Watchdog Report: At Least 20 Percent of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Dollars Wasted
A new report from the Government Accountability Office found that nearly $80 billion was paid out to ineligible beneficiaries or outright fraudsters.
Law & Government
SCOTUS Just Made It Even Harder To Sue an Abusive Federal Agent
The Supreme Court continues to shield federal officers who are accused of violating constitutional rights.
Following USDA Guidance, State Clinics Destroyed Thousands of Cans of Usable Baby Formula
The government worsens the baby formula shortage, again.
Would These 4 Gun Controls Prevent Mass Shootings?
An analysis of such crimes suggests the president’s policy prescriptions are unlikely to have a meaningful impact.
The Least Productive Supreme Court Ever?
The justices hear fewer cases and decide fewer questions than they used to.
"The Possibility of Prosecuting Federal Court Leakers—Update & Rejoinder"
Former prosecutors Markus Funk and Andrew S. Boutros, and Judge Virginia Kendall, delve further into this fascinating question.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Says People Charged With Violent Crimes Are Guilty Because Prosecutors Say So
"When those charges are brought, these people are guilty," Lightfoot said.
Gay Weddings Return to The Supreme Court
Can a web designer be compelled under the First Amendment to host wedding pictures?
Today Marks 80 Years Since Congress Last Bothered To Declare a War
Presidents once treated congressional authorization as a requirement for the U.S. to enter conflicts. What went wrong?
May Public Pension Plan Managers Use "Environmental, Social, and Governance" Investment Practices?
"[P]olitics has no place in Kentucky's public pensions.... '[S]takeholder capitalism' and 'environmental, social, and governance' investment practices that introduce mixed motivations to investment decisions are inconsistent with Kentucky law governing fiduciary duties owed by investment management firms to Kentucky's public pension plans."
Biden's Plan for Reducing Inflation Will Actually Make It Worse
The president's argument is amazing for its tone-deafness, inconsistent thinking, and sheer economic ignorance.
Government Employees Got $872 Million in Bonuses Out of COVID Aid Cash
The federal bailout of state and local governments padded the paychecks of many public employees.
House Resolution Seeks End to U.S. Military Involvement in Yemen
It signals that many in Congress still condemn America's role in the war and actions from the president that lack proper authorization.
How Far Behind Is the Supreme Court?
We will get opinions on Monday, but the Court will have to average more than two opinions per day to finish before July 4.
Bipartisan Support for Red Flag Laws Elides the Practical and Constitutional Issues They Raise
Because there is no reliable way to identify future mass shooters, it is inevitable that many innocent people will lose their Second Amendment rights.
Jury Awards Johnny Depp $15 Million in Lawsuit Against Amber Heard
Heard won $2 million on one of her counterclaims.
Appellate Court Reverses Child Custody Decision That Was "Based on [a] Decade-Old Sexual Assault Allegation"
The appellate court also rejected the trial court's reliance on the 8-year-old child's "unsubstantiated" allegations of abuse.
California Court Rules That Bees Are Fish
Insects aren't a category protected by the California Endangered Species Act. So state officials classified four bumblebee species as fish to get them listed.
Free PACER! (Or At Least Free PACER Docket Searches)
The judicial conference endorses making PACER searches free for non-commercial users.
Texas Can't Start Enforcing Social Media Law, Says SCOTUS
Plus: Who's bringing fentanyl across the border? Will Austin become a sanctuary city for abortion? And more...
A Few Orders, But Where Are the Opinions?
With thirty-three opinions in argued cases yet to issue, the Supreme Court is well behind the usual pace.
California Court Rules Bees Qualify as "Fish" Under the State's Endangered Species Act
The ruling is not as ridiculous as it sounds. But it's still a fishy decision!
A Bee May Be A Fish (At Least in California) [Updated]
A state court rules that bumble bees may qualify as "fish" under the California Endangered Species Act
Delta-8 Cannabis Compound Is Legal, Says Federal Appeals Court
Plus: Libertarian Party changes abortion and bigotry planks, the FDA's weird rejection of fluvoxamine for treating COVID-19, and more...
Slippery Slope June
How should we think about slippery slope arguments, whether they come from liberals or conservatives or libertarians or anyone else?
A Former Public Defender Joins the Supreme Court
Newly confirmed Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has a good track record on cases involving qualified immunity.
Habeas Grant in Defense-of-Others Case
A crack theft leads to alleged attempted rape and the shooting of the drug dealers / alleged attempted rapist.
The Return of Earmarks Means More Pork-Barrel Spending by Congress
Lawmakers stuffed more than $8 billion in pet projects into an omnibus federal spending bill passed in March. But wait, didn't Congress ban earmarks back in 2011?
Appellate Court Upholds Trial Court's Rejection of "[Independent] Custody Investigator" Opinion
Among other things, the investigator "appeared to accept Father’s explanation that his 2003 kidnapping conviction based on allegations of domestic violence in a previous relationship was a misunderstanding, not the result of criminal conduct," "[finding] 'credible' Father’s explanation that he 'was unfairly incarcerated based on the lies of the victim and because of the racist justice system.'"
A Maine Couple Is Suing the State for the Right To Hunt on Sundays
The Parkers filed their lawsuit under Maine’s new ‘right-to-food’ constitutional amendment.
No Religious Freedom Problem with Court Approving One Parent's Choice of Religious School,
so long as the court makes the decision for secular reasons.
Filing False Accusation with Police Is Grounds for Attorney Discipline
Pretty obvious, I think, but helpful to see a specific case on the subject.
Supreme Court Turns Away Red State Effort to Block Social Cost of Carbon
Without opinion the justices rejected Louisiana's application to vacate a lower court stay.
