Recently Decided Supreme Court Cases
Justices rule on Atkins and double jeopardy case (June 1, 2009)
The Supreme Court today unanimously reversed and remanded an appeals court holding that the Double Jeopardy clause bars a state from re-litigating the issue of a defendant’s mental retardation More...
Court eases limits on questioning suspects without counsel (May 26, 2009)
A divided Supreme Court today overturned a 23-year-old rule that prohibited police officers from interrogating suspects once they invoked a right to counsel at an arraignment or similar proceeding. More...
Divided court rules on Supremacy Clause challenge to New York law (May 26, 2009)
A divided Supreme Court held today that the State of New York may not prevent all private damages claims in state court against state correctional employees, including claims under federal civil right More...
Unanimous court holds that phone drug buys don't constitute a felony (May 26, 2009)
The Supreme Court ruled today that using a cellular phone to buy drugs for personal use does not convert that possession misdemeanor crime into a felony. More...
Justices side with employer in pregnancy leave discrimination case (May 18, 2009)
The Supreme Court ruled today that maternity leave taken before the passage of the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act cannot be considered in calculating employee pension benefits. More...
Two former Bush officials not liable for alleged post-9/11 abuse (May 18, 2009)
A Supreme Court divided along familiar ideological lines ruled today that two high-ranking Bush administration officials cannot be sued by a Pakistani immigrant who said he was abused while held in de More...
Court rules in arbitration dispute involving non-parties to an agreement (May 4, 2009)
The Supreme Court held today that the Federal Arbitration Act gives federal circuit courts jurisdiction to rule on the denial of compelled arbitration motions by non-parties to the agreement. More...
Justices back Shell, railroads in dispute over who pays for cleanup at a Superfund site (May 4, 2009)
The Supreme Court gave a win to Shell Oil Co. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. in an 8-1 ruling today, holding the U.S. More...
Court tackles split over appellate review issue (May 4, 2009)
The Supreme Court ruled today that a remand order can be appealed, even if the judge returned the case after declining to rule on the state-law claims when finding that the federal claim was insuff More...
Unanimous court rules in “aggravated” identity theft case (May 4, 2009)
The Supreme Court held today that the government must show that a defendant had actual knowledge that the means of identification he or she was using belonged to another person in order to prove ag More...
