Supreme Court Announcements/Decisions

Good Wednesday Morning Everyone! Today the justices will convene for one oral argument this morning in a case about federal habeas corpus. 1). Guerrero v. Johnson 25-1003 - Dexter Johnson is challenging restrictions on successive federal habeas corpus petitions. Federal law generally limits prisoners’ ability to file repeated petitions challenging their convictions or sentences. One exception permits a successive petition based on a new rule of constitutional law that the Supreme Court has made retroactive to cases on collateral review. The Court must determine whether that exception applies when a prisoner could have raised a claim based on the rule in an earlier habeas petition. Arguments for the case begin at 10 a.m. ET. Here’s a link to listen live: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx

Happy Election Day Everyone! Today, millions of Americans across the nation will be heading to the polls to cast their ballots for the midterm elections. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will sit for oral argument in a case that could affect Employment Division v. Smith. 1). St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy 25-581 - St. Mary Catholic Parish operates a Catholic preschool in Colorado. The state offers funding to eligible preschools through its universal preschool program, but the dispute concerns requirements that providers follow the state’s nondiscrimination rules. The parish argues that these requirements interfere with its religious freedom by preventing it from hiring staff who share its faith and teaching children according to Catholic beliefs. Arguments for the case began at 10 a.m. ET. Here is a link to listen live: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx

BREAKING - Supreme Court rejects bid from Trump administration to allow 20,000+ ballots in California to be set aside, citing suspected irregularities and non citizens voting. There are no noted dissents.

JUST IN - Supreme Court releases its January sitting schedule. Click the link below to find out which cases are being argued during that month. Link - https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_calendars/MonthlyArgumentCalJanuary2027.pdf

Happy November Everyone! Justices will convene this morning for their November sitting with two cases for oral arguments. 1). Maxwell v. Dinis 25-5930 - William Maxwell disputes how his earned time credits under the First Step Act were handled. Those credits can help eligible federal prisoners move sooner to halfway houses or home confinement. The case also raises questions about what happens when prison officials obstruct the administrative process prisoners must ordinarily complete before filing suit. 2). Younge v. Fulton County Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office 25-352 - The dispute concerns the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and whether a party can rely on an affirmative defense that was not properly pleaded earlier, particularly when the deadline to amend the pleadings has passed. Arguments for the first case begin at 10 a.m. ET. Here is a link to listen live: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx

JUST IN - Supreme Court rules 8-1 to allow New Hampshire’s voter ID guidance to continue for the midterm elections, citing Purcell. Justice Jackson dissented. Link - https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/26pdf/26a512_6j37.pdf

BREAKING - Supreme Court rules 7-2 in favor of the Trump administration over a dispute regarding FCC Political Ads low cost rates. Justice Sotomayor and Justice Jackson noted their dissent. Link - https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/26pdf/26a476_k537.pdf

Good Wednesday Morning Everyone! Today is the justice as we sit for one oral argument this morning. 1). Salazar v. Paramount Global — No. 25-459 - This case concerns the meaning of the VPPA statute's definition of a “consumer,” specifically whether it covers people who receive any goods or services from a video provider or only those who receive its audiovisual offerings. Arguments for this case begin at 10 a.m. ET. Here is a link to listen live - https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Today the justices will convene to hear one case for oral argument this morning. 1). Beaird v. United States — No. 25-5343 - Kendrick Beaird challenges a federal sentencing enhancement that increased his recommended prison sentence because his firearm had a 17-round magazine. The enhancement relied on commentary to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, rather than an explicit definition in the guideline itself. - The Supreme Court will decide whether courts should continue deferring to that commentary under its 1993 decision in Stinson v. United States. Arguments for this case begin at 10 a.m. ET. Here is a link to listen live - https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx

Good Wednesday Morning Everyone! It’s another day of our arguments, the justices will sit to hear one case this morning, let’s dive right in. 1). Department of the Air Force v. Prutehi Guåhan — No. 25-579 - The case concerns the proposed Live-Fire Training Range Complex at Andersen Air Force Base. The environmental dispute centers on whether the Air Force adequately complied with federal environmental requirements before moving forward with the project. Arguments for the case begin at 10 a.m. ET. https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx