All articles tagged with #brett kavanaugh
The article discusses Brett Kavanaugh's potential impact on the Voting Rights Act, highlighting concerns that the Supreme Court may weaken protections for minority voters, and covers various political developments including Maine's Senate race, Pentagon press restrictions, John Bolton's indictment, and protests against the Trump administration.
Sophie Roske, who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, was sentenced to just over eight years in prison, significantly below the federal prosecutors' request of 30 years, with the judge citing her self-reporting and mental health as reasons for leniency amidst concerns over political violence.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh defended the Supreme Court's practice of issuing decisions without explanations, particularly regarding cases involving President Trump, highlighting a shift from traditional caution to a more expedited process through the shadow docket.
Senate Republicans are expressing concerns over the potential confirmation hearings for former Rep. Matt Gaetz as President-elect Trump's nominee for attorney general, likening it to a "Kavanaugh on steroids" scenario. Allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit activities against Gaetz, along with a DOJ investigation into sex trafficking, are expected to dominate the proceedings. Some GOP senators suggest Gaetz should withdraw to avoid a contentious hearing, while others believe Trump might use Gaetz's nomination to ease the confirmation of other controversial picks. The situation is expected to exacerbate partisan tensions in the Senate.
In the Muldrow v. St. Louis case, the Supreme Court delivered a significant victory for civil rights by unanimously siding with Jatonya Muldrow, a police officer who argued she was discriminated against on the basis of sex when she was transferred to a less active job. Justice Elena Kagan wrote a strong opinion, maintaining the harm requirement for Title VII claims, which prevented the case from being used to attack diversity initiatives and DEI training. The decision narrowly avoided the risk of being used to combat workplace diversity and secured a meaningful victory for the left, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh being the only dissenting voice.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's questioning of obstruction charges brought against a January 6 defendant has sparked fury on social media, with conservative justices signaling a potential upending of criminal charges related to the Capitol riot. Kavanaugh and other conservative justices expressed concerns about the broad application of the anti-obstruction provision and questioned the necessity of the charge given the other counts brought against the defendant. The Biden administration argued that the obstruction charge was warranted due to the defendant's intent to impede Congress and assault law enforcement officers. The criticism on social media focused on the justices' role in deciding charges and the perceived leniency towards the defendant. A decision in the case is expected by late June.
Former President Donald Trump is urging the Supreme Court to grant him full immunity against special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion charges, warning of potential blackmail and extortion for future presidents if immunity is not recognized. Trump also proposed an alternative route for the justices to delay his trial until after the November election if they are unwilling to accept his maximalist theory of immunity. His arguments heavily reference statements made by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, aiming to appeal to the justice’s past experience. Trump's brief seeks to frame the issue as one that will define the legal exposure of all future presidents, arguing that failure to recognize immunity would irreparably damage the presidency and the republic.
Former President Donald Trump is urging the Supreme Court to grant him full immunity against special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion charges, warning of potential blackmail and extortion for future presidents if they don't. He also proposed an alternative route to delay the trial until after the November election. Trump's lawyers referenced Justice Brett Kavanaugh's past statements, appealing to his experiences. The case, with oral arguments scheduled for April 25, could have far-reaching consequences for future presidents and may complicate efforts to start a trial before the year ends.
Christine Blasey Ford appeared on "The View" to discuss her new book detailing the aftermath of her public accusation against Brett Kavanaugh, revealing that she thought she could remain anonymous when speaking to the F.B.I. and never anticipated testifying before Congress. She described the threats and the need to live in an undisclosed location for months, as well as the lack of government protection. Ford also mentioned her children's difficulties during this time and cited Senators Jeff Flake and Ben Sasse as the only Republican lawmakers who were nice to her.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Murthy v. Missouri, where the Fifth Circuit had issued an injunction forbidding the federal government from communicating with social media companies. Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed skepticism about the injunction, noting that it would hinder routine government interactions with the media. The case involves government requests to remove content, including Covid-19 misinformation, from social media platforms. Justices Kagan and Kavanaugh, both with White House experience, criticized the Fifth Circuit's attempt to limit government-media communication. The Court's center left and center right justices appear likely to reject the injunction, recognizing the need for the government to function.
During Supreme Court arguments, Justice Brett Kavanaugh staunchly defended the right to free expression, criticizing Texas and Florida's laws that restrict social media platforms' editorial control. Kavanaugh emphasized that government restrictions on speech violate the First Amendment and highlighted the distinction between government censorship and private editorial discretion. He also rebuked Justice Samuel Alito's suggestion that content moderation is Orwellian, asserting that true Orwellian behavior involves state control of media. Despite personal opinions about Kavanaugh, his defense of free speech on the internet in this crucial case is noteworthy.
Legal expert Peter Shane believes that Supreme Court justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh are unlikely to support former President Donald Trump's arguments for presidential immunity from prosecution. Shane also doubts how conservative-leaning Justice Clarence Thomas would vote on the matter. Trump's emergency petition to the Supreme Court seeks to drop his election interference case, but Shane argues that history and the law suggest Trump does not have presidential immunity. The trial has been put on hold while Trump appeals to higher courts, with the Washington D.C Court of Appeals ruling that Trump is not immune from criminal prosecution.
The Supreme Court indicated its intent to protect workers' rights by shutting down the anti-worker regime that requires victims to prove special harm in order to sue for discrimination. Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, along with liberal justices, united behind the plain language of the law to improve the lives of working people. However, their support for a vigorous enforcement of the law may have an ulterior motive, potentially impacting affirmative action in the workplace. The case in question involves a female police officer who was transferred to a less "dangerous" job due to her gender, and the Court is considering whether such transfers alone violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
The Supreme Court is facing yet another crisis of its own making as Alabama legislators defy the court's explicit instructions to create a second congressional district for Black residents to exercise their voting power. This defiance stems from Justice Brett Kavanaugh's concurrence in a previous case, where he hinted that he might be open to deciding the matter in the lawmakers' favor on a different theory. This disregard for the court's orders reflects a loss of faith in the legal process and raises concerns about the court's legitimacy. Kavanaugh's attempt to strategically plant a time bomb in his concurrence has backfired, leaving the court in a precarious position.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh addressed the notion of partisanship within the U.S. Supreme Court, emphasizing that it is an institution of law, not politics. Kavanaugh highlighted the mixed decisions made by the court this term, including both conservative and liberal majorities. He stressed that the justices work as a group and build relationships, even when they disagree on certain cases. Kavanaugh also briefly mentioned ongoing ethics issues within the court but did not provide further details. He acknowledged that criticism comes with the territory and emphasized the importance of consistency and clear reasoning in decision-making.