Venezuelans to a Salvadoran prison is subtle but significant language that could provide broad relief from other administration policies even if the justices limit the use of nationwide injunctions.
Story from my colleague @gregstohr.bsky.social here:
In the unsigned opinion, the court says it's deciding only that the detainees are entitled to more notice than was given. The court said it's not addressing the underlying merits of the parties’ claims regarding the legality of the removals under the Alien Enemies Act.
The Supreme Court just extended its order that blocked the Trump administration from deporting more Venezuelans to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Justices Alito and Thomas dissent.
“The sources that the executive branch are citing are radical, fringe views,” Elora Mukherjee of Columbia Law School tells @lydiawheeler.bsky.social. “They are not accurate, thorough, complete understandings of the Fourteenth Amendment.” news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
The Supreme Court isn't scheduled to issue opinions until May 15, which is the same day as arguments on Trump's emergency requests to partially enforce his birthright citizenship order.
No new cases granted this morning. Here's the Supreme Court's full order list. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to let Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have access to sensitive Social Security information, escalating a privacy fight that could affect millions of people.
New episode of "Cases and Controversies" out now. @kimberlyrobinsn.bsky.social and I talk about an uncomfortable exchange in court this week and why we think Chief Justice John Roberts is likely to be the pivotal vote in a bid to create the nation's first religious charter school.
Quite the scene at the Washington Hilton tonight where protesters stormed a ballroom while Charles Koch was accepting an award from the Cato Institute. Several got onto the edge of the stage while Koch was speaking.
Chief Justice John Roberts is likely to be the swing vote in this one that's being decided by a short-handed court without Barrett.
Justice Alito still seems bothered by the inclusion of LGBTQ+ themed books in a Maryland elementary school. Though it’s been over a week since the US Supreme Court heard that fight, Alito referenced the case during Wednesday’s arguments over a religious charter school.
One important note about today's arguments: Justice Amy Coney Barrett won't be there. She recused though has not given a reason why. She is reportedly close friends with a Notre Dame professor who helped set up the Catholic charter school in Oklahoma that's at the center of this dispute.
But first, opinion(s) at 10.
Good morning from the Supreme Court where the justices will consider if states must include religious schools in their taxpayer-funded charter school programs. The case could create the nation’s first religious public school.
In a 7-2 ruling, court holds a person is entitled to SSI benefits, which are used to calculate this rate, when she is eligible to receive a cash payment during the month of her hospitalization. Justices Jackson and Sotomayor dissent.
Only opinion out of the Supreme Court today in a technical case over how federal hospital reimbursements are calculated for hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of low-income patients. Opinion: www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Lot of chatter going on about today's unusually hostile Supreme Court arguments involving attorney Lisa Blatt. I wrote about Blatt's casual candor and direct argument style last year when she became the first woman to hit 50 arguments at the court.
Obamacare is back at the Supreme Court in a challenge to its no-cost coverage requirements for certain preventive health care. GW professor emerita Sara Rosenbaum explains why the case is more about power than public health on this week's episode of "Cases and Controversies." Listen here:
Lots of confusion out there about what Scotus will consider on birthright citizenship. It's actually pretty clear: They are NOT ruling on the legality of Trump's EO, though the subject will surely come up and the decision will determine whether the restrictions go into partial effect right away. 1/3
My colleague @kimberlyrobinsn.bsky.social last month wrote about how the case is a good vehicle to eliminate or clarify the use of nationwide injunctions, which have been the ire of the government since the Obama administration.
Supreme Court announces it will hear arguments on May 15 over Trump's requests to partially enforce his executive order that seeks to restrict automatic birthright citizenship.
The Trump administration is defying court orders and there isn’t much the Supreme Court can do to stop it. Trump's willingness to skirt court orders is illustrating just how little power the federal judiciary has to enforce its decisions.
The Supreme Court announces Thursday will be an opinion day.
President Donald Trump is heralding victories from the Supreme Court that legal experts say are short-term, procedural, and incremental wins at best in his effort to unilaterally advance immigration and federal spending priorities. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
NCLA’s lawsuit and Cato’s signature on the ACLU’s brief signal conservative and libertarian leaning groups are starting to push back against Trump’s broad use of executive power, @lydiawheeler.bsky.social reports news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
A group that’s spent the last four years attacking companies for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and other “woke” policies is now taking aim at federal regulators in the next big swipe at the administrative state to reach the Supreme Court. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
This case won't be heard until next term, which begins in October. Exact date of arguments won't be scheduled for some time.
Supreme Court agrees to hear a challenge to state bans on "conversion therapy," which tries to change a child's sexual orientation or gender identity. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Prominent Supreme Court litigator Lisa Blatt pushed the Justice Dept. to drop a Biden-era lawsuit against a migrant children's shelter that alleges sexual abuse, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social and @justinfwise.bsky.social report. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Uber has a safety feature you can turn on in your settings that will generate a PIN for each ride for you to give the driver to confirm it’s your ride.
A new episode of "Cases and Controversies" just dropped! @gregstohr.bsky.social and I talk about the court's first significant ruling on Trump in his second term, arguments over a nuclear waste site in Texas, and unusual exchanges between the justices and the president. Listen here:
In dissent, Alito calls the decision an "unfortunate misstep that rewards an act of judicial hubris and imposes a $2 billion penalty on American taxpayer." Though there were serious concerns raised about nonpayment for completed work, he said, the relief ordered is too extreme a response."
Chief Justice John Roberts told the district court to clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order "with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines," since its earlier deadline has passed.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
The Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's request to toss out a temporary ruling that forced the federal government to disperse $2 billion in federal aid. Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh dissent. Here's the order: aboutblaw.com/bhpD
The Supreme Court sidestepped extraordinary requests to intervene in litigation against the Trump administration and in doing so avoided turning on a spigot some legal scholars say would’ve been hard to shut off. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
We'll get more opinions tomorrow.
Full story on today's ruling here:
Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority in the 5-4 decision. The requirements do not spell out what a permittee must do or refrain from doing; rather, they make a permittee responsible for the quality of the water in the body of water into which the permittee discharges pollutants, he said.
Only ruling from the court today is San Francisco v. EPA. Court holds the Clean Water Act doesn't give the EPA the authority to include “end-result” requirements in permits for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Good morning! We'll get at least one opinion from the Supreme Court today at 10 followed by arguments in a dispute between Mexico and the gun maker Smith & Wesson. Listen to last week's episode of Cases and Controversies for a preview of the case. open.spotify.com/episode/247w...
I'll be helping out this spring w/ DOJ coverage, including changes at the civil rights division and at US attorney's offices. Current and former DOJ employees, I'd love to hear from you, and I'm always happy to chat off-the-record. You can reach me on Signal below:
Tuesday and Wednesday will be Supreme Court opinion days, so it's a busy week at the court.
The second raises a technical question of civil procedure in a dispute over a lawsuit the families of victims killed in Hamas attacks tried to bring against BLOM Bank SAL for allegedly aiding and abetting terrorists.
The first asks if a company owned by a foreign state must have a certain level of contact with the US to be sued in federal court.
Good morning! The Supreme Court could add new cases to its docket next term when it releases orders at 9: 30. The court will then hear arguments in two cases starting at 10.
So excited my favorite podcast is coming back!
The justices and even the parties before the Supreme Court seemed to agree the Sixth Circuit was wrong to require an Ohio woman to show more evidence that her state employer passed her over for a promotion and demoted her just because she's heterosexual.
There was "radical agreement" during arguments this morning, as Justice Neil Gorsuch put it, over whether people in majority groups have a higher burden of proof in bringing workplace discrimination cases to trial.
Good morning! We’re in Spring of Deception here in D.C. where the Supreme Court will release opinion(s) at 10 and then hear arguments in a reverse discrimination case.
Busy day at the court with the justices also hearing arguments in a technical statutory interpretation case that asks what factors courts can consider when revoking a supervised release sentence. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Last Supreme Court opinion Lackey v. Stinnie. Court rules against Virginia drivers in their bid for attorneys fees. Says the drivers do not qualify as prevailing parties because they gained only preliminary injunctive relief before case became moot. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Supreme Court rules for Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip. Says prosecution violated its obligation to correct false testimony and ordered a new trial. supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
What a sweet pup! 😍
The Supreme Court announces it will issue decisions on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
The Supreme Court's April argument calendar is out! On deck: potential blockbuster disputes over Obamacare healthcare coverage requirements, LGBTQ-themed school books, and a religious charter school. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
And it took a narrow view of when suits involving property stolen from Holocaust victims belong in US courts. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
The court also sided with civil rights plaintiffs in a case that pitted concerns over state sovereignty against fairness to the parties. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
The Supreme Court ruled against Wisconsin Bell in its bid to avoid a whistleblower suit that accuses it of submitting false claims for reimbursement to a government program that subsidizes the internet for schools and libraries. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
It's a Supreme Court opinion day. We'll get one or more decisions starting at 10 a.m.
In an officewide email Wednesday morning, obtained by Bloomberg Law, interim US Attorney Ed Martin previewed his plan to “hold accountable those who threaten workers," including federal judges and DOGE staff, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
He flew us to Philadelphia because the winds would have caused us to run out of runway and crash if we had tried to land at DCA. I’m really grateful for the pilot’s quick decision even though it created such a travel headache for everyone on board at 1 am. Happy to be safe on the ground.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this accident on Monday. I was on an @americanair.bsky.social flight Saturday night from Miami to DCA. We were coming in late during high winds. We saw the Potomac River and the tarmac, but right before touchdown the pilot pulled us back up into the sky.
Here's the response: aboutblaw.com/bhfU
Dellinger already responded. He says Trump's appeal of a temporary restraining order isn't the proper way to resolve separation-of-powers disputes. Granting Trump's request, his lawyers warn, invites politically fraught disputes to be prematurely escalated to the Supreme Court on a "rock docket."