Today in Supreme Court History
Law & Government
Religious Exemption Claim Brought by Employees Who Objected to COVID Vaccination and Testing Can Go Forward
So says a federal appellate court, applying federal employment law, which requires employers to exempt religious objectors even from generally applicable job rules, unless exemption would impose an "undue hardship" on the employer.
Justice Sotomayor Speaks on Her "Desperation" on the Court
Recent remarks at Harvard may be a preview of what is to come.
Ending Section 230 Would Kill the Internet as We Know It
Don’t unleash censors; restrain them more!
A Bonus Reason Roundtable. Live From Boston!
Plus: Who are the editors' favorite vice presidents of all time?
California's Telemedicine Restrictions Are Forcing Rare Disease Patients To Travel Out of State for Care
A new lawsuit argues the state's requirement that doctors must be licensed in California to do remote consultations with patients there is unconstitutional.
American Manufacturers Need Tax and Regulatory Reform, Not Tariffs
Despite both presidential candidates touting protectionist trade policy, tariffs do little to address the underlying factors that make it difficult for U.S. manufacturers to compete in the global marketplace.
End the Assange Indictment Charade
As the U.K. High Court allows a new appeal for Julian Assange, pressure mounts on Joe Biden to drop charges. He should.
Congress' Budget Process Is Broken. Here's One Idea for Fixing It.
Lawmakers should be freed from "the dead hand of some guy from 1974," says former Congressional Budget Office director.
A Cop's Corruption Allegedly Cost an Innocent Man 2 Years of His Life. Should She Get Qualified Immunity?
Judge Carlton Reeves ripped apart the legal doctrine in his latest decision on the matter.
Justice Department Sues Oklahoma Over Law That Would Imprison Undocumented Immigrants
State law enforcement groups have warned that H.B. 4156 “conflicts with many existing directives” and could “destroy” their relationships with immigrant communities.
Alvin Bragg's Case Against Trump Presents a Tangle of Interacting Laws and Intent Puzzles
To convert a hush payment into 34 felonies, prosecutors are relying on a chain of assumptions with several weak links.
House Passes a Bill To Create Independent Oversight of the Troubled Federal Prison System
Staff shortages and chronic corruption have plagued the Bureau of Prisons for years, exposing inmates to abuse and whistleblowers to retaliation.
Biden Decries a 'Failed Approach to Marijuana' but Sticks With It
Rescheduling does not resolve the conflict between federal pot prohibition and state rejection of that policy.
Samuel Alito Was Foolish To Sell His Bud Light Stock
The conservative culture war boycott against Bud Light was actually a great time to buy stock in a successful company, even if you don't like Bud Light.
Will Antitrust Policy Smother the Power of AI?
Left alone, artificial intelligence could actually help small firms compete with tech giants.
San Diego Is Cracking Down on Groups Exercising Outside Without a Permit
A revision to the municipal code made it illegal for groups of four or more people to convene in public spaces for commercial recreational activities without a government stamp of approval.
The Real Reason for Self-Checkout Bans
It isn't about stopping crime—it's about protecting a favored constituency's jobs.
Kamala Harris Implausibly Claims Biden's Marijuana Pardons Number in the 'Tens of Thousands'
The vice president's exaggeration reflects a pattern of dishonesty in the administration's pitch to voters who oppose the war on weed.
Daniel Perry's Pardon Makes a Mockery of Self-Defense
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott takes a tactic from the progressive prosecutors he says he opposes.
California Lawmakers Might Resurrect Failed 'Urban Renewal' Program
In practice, these programs have empowered local governments to use eminent domain to seize property to redistribute to developers.
Biden's Spin on Marijuana's Rescheduling Exaggerates Its Practical Impact
Contrary to the president's rhetoric, moving marijuana to Schedule III will leave federal pot prohibition essentially unchanged.
Can This Woman Sue the Rogue Prosecutor Who Allegedly Helped Upend Her Life?
Prosecutor Ralph Petty was also employed as a law clerk—by the same judges he argued before.
Congressional Republicans Launch 'Fishing Expedition' Against Progressive, Jewish, and Palestinian Nonprofits
The House Oversight and Education committees are investigating the sources of “malign influence” behind campus protests. They’re using tactics Republicans used to hate.
Congress' FAA Reauthorization Is Good for Remote Towers, Bad for Travel Agents
The legislation is largely a status quo bill that doesn't take up longstanding calls to reform air traffic control, airport funding, and more.
No, Politicians Can't 'Fix' Prices—and That's OK
Price controls lead to the misallocation of resources, shortages, diminished product quality, and black markets.
He Was Sentenced to a Decade in Prison for Having Unlicensed Weapons
Dexter Taylor is now a "violent felon," even though his hobby was victimless.
New Survey Finds Abortions Increased Slightly in 2023, Despite Widespread Bans
The same survey found that thousands of women are still getting telemedicine abortions, even if they live in states where the procedure is illegal.
Don't Give Biden a Pass on Inflation. Don't Give Trump a Pass on COVID.
Will the real president of the United States during the years 2020 through 2022 please stand up?
Dobbs and the Originalists
Why originalist criticisms of Dobbs often misfire, and why criticisms *of* Dobbs's originalism often misfire too.
The Worst Section 230 Bill Yet
New bipartisan legislation would sunset Section 230 after next year.
Zoning Regulations Empower Control Freaks—and Bigots
The Institute for Justice has launched a project to reform land use regulation.
A New Law Is Making It Even Harder To Find Day Care in D.C.
D.C.'s new degree requirements could lead to job losses, increased operating costs, and higher tuition.
AI Can Do Paperwork Doctors Hate
With help from artificial intelligence, doctors can focus on patients.
New Jersey Mayors Want the Power To Sue You For Asking Too Many Questions
A bill backed by the Conference of Mayors would let courts issue restraining orders when people “harass” officials with information requests.
Brace for Big Tax Hikes in 2026 Unless Congress Acts
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of 2025, with a high price tag for most Americans.
The Night I Asked ChatGPT How To Build a Bomb
Yes, you can trick the bot into giving you information it's supposed to keep to itself. No, that isn't something to worry about.
Justice Thomas Raises Concerns About Increase in Expedited Appeals on "Shadow Docket"
Speaking at the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference, Justice Thomas echoes some of the concerns expressed by Justice Kavanaugh.
A SWAT Team Blew Up This Innocent Couple's Home and Left Them With the Bill. Was That Constitutional?
Mollie and Michael Slaybaugh are reportedly out over $70,000. The government says it is immune.
The Details of Stormy Daniels' Story About Sex With Trump Are Legally Irrelevant
Under the prosecution's theory, Trump would be guilty of falsifying business records even if Daniels made the whole thing up.
Tennessee Appeals Court Rules Against Wildlife Agents Who Planted Cameras on Private Land
The three-judge panel concluded unanimously that while the state law at issue is constitutional, the wildlife agents' application of it was not.
Justice Kavanaugh Tells Fifth Circuit that "Shadow Docket" Places Pressure on Supreme Court
Some interesting comments at the Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference
District Court Dismisses Genesis B. Kids Climate Suit Against the EPA
The district court recognizes that the plaintiffs lack standing, but grants them leave to amend.
