Minority Votes Spark Congressional Battles in Texas

The U.S. Supreme Court stepped into Texas' congressional redistricting debate this week, temporarily halting an order to correct two districts that lower courts found disenfranchised minority voting rights. The court's stay is the latest in the years-long battle over racially motivated redistricting in Texas that could have a significant impact on Republican Party control of Congress.

.com | Federal judge blocks Texas’ tough ‘sanctuary cities’ law

Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks during a press briefing the State of Texas Emergency Command Center at Department of Public Safety headquarters in Austin. Austin - A US federal judge late on Wednesday temporarily blocked most of Texas' tough new "sanctuary cities" law that would have let police officers ask people during routine stops whether they're in the US legally and threatened sheriffs with jail time for not co-operating with federal immigration authorities.

Federal judge blocks Texas’ tough ‘sanctuary cities’ law

A federal judge late Wednesday temporarily blocked most of Texas' tough new "sanctuary cities" law that would have let police officers ask people during routine stops whether they're in the U.S. legally and threatened sheriffs with jail time for not cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The law, known as Senate Bill 4, had been cheered by President Donald Trump's administration and was set to take effect Friday.

Court asks Mississippi governor to defend Confederate emblem

In this Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 file photo, a state flag of Mississippi is unfurled by Sons of Confederate Veterans and other groups on the grounds of the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss. The U.S. Supreme Court is asking attorneys for Mississippi's governor to file arguments defending the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag.

Under Pressure, North Carolina Draws New Voting Maps

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, a Republican, during a Senate 2016 session. Of Democratic criticisms of his party's redistricting efforts, Berger says, "It's easier to blame the maps, blame a process, blame anything, really, than it is to take responsibility for losing touch with the politics of voters in 75 of North Carolina's 100 counties."

Eight Major SCOTUS Cases to Watch

Counsel: Two former George W. Bush administration solicitors general will face off: Theodore Olson of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Paul Clement of Kirkland & Ellis representing the NCAA. About: Can the federal government keep states from authorizing legal sports betting? That is the high-stakes question raised by Christie's persistent efforts to allow sports betting at New Jersey's casinos and racetracks, where the state could reap millions in tax revenue.

Is Second Amendment Guarantee Act (SAGA) Really all it is Cracked Up To Be?

By Roger J. Katz, Attorney at Law and Stephen L. D'Andrilli This is a follow-up to our recent post on Congressman Chris Collins' bill, titled the "Second Amendment Guarantee Act" . New York, NY - - In our previous post we explained some major failings of Congressman Chris Collins' bill as drafted.

South Dakota seeks overturn of high court sales tax decision

South Dakota officials, seeking a path for states to collect billions of dollars each year in sales taxes from internet retailers, will ask the state's highest court Tuesday for a speedy defeat in pursuit of their true goal: an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. South Dakota is the furthest along of several states attempting to overturn a 25-year-old U.S. Supreme Court decision that bans states from forcing retailers to collect taxes if the businesses lack a physical presence in their borders.

Conservative group launches big push to get Trump court picks okayed

In this May 13, 2010 file photo, Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice David Stras speaks in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken deny they're blocking the nomination of Stras to a federal post.

How much power will NC lawmakers have to shape 2018 elections? NC justices could decide.

The N.C. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in two cases on Aug. 28, 2017, that could shape state elections processes and districts in which candidates for state elected office and U.S. Congress run for office. The N.C. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in two cases on Aug. 28, 2017, that could shape state elections processes and districts in which candidates for state elected office and U.S. Congress run for office.

Will Trump’s enduring legacy be a right-wing judiciary?

In this March 21, 2017 file photo, Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. A divided Senate Judiciary Committee backed Gorsuch, Monday, April 3, 2017.

Miami city attorney doesna t plan to appeal ruling that overturned panhandling ban

It looks like Miami residents and business owners calling on city government to fight to uphold a law banning panhandling downtown are in for a let-down. In a memo issued Thursday to city commissioners and the mayor, assistant city attorney John A. Greco wrote that the city's legal office does not intend to challenge an Aug. 3 decision by a panel of the 11th Circuit appellate division striking down the law, which levied fines and criminal charges for anyone caught street begging in the downtown business district.

Arkansas Ready to Execute Again: ‘Delusional’ Killer Gets Date With Death

Four months after Arkansas officials sparked outrage by trying to kill eight inmates in 11 days , the state has set another execution date - this time for a murderer who stabbed, shot and beat a retired minister with a can of hominy but who is, according to his lawyers, too delusional to be put to death. Jack Greene, 62, is scheduled for a lethal injection on Nov. 9. He has no pending appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case last year.

Florida is scheduled to conduct its first execution in more than 18 months.

Florida has put a man to death with an anesthetic never used before in a U.S. lethal injection, carrying out its first execution in more than 18 months on an inmate convicted of two racially motivated murders. Authorities said 53-year-old Mark Asay, the first white man executed in Florida for the killing of a black man, was pronounced dead at 6:22 p.m. Thursday at the state prison in Starke.