U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Announcements

A case in which the Court held that 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2)—which strictly limits the circumstances in which an inmate can file a second petition for federal post-conviction relief—applies to all second habeas petitions.

A case in which the Court was asked to decide whether a federal court may certify a class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3) when some members of the proposed class lack any Article III injury.

A case in which the Court will decide whether a state violates the First Amendment’s religion clauses by denying a religious organization an otherwise-available tax exemption because the organization does not meet the state’s criteria for religious behavior.

A case in which the Court held that Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6)’s “extraordinary circumstances” standard applies to a post-judgment request to vacate for the purpose of filing an amended complaint.

A case in which the Court held that plaintiffs need not prove minimum contacts before federal courts may assert personal jurisdiction over foreign states sued under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.

A case in which the Court held that Mexico did not plausibly allege that U.S. gun manufacturers, by producing and selling firearms, aided and abetted Mexican cartels and thus cannot be held liable for violence in Mexico under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).

A case in which the Court held that a majority-group plaintiff need not prove anything different from a minority-group plaintiff to establish a prima facie case of discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

A case in which the Court held that the National Environmental Policy Act requires an agency to study environmental impacts beyond the proximate effects of the action over which the agency has regulatory authority.

A case in which the Court was asked to decide (1) whether a privately owned and operated school’s educational decisions are considered state action simply because the school has a contract with the state to provide free education to students, and (2) whether the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause prohibits, or the Establishment Clause requires, a state to exclude religious schools from its cha...

A case in which the Court held that a defendant commits wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 when they induce a victim to enter into a transaction using materially false pretenses, even if the defendant does not intend to cause the victim an economic loss.

A case in which the Court struck down the Fifth Circuit's “moment of the threat” doctrine, which it applied when evaluating Fourth Amendment excessive force claims.

A case in which the Court held that a federal civilian employee called or ordered to active duty under a provision of law during a national emergency is entitled to differential pay even if the duty is not directly connected to the national emergency.

A case in which the Court held that the phrase “entitled…to benefits” includes only those people who are eligible to receive a cash payment during the month of their hospitalization.

A case in which the Court held that when a noncitizen's voluntary-departure period ends on a weekend or public holiday, a motion to reopen filed the next business day is sufficient to avoid the penalties for failure to depart under 8 U.S.C. § 1229c(d)(1).

A case in which the Court held that a plaintiff can state a claim under a provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that bars a plan fiduciary from knowingly engaging in a transaction that is an exchange of goods or services between the plan and anyone barred from doing business with the plan, simply by alleging that such a transaction occurred.

A case in which the Court held that under the civil provision of RICO, a plaintiff may seek treble damages for business or property loss even if the loss resulted from a personal injury.

A case in which the Court held that the Food and Drug Administration’s orders denying respondents’ applications for authorization to market new e-cigarette products was not arbitrary and capricious.

A case in which the Court will decide whether the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has the authority to regulate so-called “ghost guns”—that is, firearms without serial numbers that can be assembled from parts.

A case in which the Court held that § 106(a) of the Bankruptcy Code abrogates the Government’s sovereign immunity with respect to a §544(b) claim, but that waiver does not extend to state-law claims nested within that federal claim.

A case in which the Court held that a crime that requires proof of bodily injury or death, but can be committed by failing to take action, has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force.

A case in which the Court held that 18 U.S.C. § 1014, which prohibits making a “false statement” for the purpose of influencing certain financial institutions and federal agencies, does not prohibit making a statement that is misleading but not false.

A case in which the Court held that the Department of Veterans Affairs’ determination that evidence regarding a disability claim is in “approximate balance” is a factual determination subject to clear-error review by the Veterans Court.

A case in which the Court held that the Clean Water Act does not authorize the EPA to include “end-result” provisions in wastewater discharge permits.

A case in which the Court held that a voluntary dismissal without prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41 is a “final judgment, order, or proceeding” under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b).

A case in which the Court held that an award of the “defendant’s profits” under the Lanham Act is limited to those earned by the named defendant in that case, exclusive of legally separate non-party corporate affiliates.