Supreme Court justices get handpicked by the president to wear fancy robes and make questionable decisions that affect the nature of political campaigns, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love a good police procedural as much as the next guy. As with any addict of the Law & Order or CSI franchise, they think they’ve gotten pretty good at solving crimes. You think they’d fall for a suspect called in for questioning before the second commercial break? Please, SCOTUS has been tuning in since Munch was in conspiracy diapers. They know every B-list guest star is a secret sociopath and that flashing a bartender a photo will win you a clue. In fact, all that expert understanding, absorbed by televised osmosis, seems to have informed yesterday’s hearing on a habeas corpus case, according to the Washington Post’s Dana Milbank. In particular, their responses seemed to be marked by a lurid questioning of the gory details. The evidence didn’t add … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court Has Been Watching Too Much
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U.S. Supreme Court leaves in place Kentucky abortion restriction
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left in place a Kentucky law requiring doctors to show and describe ultrasound images to women seeking the procedure, turning away a challenge arguing that the measure violates the free speech rights of physicians. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., June 11, 2018. REUTERS/Erin Schaff/File Photo The justices declined without comment to hear an appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of a lower court ruling that upheld the law after a federal judge previously had struck it down as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment guarantee of free speech. The Supreme Court has a 5-4 conservative majority and is closely divided on abortion rights. The ACLU said the law has no medical basis and that its sole purpose is to coerce a woman into not getting an abortion. The ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of EMW Women’s Surgical Center, Kentucky’s only licensed … [Read more...] about U.S. Supreme Court leaves in place Kentucky abortion restriction
U.S. Supreme Court rejects inmate’s bid for sex reassignment surgery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by a convicted murderer who filed a civil rights lawsuit because Texas prison officials denied her request to be considered for gender reassignment surgery. The justices let stand a lower court’s decision to reject the claim by inmate Vanessa Lynn Gibson that denying the surgery request violated the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Gibson, 41, who is transgender and also goes by the name Scott in court papers, was assigned male at birth and has lived as a female since age 15. Gibson was incarcerated in 1995 for aggravated assault, then was convicted of murdering a fellow inmate in 1997. She is eligible for parole in 2021. Court papers said Gibson was diagnosed in 2014 with gender dysphoria, which medical experts define as distress from the internal conflict between physical gender and gender identity. She has suffered from severe … [Read more...] about U.S. Supreme Court rejects inmate’s bid for sex reassignment surgery
Louisiana Supreme Court likely to consider question of split-jury law’s constitutionality
When Louisiana voters jettisoned a 120-year relic of the Jim Crow era by voting in November to require unanimous jury verdicts in serious felony trials, they went where courts have long refused to tread.But the resounding vote left open the question of what would become of many cases still currently wending their way through the criminal justice system.Now, that question may now have to be answered by the state Supreme Court, thanks to an October ruling by a Sabine Parish judge that recently drew its first real legal challenge.The ruling by Judge Stephen Beasley, citing testimony from historians, a lawyer and an Advocate reporter, said Louisiana's allowance for split-jury verdicts violates the U.S. Constitution. Last week, Sabine Parish District Attorney Don Burkett’s office filed notice of its intent to appeal.The case in question involves Valentino Ramon Hodge, 32, who faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and domestic battery with strangulation.Burkett's … [Read more...] about Louisiana Supreme Court likely to consider question of split-jury law’s constitutionality
Supreme Court leaves Kentucky’s ultrasound law in place
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, the Supreme Court in Washington, at sunset. The Supreme Court has left in place a Kentucky law requiring doctors to perform ultrasounds and show fetal images to patients before abortions. The justices did not comment on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in refusing to review an appeals court ruling that upheld the law. less FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, the Supreme Court in Washington, at sunset. The Supreme Court has left in place a Kentucky law requiring doctors to perform ultrasounds and show fetal images to ... more Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, the Supreme Court in Washington, at sunset. The Supreme Court has left in place a … [Read more...] about Supreme Court leaves Kentucky’s ultrasound law in place
