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Supreme Court

May 13, 2020

Justices hear election year cases over ‘faithless electors’

The Supreme Court is taking up an unusual voting issue that could have important consequences for the 2020 presidential election in an era of intense political polarization. Wednesday is the court’s final day of arguments by telephone in May, with livestreamed audio, and deals with whether presidential electors are bound to support popular-vote winners in […]

May 7, 2020

SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK: Chatty Thomas breaks with precedent

A Supreme Court justice gets it in his mind to ask a question, and pretty soon, he’s got questions for everyone. And so the next question: Will Clarence Thomas ever stop talking? Before this week, the intervals between Thomas’ questions during high court arguments were measured in years. He once went 10 years, from 2006 […]

Feb 25, 2020

Supreme Court hears battle over Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The Supreme Court this week appeared ready to remove an obstacle to construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, with a majority of justices expressing skepticism about a lower court ruling that tossed out a key permit needed for the natural gas pipeline to cross under the Appalachian Trail. Justices on the court grilled a lawyer […]

Feb 25, 2020

Supreme Court hears battle over Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The Supreme Court this week appeared ready to remove an obstacle to construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, with a majority of justices expressing skepticism about a lower court ruling that tossed out a key permit needed for the natural gas pipeline to cross under the Appalachian Trail. Justices on the court grilled a lawyer […]

Dec 3, 2019

Justices take up gun case, though disputed law has changed

The Supreme Court is turning to gun rights for the first time in nearly a decade, even though those who brought the case, New York City gun owners, already have won changes to the regulation they challenged. The justices’ persistence in hearing arguments this week despite the city’s action has made gun control advocates fearful […]

Dec 3, 2019

Justices take up gun case, though disputed law has changed

The Supreme Court is turning to gun rights for the first time in nearly a decade, even though those who brought the case, New York City gun owners, already have won changes to the regulation they challenged. The justices’ persistence in hearing arguments this week despite the city’s action has made gun control advocates fearful […]

Oct 9, 2019

Divided Supreme Court weighs LGBT people’s rights

A seemingly divided Supreme Court struggled Tuesday over whether a landmark civil rights law protects LGBT people from discrimination in employment, with one conservative justice wondering if the court should take heed of “massive social upheaval” that could follow a ruling in their favor. With the court’s four liberal justices likely to side with workers […]

Oct 9, 2019

Divided Supreme Court weighs LGBT people’s rights

A seemingly divided Supreme Court struggled Tuesday over whether a landmark civil rights law protects LGBT people from discrimination in employment, with one conservative justice wondering if the court should take heed of “massive social upheaval” that could follow a ruling in their favor. With the court’s four liberal justices likely to side with workers […]

Sep 3, 2019

Criminal justice reform turns to list of problem officers

During the 22 years he spent in prison after being convicted of killing a Boston police detective, Sean Ellis believed there was something suspicious about the officers who led the murder investigation. He just couldn’t prove it. It would take years of digging and scores of public information requests from his attorneys to uncover evidence […]

Sep 3, 2019

Criminal justice reform turns to list of problem officers

During the 22 years he spent in prison after being convicted of killing a Boston police detective, Sean Ellis believed there was something suspicious about the officers who led the murder investigation. He just couldn’t prove it. It would take years of digging and scores of public information requests from his attorneys to uncover evidence […]

Aug 29, 2019

Greatest head count in US history is nearly ready for launch

With just a few months left before America starts taking its biggest-ever self-portrait, the U.S. Census Bureau is grappling with a host of concerns about the head count, including how to ensure that it is secure and accurate and the challenge of getting most people to answer questions online. All of that is on top […]

Aug 29, 2019

Greatest head count in US history is nearly ready for launch

With just a few months left before America starts taking its biggest-ever self-portrait, the U.S. Census Bureau is grappling with a host of concerns about the head count, including how to ensure that it is secure and accurate and the challenge of getting most people to answer questions online. All of that is on top […]

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