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Discusses the ruling of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on a case filed by high school students and their parents against the Escambia, Alabama school district and two of its employees. Facts of the case; Reasons behind the ruling of the court; Arguments presented by guidance counselor Kay Rose and assistant principal Melvin Powell.

Focuses on the decision of the Ohio federal district court in March 1990, regarding the suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission against the Patrick Henry Education Association and the Patrick Henry School District in Ohio, regarding religious discrimination in the case of teacher agency fees. Reasons the court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants; Comparison with a case that arose at a university in Michigan; Facts of the case.

Focuses on the 1989 ruling of the Michigan court of appeals on the case regarding home schooling involving the DeJonge and the Bennett families. Facts of the case; Analysis of the decision; Arguments of the families.

Examines the implication of the demise of the Meech Lake accord on June 23, 1990 on language rights in Canada. Effect of the enforcement of the Official Languages Act 1969 in Quebec on the assimilation efforts of French-speaking minorities; Amendment to the legislation; Discussion on the Supreme Court decision in the case Mahe v. Alberta.

Examines the court decision on the lawsuit filed against the Gravette Public School Distric in Arkansas over Bible classes held in the school. Argument of the defendant school district; Legal provisions on the use of public schools for religious purposes; Basis of the ruling.

Comments on the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on the case of Minnesota State Board for Community Colleges v. Knight. Case background; Dispute between First Amendment freedoms and faculty union powers; Minnesota Community College Faculty Association, the exclusive bargaining representative for the faculties of colleges of the Minnesota Community College System; Factors affecting the First Amendment rights of faculty members.

The article presents cases of supreme court decisions on free speech rights to teachers. Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the case are: Perry v. Sindermann (1972), which held that a faculty member at a state college had the right to address a legislative committee; City of Madison Joint School District v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (1976), which held that a public school teacher had the right to make a statement about collective bargaining during a public session of a school board meeting; Mt. Healthy City School District Board of Education v. Doyle (1977), which held that a public school teacher had the right to telephone a radio station about a proposed teacher dress code.

The article comments on the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case McCutcheon v. FEC decision. Topics covered include the case's focus on campaign contributions to political parties, the oral arguments raised during the trial and the implications of the ruling for fundraisers. Also mentioned is the limit in the donation that a single donor could make.

The article discusses the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal of former Representative William J. Jefferson concerning his conviction for bribery, citing that using the stature as lawmakers in making deals that are not related to legislative duties can land legislators in jail.

The article reports that contesting court rulings in Washington, D.C. has become more difficult, reportedly because three of the 11 seats at the federal appeals court have remained vacant.

The article discusses the ruling issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television sparing Fox and ABC from ten-year-old fines as they were not given fair notice by regulators on partial nudity and use of expletives in live-broadcast awards shows.

The article reports on the federal court ruling against Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the U.S. It says that the three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals not only ruled that the law or the DOMA violates the equal protection rights of same-sex marriage, but it also criticized Congress in passing the measure. It mentions that the group voted 3-2, with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland strongly objecting.

The article predicts the Supreme Court's decision to take up the health care reform law in October 2011. The debate as to whether Congress has the power to control economic activity has to be decided by the Supreme Court which is under the Commerce Clause. There is a clamor to speed up the ruling on the health care law and politicians are calling on the Supreme Court to decide on the issue bypassing the U.S. Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court awaits the ruling of the circuit courts before taking up the case.

The article reports on the decision of the U.S. Justice Department to end the six-year investigation on former House Majority leader Tom DeLay's ties to ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The article discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 2010 on the ability of the American Indian tribes to buy land for casinos and other economic development projects. The ruling states that only tribes recognized before 1934 are entitled to buy real estate as part of their reservations. According to Matthew L. M. Fletcher, head of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University, a lot of tribes recognized since 1934 were administratively terminated or went underground because of racism.

The article report that the U.S. Congress has passed House bill HR 5175 that requires wider disclosure of campaign financing. Barely passing in a narrow House vote, the passage of the bill intends to impose stricter disclosure rules on campaign advertising by corporations, unions, and other independent organizations. The piece of legislation was created as a means to temper the impact of a Supreme Court ruling that allowed corporations free-speech rights and the right to provide funds on political campaigns.

The author criticizes the enactment of the health care reconciliation package in the U.S. in 2010 for its negative impact on the tax shelter business of the country. He contends that the issue is whether taxpayers must prove that apparently sham transactions resulting in a reduced tax bill possess an underlying economic merit. He also mentions the inconsistency of courts in deciding various cases related to this specific issue. He also comments on the impact of this health care law on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The article discusses cases ruled by Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. President Barack Obama's pick for the Supreme Court which have attracted particular attention from both detractors and her promoters. Sotomayor was one of the three-judge panel that issued an unsigned opinion that rejects a defendant's claim on a state ban of a martial arts weapon. She was also one of three judges upholding a trial court's ruling which rejects the reverse-discrimination claims of 20 white firefighters.

The article reports on the decision of the federal court to hear the case of Senator Ted Stevens in Washington, D.C. Stevens requested that the be heard in Alaska but it was denied because it will disrupt the judge's other functions and will affect the request for speedy trial. Defense Lawyer Brendan Sullivan argued that the case should be heard in Alaska because the Stevens needs to campaign for the election. However, Stevens is more concern on the decision rather than campaigning.

The article reports on the decision of U.S. District Judge John D. Bates on the obligation of current and former White House officials to appear in congressional inquiries if their testimonies or documents are needed in investigations. Bates cites the refusal of White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten to hand-over necessary documents to House Democrats investigating the termination of nine U.S. attorneys. It is stated that the Justice Department will appeal the ruling.

The article reports on the status of the legal battle of U.S. Representative Jim McDermott against House Minority Leader John A. Boehner. McDermott has lost his case after the Supreme Court refused to review it and may have to pay Boehner $60,000 in damages. The court upheld a previous appeals court ruling that McDermott should not have exposed a tape-recorded telephone call involving Republican leaders. It remains unclear whether McDermott may use his legal-defense fund in paying Boehner.

The article reflects on the emergence of an elite corps of U.S. Supreme Court advocates who appear to be having outsized influence in shaping the court's decisions to advance the interests of business clients. It cites the long-term substantive impact of the group's emergence. It argues that the elite advocates know best how to fashion an argument either to win or at least minimize the impact of a loss.

The article focuses on a ruling issued by the federal appeals court in Washington mandating the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to end its longstanding exemption of industrial tire burning from the provisions of the Clean Air Act. It cites the argument raised by the tire industry in defense of industrial tire burning. It mentions some of the environmental groups that filed the lawsuit against EPA, including the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The article focuses on a ruling issued by a panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals that the city of Gary could proceed to trial with its case alleging that 16 firearm manufacturers violated a state public-nuisance state by selling arms to dealers known for selling to criminals. The accused firearm manufacturers include Smith & Wesson Corp. and Beretta USA Corp. It mentions the dismissal of a lawsuit against the gun industry by D.C. Superior Court Judge Brook Hedge in 2006.

The article reports on the ruling of the Spanish Supreme Court on a case involving former President José Maria Aznar and the lobbying group DLA Piper. The court ruled that lobbying business does not constitute a crime. The case concerns the call of Spanish lawyer José Luis Mazón for the recovery of the costs incurred from Aznar's $2 million public relations (PR) contract with DLA Piper. The court notes that a U.S. Congressional Gold Medal for Aznar is good for forming closer ties between U.S. and Spain.

The article reports on the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on a raid conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the Capitol Hill office of Louisiana Representative William J. Jefferson in 2006. The court held that the raid improperly exposed legislative materials to executive review and violated the Speech and Debate Clause of the Constitution. It also ordered the return of privileged legislative documents to Jefferson. It provides a background on the case.

The article reports on the ruling of Federal District Judge James M. Munley that the city of Hazleton in Pennsylvania violated the constitution by enacting its own immigration ordinance. Florida Republican Mel Martinez believes that the decision would not discourage other cities and states from pushing their own ordinances. Hazleton officials state that they will file an appeal. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) cites that 100 municipalities have attempted to pass ordinances that restrict immigration.

The article focuses on U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justices John G. Roberts Jr. and Samuel A. Alito Jr. It states that Roberts and Alito reached the court with less Senate support. It claims that Roberts extolled the virtues of judicial modesty and the benefits of unanimous decisions at his hearings. According to Roberts and Alito, they were following precedents when deciding on several cases.

The article reports that James Dobson, leader of the group Focus on the Family, has been criticized after he pronounced a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the 2003 federal law outlawing partial birth abortion a victory for the right-to-life movement. The Colorado affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee argued on the impact of the ruling on physicians. It cites the decision of the board of the said committee to drop the Colorado group from its ranks.

The article reports on the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court not to exercise jurisdiction over former Senator Mark Dayton's bid to have the court dismiss a lawsuit filed by former aide Brad Hanson. Dayton was sued by Hanson under several federal statutes including a 1995 law that requires Congress to follow workplace safety and employment laws that govern the private sector. The Washington D.C. district court denied the motion for dismissal of Dayton.

The article reports on a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reaffirming an earlier decision that Representative Jim McDermott is liable for damages in a case filed against him by House Minority Leader John A. Boehner. It says that the representative was not protected by the First Amendment when he accepted an illegally taped conversation between the minority leader and then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1996. Also noted are penalties imposed on McDermott.

The article discusses the ruling by chief federal district judge Vaughn Walker that denied the National Security Agency's (NSA) motion to dismiss a class action against AT&T when the company made client data available to the NSA, in April 2007. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a friend-of-the-court brief seeking to reverse the ruling that could undermine the vital cooperative relationship between business and government. But digital privacy advocates argue business should be transparent.

The article reports that the 2006 Military Commissions Act has been upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. on its February 20, 2007 decision. The law bars detainees held by the U.S. military at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from contesting their detentions in federal court. The decision was seen as a direct response to the Supreme Court's 2006 ruling in the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case.

The article reports on the ruling of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a law in Texas that bans the slaughtering of horses. It is said that the anti-slaughtering case would be strengthened by a revived Texas ban while leaving the defenders of the industry focusing on the preservation of a slaughterhouse in Illinois. According to Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S., the ruling could be the death of industry in the U.S.

The article focuses on the decision of Judge Robert A. Pete of Superior Court in Indiana allowing the lawsuit brought by the city of Gary against gun manufacturers and shops to move forward. The National Rifle Association has argued that the suit should be dismissed on the grounds that it is illegal under the law signed by President George W. Bush to halt class action suits targeting gun manufacturers and dealers. It cites the implications of the decision for the gun industry.

The article focuses on an appeal sought by Philip Morris Co. to throw out the punitive damages award ordered by an Oregon jury to the company. The Oregon jury ruled that the company had perpetrated a fraud on smoker Jesse Williams and other smokers in the state. According to the contention of the company, historically, punitive damages have not been used to punish defendants for harm to anyone other than the individual plaintiff.

The article reports on the ruling of judge Robert E. Littlefield Jr. of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York on the bankruptcy protection filed by couple Frank and Patricia Diagostino. The couple argued that they wanted to give charity $100 a month citing that they had an obligation higher than one to their creditors. The judge based his decision on the reformed federal bankruptcy code that allowed debtors to count charitable contributions as living expenses.

The article focuses on the plan of the American Bar Association (ABA) to make its equal opportunity standards in line with the U.S. Supreme Court's Grutter versus Bollinger decision which upheld the affirmative action admissions policies on diversity groups of the University of Michigan Law School. It details the alterations being considered by the ABA. Commissioner Jennifer C. Braceras is one of the members of the Commission on Civil Rights that have expressed opposition to the plan of the ABA.

Reports that Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan has allowed federal prosecutors investigating allegations that Representative William J. Jefferson (D-La.) accepted bribes to resume their review of the materials confiscated from his congressional offices. Claims by Jefferson that the raid conducted was unconstitutional; Necessity of an advance notice from the Department of Justice before conducting a search; Opposition of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to the seizure.

The article reports on the decision of U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of Austin, Texas that the nomination of Tom DeLay for the House in the 22nd District of the state must be retained by the Republican Party. The ruling is in favor of the Democrats. Limited exceptions are stated under Texas law regarding the withdrawal of candidates after a primary.

Focuses on the decision to be made by the U.S. Supreme Court on a case concerning a 2004 ruling on a tax break granted by the Ohio state government to DaimlerChrysler for the expansion of a Jeep plant in Toledo. Violation of the Commerce Clause of the Constitution by the deal according to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals; Significance of the judgment to be made by the Supreme Court; Plan of lobbying strategists to campaign to make state breaks legal if the case would be returned to the Circuit court.

Focuses on the use of the Data Quality Act by Americans for Safe Access to challenge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' conclusion that no medical benefit derives from the use of marijuana. Health benefits of using marijuana according to the California organization; Plan of Americans for Safe Access to help marijuana advocates reverse the decision of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that non-governmental organizations have no standing to sue under the Data Quality Act.

Reports on the wiretapping case filed by U.S. House Majority Leader John A. Boehner against Washington Representative Jim McDermott. Victory gained by Boehner in a lower court trial; Refusal of McDermott to admit his mistake and settle the case with Boehner; Reason of U.S. District Judge A. Raymond Randolph for declaring McDermott guilty.

Reports on the endorsement of a minimum guidelines system that is designed to limit federal judges' sentencing discretion by William W. Mercer, the principal associate deputy attorney general, in 2006. Information on the minimum guidelines system; Views of Judiciary chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) on the system; Rejection of the Justice Department proposal by subcommittee Democrats and Paul G. Cassell, a Utah district court judge who testified on behalf of the federal judiciary.

Reports on the efforts of Mississippi governor Haley Barbour to defeat increased tobacco taxes and greater U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation of the tobacco industry. Value received by the firm of Barbour from its tobacco clients in 1998; Information on a 2000 court decision which allots $20 million annually from the state's $4 billion settlement with the tobacco industry that was challenged by the governor; Views of Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, on the bid of the governor to redirect tobacco-settlement funds.

Reports on the issues considered by the U.S. Supreme Court on their ruling for a bid to overturn the congressional district map of Texas to be issued in June 2006. Revision of the map under the direction of U.S. Representative Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in 2004; Impact of the map on the power of Hispanics in the area, according to lawyer Nina Perales; Insignificance of race to the redrawing of the map, according to state solicitor general R. Ted Cruz.

The article deals with the Supreme Court ruling that eminent domain authority may be used solely to promote economic development as long as just compensation is paid. The strongly worded dissent in Kelo vs. City of New London, by outgoing Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, helped to ignite the political back fires against the decision. The importance of eminent domain to many cities is stressed.

Reports on a bill passed by the U.S. House to limit the effect of a ruling on eminent domain issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 23, 2005. Definition of economic development under the bill; Views of U.S. House Majority Leader Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on the approval of the legislation; Number of Democrat and Republican representatives who are opposed to the measure.

Focuses on the impact of the possible confirmation of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. at the U.S. Supreme Court on a 1973 ruling that declared a constitutional right to abortions. Benefits of the nomination of the judge for conservatives; Views of Paul Freedman, an associate professor of politics at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, on the ruling; Potential implications of a state-by-state abortion debate for the electoral chances of Republican politicians.

Reports on the approval of a bill by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee that will counter a ruling on eminent domain issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 23, 2005. Background on the ruling; Prohibition imposed under the bill for state and local governments regarding the use of eminent domain; Rejection of an amendment to the bill from U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).