Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court extended a SNAP benefits stay; Justice Jackson dissented from the full court's action.
- Jeffrey Epstein emails detail his conduct and ties to a powerful network aware of his abuse.
- DOJ challenged California's new congressional map, alleging it constitutes a racial gerrymander.
- Supreme Court arguments covered military contractor liability and religious rights under RLUIPA.
- Court denied Kim Davis's petition to overrule Obergefell; granted review of Mississippi ballot rules.
- Justices Thomas and Gorsuch questioned Congress's power over territories in a cert denial.
Deep Dive
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson initially issued an administrative stay in a SNAP benefits lawsuit.
- The full Supreme Court later extended this stay, with Justice Jackson noting she would have denied the extension.
- The order's wording suggested the full court acted without Justice Jackson's referral of the matter.
- Leaked emails reveal Epstein advised prominent figures like Ken Starr on sexual misconduct issues.
- Epstein also advised Steve Bannon on discrediting a Kavanaugh accuser, highlighting his broad influence.
- Emails detail interactions with Donald Trump, including discussions about women and potential awareness of misdeeds.
- The discussion of Epstein's ties led to a presidential investigation announcement, while also being labeled a hoax.
- The Department of Justice challenged California's new congressional map, alleging it constitutes a racial gerrymander.
- The challenge is based on claims that Democrats feared a Latino voice would be undervalued compared to a white voice.
- The DOJ also noted concerns that Texas might revert to Jim Crow-era discrimination.
- The Supreme Court heard Hensley v. Flora Corporation, concerning lawsuits against military contractors.
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed strong opinions during argument, focusing on potential contractor liability and interrupting parties.
- An exchange saw Justice Gorsuch reportedly tell Kavanaugh he was being rude, described as signaling "end times" at the court.
- Kavanaugh and Alito appeared sympathetic to contractor immunity, while Gorsuch leaned against it.
- RICO v. United States questioned whether "fugitive tolling" applies to supervised release cases without statutory inclusion.
- Coney Island Auto Parts focused on Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60, regarding relief from a judgment.
- Justices considered if seven years was too long for motions to vacate void judgments under a reasonable time standard.
- The case Lander v. Louisiana Department of Corrections concerned damages under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
- A Rastafarian inmate with long hair was forcibly shaved after presenting prison officials with a Fifth Circuit opinion.
- Justice Kavanaugh questioned whether RLUIPA contained a "clear statement" for allowing monetary damages.
- Extensive and ideologically diverse amicus support for the plaintiff, including from the Trump Justice Department, was noted.
- Supreme Court arguments questioned whether federal spending clause legislation binds individuals or only states.
- Justices expressed concern that a ruling against enforceability could undermine numerous federal statutes and programs.
- This issue impacts religious inmate rights and other federal spending-powered initiatives.
- Justices Gorsuch and Alito focused on circuit splits regarding a request for a ruling that contradicted numerous appellate court decisions.
- GeoGroup v. Menocal involves ICE detainees suing a government contractor for alleged forced labor, which led to a detainee's death.
- The contractor claims immunity under the "yearsly defense," arguing ICE directed the labor, but lost in district court.
- The Supreme Court is now considering whether the contractor can immediately appeal that order.
- The Supreme Court denied Kim Davis's cert petition, which sought to overrule Obergefell v. Hodges.
- The Court granted cert in a case challenging Mississippi's rule for counting late-arriving mail-in ballots.
- The Fifth Circuit's ruling against Mississippi's rule, allowing ballots postmarked by election day to be counted within five days, was noted.
- A cert denial in United States v. Veneno included a statement from Justices Thomas and Gorsuch questioning Congress's power over territories.