Tag: Courts
The government Donald Trump left behind
Trump ultimately fell short on many of his signature promises, but his administration’s successes in cutting taxes, rolling back regulations and reshaping the judiciary will cast a long shadow. by Chris Morran Saturday, January 30, 2021…
Dutch court orders Shell Oil to pay for harm done to Nigerian farmers
“After 13 Years, Justice!” “Victims of environmental pollution, land grabbing, or exploitation now have a better chance to win a legal battle against the companies involved.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 29, 2021 Global…
Death threats and intimidation of public officials signal Trump’s autocratic legacy
by Shelley Inglis, University of Dayton Thursday, January 26, 2021 As the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump approaches, federal officials are investigating threats to attack or kill members of Congress. This comes in the…
‘That’s insane… He still has the money’: SCOTUS tosses emoluments lawsuits targeting Trump
One watchdog critic angered by the court’s decision said, “Congress must act now to ensure that no future president can profit off the presidency.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Monday, January 25, 2021 The U.S. Supreme…
McConnell advances another Trump judge as Covid relief bill remains unfinished
‘This Is His Top Priority’ “As a government shutdown looms, and as the pandemic rages on across America, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues to push through Trump’s judges until the very end.” by Jake Johnson,…
Federal Judge orders Trump Administration to fully restore DACA, ‘huge victory’ for immigrants,
“It opens the door for more than a million immigrant youth who have been unfairly denied their chance to apply for DACA,” said the director of the Justice Action Center. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer December…
Climate movement takes on big oil at the Hague
‘Historic Moment’ Friends of the Earth vs. Shell “This is actually ‘the People versus Shell,’ a company that has got away with greenwashing for too long.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Tuesday, December 1, 2020 Representing…
Trump races to weaken environmental and worker protections, and implement other last-minute policies, before Jan. 20
The Trump administration is rushing to approve dozens of eleventh-hour policy changes. Among them: The Justice Department is fast-tracking a rule that could reintroduce firing squads and electrocutions to federal executions. by Isaac Arnsdorf Six days…
On the current status of Trump’s coup attempt—and its future
It may look like this is one frivolity and absurdity after another—and it is. But if this electoral clash reaches the Supreme Court, all bets are off. by Marjorie Cohn Sunday, November 22, 2020 Joe Biden…
Federal prosecutors hold protesters for months pretrial
Dozens of protesters who took part in the uprisings after George Floyd’s murder have faced prolonged detention despite COVID-19 outbreaks. By Aaron Miguel Cantú, Reveal Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Just after midnight on May 31 in…
Federal Judge blocks Trump order that has already led to ‘illegal’ expulsion of 13,000 unaccompanied children
“Today’s ruling is a critical step in halting the Trump administration’s unprecedented and illegal attempt to expel children under the thin guise of public health.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer November 18, 2020, Wednesday, A federal…
McConnell readies Lame Duck push to further pack courts with Trump’s judicial appointees
“That’s His Priority as the Pandemic Rages On” “It is literally sickening to see Mitch McConnell continue to indulge his partisan obsession with confirming far-right judges, instead of taking action on the Covid pandemic that continues…
The Trump Campaign can’t find a judge who will ignore facts — but it’s trying
The Trump campaign’s legal strategy has come down to this: Even as judges dismiss lawsuits as baseless, it files nearly identical ones in new courts, hoping for more favorable judges. Failure has not slowed it down….
Lawyers can’t locate parents of 666 seized migrant children—121 more than previously believed
. The children were separated from their families under the Trump administration’s widely condemned “zero tolerance” immigration policy. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Tuesday, November 10 Last month, the world was shocked and outraged to learn…
If Trump tries to sue his way to election victory, here’s what happens
It’s easy enough for the Trump campaign to file a lawsuit claiming improprieties, but a lot harder to provide evidence of wrongdoing or a convincing legal argument. Here’s what you need to know as the election…
To fix ‘out of whack’ US Judiciary and Supreme Court, Biden says he’ll create commission to study reforms
“There’s a number of alternatives that… go well beyond packing,” Biden asserted. “The last thing we need to do is turn the Supreme Court into just a political football.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Thursday, October…
Montana judge rules Trump’s illegal land manager’s decisions are invalid. ‘The Pendley Fire’
Illegal, unconfirmed acting official charade has consequences. Meteor staff Monday, October 19, 2020 Late last Friday, federal district judge Brian Morris ruled William Perry Pendley’s decisions as acting Bureau of Land Management director in Montana were…
SCOTUS nominee Barrett says she would approach election tampering with ‘an open mind’
“This shouldn’t be a hard question. The fact that she would not answer it is deeply troubling.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Tuesday, October 13 When Judge Amy Coney Barrett was asked Tuesday during her second…
Methane ruling seen as ominous sign with Barrett poised to join Supreme Court
The judge delivered a “puzzling and unsupported conclusion that the Bureau of Land Management can’t limit methane waste because that would reduce greenhouse gas pollution.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, October 9 A federal court’s…
Barrett’s right-wing ideology and past rulings signal she could intentionally ‘make the country a more unjust place’
“Sometimes her opinions have been downright cruel. They disqualify her, full stop.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Monday, September 28 Since President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed reports that he is nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett…
Trump says he Is ‘Counting on the Federal Court System’ to declare winner on Election Night—before many ballots are tallied
“This is an open admission that Trump hopes to use the Supreme Court to steal the election.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, September 21 President Donald Trump said during a campaign rally over the weekend…
McConnell quietly rams through more lifetime Trump judges while blocking Covid relief
“It’s outrageous that McConnell continues to prioritize the Trump court takeover amid the pandemic. Enough.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, September 16 As Covid-19 relief for jobless and hungry Americans, collapsing small businesses, and state…
DOJ moves to take over Trump’s defense in suit filed by rape accuser
AG Barr Slammed for Acting as ‘Personal Henchman’ of Trump “By putting the DOJ to work defending him over conduct that has nothing to do with his official capacity, Trump has taken another giant step toward…
“Defendant shall not attend protests”: In Portland, getting out of jail requires relinquishing Constitutional Rights
A dozen protesters facing federal charges are barred from going to “public gatherings” as a condition of release from jail — a tactic one expert described as “sort of hilariously unconstitutional.” by Dara Lind July 28,…
