Government seeks change to order lifting Trump refugee ban

Lawyers with the Department of Justice have asked a federal judge to change his order that partially lifted a Trump administration refugee ban. Just before Christmas, U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle imposed a nationwide injunction that blocks restrictions on reuniting refugee families and partially lifted a ban on refugees from 11 mostly Muslim countries.

Federal judge partially lifts Trump’s latest refugee restrictions

International passengers arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport after the U.S. Supreme Court granted parts of the Trump administration's emergency request to put its travel ban into effect later in the week pending further judicial review, in Dulles, Virginia, U.S., June 26, 2017. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan A federal judge in Seattle partially blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's newest restrictions on refugee admissions on Saturday, the latest legal defeat for his efforts to curtail immigration and travel to the United States.

EDITORIAL: Donald Trump and the federal courts

Mr. Trump faced more than 100 judicial vacancies when he entered the Oval Office, including one on the U.S. Supreme Court. You might not know it from the sea of negative press coverage involving the White House, but President Donald Trump can tout some significant accomplishes as 2017 draws to a close.

Planned Parenthood: Arkansas faces having 1 abortion clinic

A Planned Parenthood subsidiary told the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday that Arkansas' restrictions on how abortion pills are administered could effectively end medication abortions in the state and leave Arkansas with only one clinic where women can end their pregnancies. Under an Arkansas law passed in 2015, doctors who provide abortion pills must hold a contract with another physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital and who would agree to handle complications.

Gov. Rick Scott should abandon his selfish plan to pack courts on his way out the door

Gov. Rick Scott talks about his decision to file a public records request with the Florida Supreme Court over a case with big implications for the court's future. Gov. Rick Scott talks about his decision to file a public records request with the Florida Supreme Court over a case with big implications for the court's future.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Will Soon Decide on County…

On December 21, U.S. District Court Lawrence Stengel held a status conference in Constitution Party of Pennsylvania v Cortes, 5:12cv-2726. As already reported, on December 13 the Third Circuit had issued a ruling in this case, casting doubt on whether the county distribution requirement for minor party and independent candidate statewide candidates is constitutional.

Appeals court rejects Trump administration’s request to delay transgender military enlistment

In this July 29, 2017 photo transgender U.S. army captain Jennifer Sims lifts her uniform during an interview with The Associated Press in Beratzhausen near Regensburg, Germany. CREDIT: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader President Trump's effort to ban transgender people from joining the military suffered yet another setback Thursday - its first at the appellate level.

Planned Parenthood asks Supreme Court to restore injunction on medical abortion

Planned Parenthood Great Plains today asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review and correct the 8th Circuit Court of Appeal's July ruling that would allow the state to effectively ban the safest abortion procedure - the administration of drugs that would trigger miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy. At issue is Arkansas's Act 557 of 2015, which requires physicians who provide medical abortion - including Arkansas's two Planned Parenthood Clinics and Little Rock Family Planning Services - to contract with a second physician with hospital privileges.

CEO: Congress, Not States, Must Patch ACA Subsidies

All eyes will be on Congress, rather than the states, if the Supreme Court should rule that subsidies offered on the federal health care exchange are illegal. "States such as Florida and Texas will have the most to lose if the subsidies go away because of their large numbers of people who are getting insurance through the federal exchange and qualify for subsidies," he said.

Polish President Signs Controversial Laws As EU Triggers Punishment Clause

People protest in front of the presidential palace in Warsaw on Dec. 14. Thousands of Poles rallied across the country Thursday against controversial moves by the right-wing government which the EU insists undermine the rule of law and separation of powers. On Wednesday, the EU announced it would pursue sanctions against Poland.