UNCOVERED: 3 - Caught on Camera

Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions

A tardy oath, old-timey drunkards, and telling it man to [redacted] man.

Reason · Aug 30, 2024

"Let's Go Brandon" T-Shirts Can Be Barred from Middle School on Grounds of Vulgarity

Before we get to Brandon, let's detour to Bethel School Dist. No. 403 v. Fraser (1986). Matthew Fraser gave this nomination speech for a friend who was running for high school vice-president: I know a man who is firm—he's firm in his pants, he's firm in his shirt, his character…

Reason · Aug 23, 2024

Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions

Venue roulette, a sham affidavit, and uninspected bloomin’ onions.

Reason · Jul 26, 2024

Did Justice Jackson Disclose the Outcome in Relentless and Loper-Bright? (UPDATED)

Did we get a hint to the outcome in one of this term's bigger cases at today's oral argument?

Reason · Feb 20, 2024

Do Religious Schools Have a Right to Exemption from State's Pronoun Policies?

From Friday's opinion by Judge Daniel D. Domenico (D. Colo.) in Darren Patterson Christian Academy v. Roy (for more on a different facet of the case and on the possible relevance, or not, of government funding, see this post): "[T]he First Amendment protects an individual's right to speak his mind…

Reason · Oct 23, 2023

U.S. Sixth Circuit decision on gender-affirming care law may not be final word

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky isn’t giving up on the fight against a state law that prohibits gender-affirming medical care for minors. The group lost a battle last week when the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected attempts to block Senate Bill 150 from taking effect.

WEKU · Oct 2, 2023

Sixth Circuit Reverses Preliminary Injunctions Against TN & KY Laws Restricting Gender Dysphoria Treatments for Minors (Updated)

After a divided ruling, laws limiting such treatments in Tennessee and Kentucky will go into force.

Reason · Sep 30, 2023

Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions

Zombie jokes, perplexing paths, and a handsy officer.

Reason · Aug 25, 2023

Sixth Circuit Affirms (2-1) Dismissal of Nicholas Sandmann's Libel Lawsuit Against the N.Y. Times and Others

Some excerpts from Sandmann v. N.Y. Times Co., decided yesterday by the Sixth Circuit, in an opinion by Judge Jane Stranch, joined by Judge Stephanie Davis (for more details, read the full opinions): On January 18, 2019, then-sixteen-year-old Nicholas Sandmann and his classmates had an interaction with a Native American…

Reason · Aug 17, 2023

District Court Strikes Down Race Preference in USDA's and SBA's Contracting Schemes

From Judge Clifton Corker's opinion today in Ultima Servs. Corp. v. U.S. Dep't of Agric. (E.D. Tenn.) [UPDATE: link fixed]: This case concerns whether, under the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection, Defendants the United States' Department of Agriculture ("USDA") and the Small Business Administration ("SBA") may use a "rebuttable…

Reason · Jul 19, 2023