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Anthony’s case is now making its way to the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas, where appellate justices will review the trial proceedings to confirm or overturn the jury’s decision. But defense attorneys, a law professor, and a former criminal trial judge say the verdict is likely to stand, despite case elements that raised questions about the fairness of the proceedings.

The Florida Supreme Court has allowed new U.S. House districts drawn by Republicans to be used in the midterm elections, marking another victory for the GOP in a nationwide redistricting effort aimed at helping the party retain its slim House majority. The court on Wednesday refused a request to issue a temporary injunction against the new districts. Attorneys for voters who sued argued that the new House districts violate a state constitutional provision prohibiting partisan gerrymandering, and that the court should order the state to continue using the same districts as in the previous election. Republicans already hold 20 of...

Lynchburgh, Virginia Circuit Court Judge F. Patrick Yeatts has sided with Gun Owners of America and Virginia Citizens Defense League and rejected the attempt by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Attorney General Jay Jones to resume requiring background checks on the private transfers of firearms. In a ruling delivered from the bench after a hearing on Thursday, Yeatts declared that his previously-issued injunction on Virginia's universal background check scheme is still intact, despite Democrats' efforts to do an end-run around the injunction. [.....] Yeatts has been dealing with this issue for several years now, and has previously ruled that adults under...

The Supreme Court will be releasing Opinions from the October 2025 this morning at 10:00.Scotusblog will be liveblogging the release and we will be following along.There are 26 decisions pending for this term and we expect all opinions will be released by June 30th. You can find a list of the cases at October 2025 cases. Note: The word "held" after the case name indicates the Opinion has already been released. The word "Issues" indicates the questions to be resolved by the Court.You can find the Opinions on this term's previously decided cases at October 2025 Opinions. Today's opinions will...

The Supreme Court will be releasing Opinions from the October 2025 this morning at 10:00.Scotusblog will be liveblogging the release and we will be following along.There are 30 decisions pending for this term and we expect all opinions will be released by June 30th. You can find a list of the cases at October 2025 cases. Note: The word "held" after the case name indicates the Opinion has already been released. The word "Issues" indicates the questions to be resolved by the Court.There are several big cases on which we are awaiting decisions.Little v HecoxWhether laws that seek to protect...

A federal judge on Thursday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to implement his executive order tightening mail-in voting, slapping down Democrats’ arguments for now that federal efforts to police voter rolls with citizenship checks was illegal.U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointed jurist, ruled that Democrats failed to show they have standing at present to challenge the order or have suffered any harm that would warrant a preliminary injunction."Given that the Executive Order does not command Plaintiffs to do anything, and that no agency has yet acted pursuant to the Order in a way that could harm...

The Supreme Court will be releasing Opinions from the October 2025 this morning at 10:00.Scotusblog will be liveblogging the release and we will be following along.There are 33 decisions pending for this term and we expect all opinions will be released by June 30th. You can find a list of the cases here. Note: The word "held" after the case name indicates the Opinion has already been released. The word "Issues" indicates the questions to be be resolved by the Court.There are several big cases on which we are awaiting decisions. Trump v Slaughter.(1) Whether the statutory removal protections for...

A federal judge in New York has blocked ICE agents from making most arrests at three Manhattan immigration court locations, forcing President Trump’s administration back into the narrow Biden-era restrictions that treated courthouses like sanctuary zones. The ruling covers 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street, and 290 Broadway in Manhattan. A federal judge tied the Trump administration's hands on ICE arrests at Manhattan immigration courts after government lawyers admitted making a 'material mistaken statement of fact' defending the policy. ICE must now revert to Biden-era restrictions on courthouse enforcement… pic.twitter.com/VeKj45p2sr— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) May 19, 2026Under the order, ICE...

A convicted child sex offender is now a fugitive after a California judge allowed him to remain free on $1 million bail following his conviction, a decision that prosecutors are now sharply criticizing after the man disappeared before sentencing.Carl Cacconie was convicted on July 17 at the South Lake Tahoe Courthouse of six felony sex crimes involving an 11-year-old girl. Despite the verdict, Judge Michael McLaughlin, a registered Democrat, permitted him to leave court pending sentencing, which was set for Aug. 25. He never returned. SNIP “To expect that a person on $1 million bond, who has now been convicted,...

A court granted qualified immunity to all 11 deputies accused of violating John Griswold’s 14th Amendment rights.Imagine you're a sheriff's deputy and a detainee arrives, unresponsive and moving slowly after ingesting a large quantity of unknown pills. After a doctor clears him for jail, with a warning that any "deterioration" will require immediate medical care, the detainee is sent into a cell where he vomits profusely and remains unresponsive in the same position all night. Should you, as the deputy, call for help? And should you be legally held responsible if your inaction leads to the detainee's death? Earlier this...

The Supreme Court will be releasing Opinions this morning at 10:00.Scotusblog will be liveblogging the opinion release and we will be following along.There are opinions pending in 35 cases from the October 2025 term. A list of cases from this term can be found here.One case of interest is Trump v. Slaughter Issues: (1) Whether the statutory removal protections for members of the Federal Trade Commission violate the separation of powers and, if so, whether Humphrey’s Executor v. United States should be overruled. (2) Whether a federal court may prevent a person’s removal from public office, either through relief at...

Court issues opinions in 2 cases Map of Missouri congressional districts Photo by: Associated Press Who will represent Missouri's 4th Congressional District following Missouri First maps being signed into law. By: Addi Weakley Posted 26 minutes ago and last updated 13 minutes ago KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court issued opinions Tuesday in two cases concerning the state’s latest redistricting map. Both opinions found the map meets constitutional requirements. As it is already in effect, it will stay in effect. "Today's Missouri Supreme Court rulings are a huge victory for voters," Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a statement....

The Trump administration scored a legal victory in combating illegal immigration when a federal judge cleared the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to operate near schools, for now. The lawsuit brought by Minnesota public school districts sought a temporary injunction against immigration enforcement agents having a presence near schools, claiming it increased absenteeism and disrupted learning. U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino of the District of Minnesota denied the schools’ request for a preliminary injunction while the case moves forward and said the plaintiffs likely lacked standing. Provinzino is a Biden appointee. “Accordingly, because the Court concludes that Plaintiffs...

ATLANTA (AP) — The federal government can keep the 2020 election ballots from Georgia’s Fulton County that were seized by the FBI from a warehouse near Atlanta, a judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee’s decision came after lawyers for the county had argued that the ballots and other election materials, as well as any electronic copies the Justice Department has made, should be returned because the seizure was improper and unconstitutional. The Jan. 28 seizure by the FBI targeted the elections hub in Georgia’s most populous county, which is heavily Democratic and includes most of the city of...

An Indian real estate agent in Ontario, Canada has claimed to a judge that it was a “cultural misunderstanding” when he lured a boy into his vehicle and abducted him. He is now facing deportation from the country. Manoj Govindbalunikam, 37, was given an 18-month sentence earlier in April after being convicted of abducting a 9-year-old boy in August 2023. He pleaded not guilty to abducting the boy and then buying the young lad ice cream as well as toys. Police later found photos of him with the boy in his yellow Chevrolet Camaro. While in court, Govindbalunikam’s lawyer asked...

In a rare bit of good news for anyone tired of bureaucratic fast-tracking in election matters, the Virginia Supreme Court just told the state’s Department of Elections and Attorney General 'not so fast.' The high court denied an emergency stay of last week’s Tazewell County Circuit Court ruling that bars the Board of Elections from certifying the results of Virginia’s redistricting referendum — at least for now.

WASHINGTON — Democrats faced tough questioning before the Virginia Supreme Court on Monday during oral arguments on a redistricting referendum that narrowly passed last week, though most of the justices were oddly quiet. Republicans have challenged the referendum, which paved the way for the Dems to pick up as many as four local congressional seats — potentially leaving them with a 10-to-one margin over GOPers — arguing that the Democrat-led General Assembly flouted procedural rules to get it on the ballot. A constitutional amendment was needed to put it to voters — and state lawmakers have to approve a resolution...

A federal appeals court on Monday allowed the Pentagon to reinstate its ban on journalists being able to enter the building without an escort, marking the latest in a back-and-forth battle between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the press. After the Pentagon moved to restrict access for news outlets that refused to abide by new government reporting rules, a judge struck it down. The Pentagon then announced a broader ban on all journalists entering the main building without an escort, citing safety reasons. The lower court judge said that the new ban violated his initial order — but the U.S....

The Supreme Court will be issuing Opinions for cases from the October 2025 term this morning at 10.Scotusblog will be live-blogging the Opinion releases and we will be following along.A list of cases for this term can be found at the link just below.2025 Term71 cases were granted cert for the 2025 term and there are 39 cases remaining for which we are awaiting decisions.One case of interest is the Voting Rights case since it is the only remaining case pending from the October sitting.Louisiana v. Callais Issue(s): Whether Louisiana’s intentional creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the...