Outside the Beltway

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case challenging the President’s deportation relief plan, but it’s unlikely we’ll see a ruling on the merits.

Justice Sotomayor argued last week that we ought to look somewhere other than just the Courts of Appeal, the Ivy League, and the Northeast for Supreme Court Justices. She’s right.

With surprising unanimity, the Supreme Court rejected an effort to restrict the meaning of ‘one person, one vote’ in legislative redistricting.

A victory in the fight to reform civil asset forfeiture laws.

Another Republican Senator has broken ranks and called for hearings on the nomination of Merrick Garland, as another poll shows most Americans support hearings as well.

The Supreme Court appeared deadlocked during oral argument in the latest case dealing with the PPACA’s contraceptive coverage mandates.

It increasingly appears that the GOP is on the losing side of the argument over whether to hold hearings and a vote on the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

The coming political battle over President Obama’s effort to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia will likely be unlike anything we’ve seen before.

The Supreme Court seems as closely divided as ever on an issue that has divided the nation for forty years, but the implications of Justice Scalia’s death were quite apparent during oral argument in the Texas Abortion Law case.

With less than three weeks to go before voting starts, the Republican candidates for President clashed in their most contentious debate so far.

A divided Supreme Court heard argument today in a case involving affirmative action in college admissions that is before the Court for the second time in two years.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument today in a case that could have big implications for redistricting, and the make-up of state legislatures and the House of Representatives.

The Supreme Court is now considering a case that deals with the problem of overly broad civil asset forfeiture laws and a Defendant’s right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment.

The marriage equality issue is resolved, but that doesn’t mean the Supreme Court won’t have a lot of high profile cases on its docket over the next eight months.

The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the way the death penalty is administered, dealing a serious blow to opponents of the death penalty.

The US Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 that the U.S. Constitution contains a right to same-sex marriage.

The era of legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act is over.

The Supreme Court ruled that police are not entitled to access to a hotel registry without a warrant.

The Supreme Court has struck down a program that forced farmers to turn over a portion of their crop to the government without compensation.

The Supreme Court ruled that states don’t have to grant license plates that display the Confederate flag. Their decision has the potential to seriously harm the First Amendment.

In a case that took seven months to decide, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Presidency’s broad authority in foreign affairs, and inserted itself just a little bit in the thorny politics of the Middle East.

A sharply divided Court heard argument today on an issue that has sharply divided the nation.

In a 6-3 vote that defied traditional expectations, the Justices have limited the ability of police to detain people on the side of the road for long periods of time.

Once again, the Supreme Court appears to be sharply divided on the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act.

A fishy tale from the Supreme Court that may give us a clue about bigger cases to come.

The Supreme Court says that police who have a “reasonable” misunderstanding of the law can still pull you over.

The Court holds that Federal Law does not require employees to be paid for the time waiting to get through mandatory security screening.

The next President will have a profound ability to shape the future of the Supreme Court, but that is unlikely to be the most important issue on voters minds in 2016.

Same-sex marriage advanced in Kansas and South Carolina yesterday, and will soon be law in Montana, but the Supreme Court is what matters now,

States may not add to Federal requirements for voter registration, the Court rules. Which makes perfect sense.

The Supreme Court will decide if Congress can override American foreign policy when it comes to declaring who has dominion over Jerusalem.

Another pre-election stay ruling from the Supreme Court.

The die is cast.

Chief Justice Roberts lamented recently that an increasingly partisan confirmation process could mean that Justices who have contributed much to the Court would not be confirmed today. He’s right.

Hobby Lobby wins, but it’s unclear just how far this opinion will go.

Another solid victory for the First Amendment from the Roberts Court.

The Supreme Court rules that Recess Appointments can only be made when there’s actually a Congressional recess.

Even the most ideologically divided members of the Supreme Court agree with each other 65% of the time.

The First Amendment protects government employees who testify truthfully.

Using a chemical to commit a purely domestic crime doesn’t make you an international criminal, the Supreme Court correctly decided today.

The Supreme Court has again ruled that prayers that open legislative sessions are not unconstitutional.

A bizarre case in Alabama highlights a more bizarre judicial precedent.

Today’s oral argument before the Supreme Court on the issue of police searches of cell phones and smartphones left much up in the air.

The Court gets the result right, but their reasoning will make things much more difficult for courts, defendants, and victims.

Yesterday the Supreme Court greatly expanded the circumstances under which police can rely on anonymous tips.

The Supreme Court may have just found a way to end the debate over Affirmative Action in education.

Hobby Lobby has a strong argument under RFRA but the precedent would be dangerous.

About 1,000 same-sex couples married in Utah before the Supreme Court stay find themselves in an odd legal limbo.

Developments overnight in a small but controversial issue raised by the PPACA.