Multiple civil rights groups filed suit today against the Trump administration, challenging its new rule seeking to severely limit the asylum protections that are available under US and international law to migrants at the US-Mexico border. The American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed one of the main legal challenges in California's Northern District Court on behalf of immigrant advocacy groups, alleging that the new rule violates US immigration law as well as administrative law. The lawsuit seeks declaratory relief stating that the interim final rule is invalid and unlawful, as well as preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to block its implementation. Read More.
Recently Featured Dockets
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY et al (filed 7/2/19)
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
The House Committee on Ways and Means filed this lawsuit requesting access to President Donald Trump's tax returns, escalating a battle between the House and the President. The Committee argues that the administration's defiance constitutes "an extraordinary attack on the authority of Congress to obtain information needed to conduct oversight of Treasury, the I.R.S., and the tax laws on behalf of the American people."
MERCK & CO., INC. et al v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES et al (filed 6/14/19)
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
A lawsuit, filed by several drug makers against the Trump Administration, wishing to block a new rule that would force the drug makers to put the price of their drugs in television advertisements.
Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. et al v. Mack (filed 5/29/19)
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
A lawsuit filed by an organization that advocates for the separation of church and states against a Texas justice of the peace who invites chaplains to hold prayer service in the courtroom before calling the cases to be heard for the day.
Center for Biological Diversity, Inc. et al v. Bernhardt et al (filed 5/23/19)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
The Center for Biological Diversity and San Francisco Baykeeper filed this lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that it is failing to protect several "highly imperiled" species of animals across the country, in violation of the the Endangered Species Act.
State of New York et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services et al (filed 5/21/19)
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
A federal lawsuit filed by several states challenging the "conscience" rule, which allows health care providers, insurers and employers to refuse to pay or provide health care services based on "conscience".
Connecticut et al v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (filed 5/10/19)
U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
A lawsuit filed by 44 states against 20 leading drug companies alleging price fixing of certain generic drugs.
Ray et al v. T-Mobile US, Inc. (filed 5/2/19)
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Plaintiffs alleged that Defendant T-Mobile US, Inc. sold the geolocation data collected from its customers' cell phones to third-party data aggregators in violation of the Federal Communications Act and its own Privacy Policy and Code of Business Conduct.
Other Legal News
John Paul Stevens: Canny Strategist and the ‘Finest Legal Mind’ Ford Could Find
The New York Times, July 17, 2019
Justice Stevens’s confirmation hearings in 1975 were the last not to be broadcast live on television. He was confirmed by unanimous vote.
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, Who Led Liberal Wing, Dies at 99
The New York Times, July 17, 2019
When he retired in 2010, Justice Stevens was the second-oldest and the second-longest-serving justice ever to sit on the court.
Press Release Regarding Justice John Paul Stevens
Supreme Court of the United States, July 16, 2019
Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, John Paul Stevens, died this evening at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, of complications following a stroke he suffered on July 15. He passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side. He was 99 years old. Justice Stevens was appointed to the Court by President Ford in 1975, and retired in 2010, after serving more than 34 years on the Court. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth Jane Sesemann (Craig)...
Trump administration ends effort to include citizenship question on 2020 census
SCOTUSblog, July 11, 2019
This afternoon President Donald Trump announced that his administration will end its battle to include a question about citizenship on the 2020 census. The news came two weeks after the Supreme Court blocked the government from including the question, with the court’s four liberal justices joining Chief Justice John Roberts in ruling that the reason…
As Democrats Demand Complete Mueller Report, Views Shift on Grand Jury Secrecy
The New York Times, July 8, 2019
Until recently, there was a broad consensus that federal judges have “inherent authority” to unseal grand jury records. That is changing.
Big Little Truths About the 2018-19 Supreme Court Term
Justia's Verdict, July 2, 2019
Illinois law dean and professor Vikram David Amar reflects on the decisions the U.S. Supreme Court issued at the end of its 2018–19 term. Amar observes three key trends at the Court: its focus on what constitutes improper government motive, concerns over broad congressional delegation to the executive, and tension over the meaning and theory of stare decisis.
