The Latest: Democrats: No basis for GOP to sue over new map

Lawyers for the Democratic voters who successfully challenged Pennsylvania's congressional districts as unconstitutionally gerrymandered say Republicans have no legal or factual basis to sue over new court-ordered districts. The Philadelphia-based Public Interest Law Center said in a statement Tuesday that Republican lawmakers should stop holding onto the gerrymandered districts they drew in 2011.

Video: Tony Mauro’s Conversation With Gabe Roth of ‘Fix the Court’

NLJ Supreme Court correspondent Tony Mauro sits down with Gabe Roth of the transparency advocate Fix the Court for a conversation about a new project focusing on financial disclosure reports. *May exclude premium content Already have an account? Sign In Now Interested in customizing your subscription with Law.com All Access? Contact our Sales Professionals at 1-855-808-4530 or send an email to groupsales@alm.com to learn more.

Supreme Court leaves in place California’s 10-day wait for gun…

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a Second Amendment challenge to California's mandatory 10-day waiting period for new gun purchases. With only Justice Clarence Thomas in dissent, the justices let stand a ruling of the 9th Circuit Court that called the California law a "reasonable safety precaution" and one that does not violate the constitutional right to own a gun.

Supreme Court asked to review ‘Making a Murderer’ confession

Lawyers for a Wisconsin inmate featured in the "Making a Murderer" series have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that held his confession was voluntary. Brendan Dassey's legal team on Tuesday petitioned the nation's highest court to hear their appeal, saying the case raises crucial issues that extend far beyond Dassey's case alone and that long have divided state and federal courts.

Union Power, Email Privacy In The Balance At New Supreme Court Sitting

The Supreme Court will convene Tuesday for its February sitting, in which the justices will consider major cases involving the First Amendment, union power, and email privacy. The cases raise the prospect of serious political and diplomatic repercussions, placing the justices at the center of a bitter partisan brawl and a sensitive question of foreign affairs.

How fair are NC’s voting maps? Check the math

Across the country, courts are wrestling with a fundamental question that has far-ranging impacts on democracy: How do you define an illegal partisan gerrymander? Political maps have come a long way since 1812, when a newly-drawn, salamander-like district in Massachusetts invoked the ire of voters. Judges have found that a district doesn't have to look monstrous to qualify as unconstitutional, especially given the capabilities of mapmakers to use computational power to precisely slice and dice a state into pieces more favorable to Democrats or Republicans.

Supreme Court mulls whether to hear Trump’s appeal on DACA

Supreme Court on Friday considered whether to take up Trump administration's appeal of an earlier legal ruling against its plan to cancel DACA Earlier this week, US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled at federal court in Brooklyn, New York, that DACA program must remain in place The US Supreme Court on Friday discussed in private how to handle President Donald Trump 's appeal of a judge's decision blocking his plan to end protections for young illegal immigrants dubbed 'Dreamers,' and the nine justices could announce as early as Tuesday whether they will take up the case.

State must pay $71,214 to attorney

Arkansas must pay $71,214 to the Heber Springs lawyer who got the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the state's discriminatory birth-certificate practices, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox ruled Friday. The judge found that attorney Cheryl Maples is entitled by federal law to reimbursement for the time and expenses she has devoted to the 2 A1 2-year long legal battle that saw the nation's highest court summarily overturn the Arkansas Supreme Court on the issue last year.

Fair Maps: Advocate urges redistricting reform

It's easy to say electoral districts should be drawn in a fair, nonpartisan way, but how can it be done? Local residents debated that question during the Fair Maps Town Hall Thursday night at the Pasquotank County Courthouse in Elizabeth City. The event featured government reform advocates and gerrymandering opponents Jane Pinsky, of the NC Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform, and Bob Phillips, of Common Cause North Carolina.

Justice Thomas: confirmation process not what it ought to be

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Thursday that he believes that Congress' process for confirming judges and others in government will discourage "some of our best people" from serving. Speaking at an event at the Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson building, directly across from the Capitol, Thomas said he doesn't think the confirmation process "is what it ought to be."

Appeals court declares Trump travel ban unconstitutional

In a 9-4 vote, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond said it examined statements made by Trump and other administration officials, as well as the presidential proclamation imposing the ban, and concluded that it "second-guesses our nation's dedication to religious freedom and tolerance." The 4th Circuit is the second federal appeals court to rule against the ban.

Supreme Court Asked, Again, to Weigh In on Data Breach Standing as Circuit Split Widens

CareFirst, a large health care company involved in a data breach case, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on whether victims can establish Article III standing to sue for the risk of future identity theft. The issue has split the federal appellate courts, with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently holding in CareFirst v.