On the Docket -

Divided court backs white firefighters in 'reverse discrimination' case (June 29, 2009)

jkoons — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:31:34 -0500

On the final day of the term, a Supreme Court divided along familiar ideological lines held that city officials cannot decline to certify results of a civil service exam that would make dispropo More...

Justices OK New York AG's bank lending probe (June 29, 2009)

jkoons — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:17:00 -0500

On its final day of the term, a divided Supreme Court held that New York attorney general's office should be allowed to investigate whether national banks discriminated against minorities seekin More...

Court rejects school strip search (June 25, 2009)

jkoons — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:57:12 -0500

The Supreme Court ruled today that a public school violated a 13-year-old Arizona girl's constitutional rights by conducting a strip search of her for ibuprofen. More...

Justices ease rules on English language learner programs (June 25, 2009)

jkoons — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:48:47 -0500

A divided Supreme Court ruled today that Arizona has provided enough funding for English language learner programs under federal law. More...

Court finds injured seaman entitled to damages for failure to pay benefits (June 25, 2009)

jkoons — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:36:25 -0500

A divided Supreme Court held today that a seaman injured on the job can sue to recover punitive damages when the owner of the vessel denies “maintenance and cure” payments. More...

Justices back defendants in crime lab case (June 25, 2009)

jkoons — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:30:08 -0500

The Supreme Court ruled today that crime lab reports may not be used as evidence without having the expert who prepared them testify. More...

Court rules narrowly on Voting Rights Act challenge (June 22, 2009)

jkoons — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:12:03 -0500

In perhaps the most watched case of the term, the Supreme Court ruled today that the Voting Rights Act's Section 5 "pre-clearance" provision can continue to be enforced, even in areas where it c More...

Divided court backs parents of special needs students (June 22, 2009)

jkoons — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:56:08 -0500

A divided Supreme Court ruled today that parents who decide to remove their disabled children from public school can be reimbursed for a private education. More...

Justices uphold permit allowing mining company to dump fill dirt into waterway (June 22, 2009)

jkoons — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:26:43 -0500

A divided Supreme Court ruled today that the Army Corps of Engineers has the authority to issue permits for dumping dredge or fill dirt into waterways, without satisfying all of the pollution re More...

Divided court backs employers in age-bias lawsuits (June 18, 2009)

jkoons — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:51:35 -0500

A narrowly-divided Supreme Court ruled today that the burden in an age bias case rests with the employee, not the employer. More...