Supreme

Supreme Court to Review Tennessee’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors on December 4

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Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled December 4 to review a contentious case regarding a Tennessee law that prohibits gender-affirming medical procedures for minors. This case, invoking legal challenges from multiple civil rights organizations, including the ACLU and Lambda Legal, targets the legislation signed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in 2023. The law in question, Senate Bill 1, explicitly bars healthcare providers from administering gender-affirming surgeries or prescribing hormone therapies and puberty blockers to individuals under the age of 18. Advocates for the bill argue that minors are not equipped to make … Read more

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case on Right to Consistent Legal Representation for Low-Income Defendants

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Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal that could have established whether defendants in criminal trials have a constitutional right to be represented by their initial court-appointed attorney throughout their case. This decision maintains the status quo where continuity of counsel is not guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution for indigent defendants. The case involved Williams Davis, a Colorado man who was convicted in 2017 of reckless driving and eluding police. Davis argued his rights were violated when he had to go to trial with a substitute attorney after his original court-appointed lawyer … Read more

Montana Towns Reassess Urban Camping Laws in Light of New Supreme Court Ruling

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Belgrade, Mont. — In the wake of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, cities across southwest Montana, including Belgrade, Manhattan, and Livingston, are poised to reassess their urban camping regulations. Recent judicial rulings have empowered municipalities to enforce laws against public camping, a move that could significantly impact the homeless population in the region. The Supreme Court’s 2024 judgement in Grants Pass v. Johnson has removed restrictions that previously made it illegal for cities to penalize homeless individuals for sleeping in public spaces when no shelters are available. This decision reverses an earlier ruling from … Read more

Supreme Court’s Decision on Purdue Pharma Sets Potential Precedent for Future Mass Tort Settlements

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Washington, D.C. – A recent Supreme Court decision affirming the opioid settlement by Purdue Pharma could set significant precedents for how similar mass tort cases are resolved in the future. The ruling, which supports the pharmaceutical giant’s plan to restructure under bankruptcy protection, encompasses a multi-billion dollar agreement pivotal for communities affected by the opioid epidemic. The contentious approval by the Supreme Court has confirmed Purdue Pharma’s settlement plan, estimated at over $10 billion, which aims to mitigate the public health crisis tied to opioids. This decision not only impacts those directly involved in the … Read more