Justices | Judiciary.org

In lawsuit against tech companies, justices debate what it means to “aid and abet” terrorism

The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared wary of a lawsuit seeking to hold Twitter, Facebook, and Google liable for aiding and abetting international terrorism based on ISIS’s use of the companies’ platforms. But during nearly three hours of oral argument, the justices struggled to draw a line between holding organizations responsible for supporting terrorism and allowing organizations to go about legitimate business, even if they may come in contact with terrorists as part of that business.

The dispute, Twitter … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Justices will consider whether tech giants can be sued for allegedly aiding ISIS terrorism

In 2015, ISIS conducted a series of coordinated attacks around Paris that killed 130 people and wounded nearly 500 more. Two years later, 39 people were killed in an ISIS attack on an Istanbul nightclub during the early hours of New Year’s Day. This week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a pair of cases arising from the attacks. The justices’ decisions in Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh could reshape legal liability for some of … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Justices asked to weigh in again on “mixed” questions in immigration appeals

The Petitions of the Week column highlights a selection of cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

When a noncitizen receives a final deportation order from immigration officials, they can appeal their case to federal court – but only under narrow circumstances. This week, we highlight cert petitions that ask the court to consider, among other things, whether courts can review a claim that a person’s deportation … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Justices request federal government’s views on Texas and Florida social-media laws

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Biden administration for its views on a pair of controversial social-media laws enacted in Texas and Florida. Passed in response to beliefs that social-media platforms were censoring their users, particularly those expressing conservative political views, both states’ laws seek to regulate the content-moderation policies of social-media companies like Facebook and Twitter.

The justices asked the solicitor general to weigh in on NetChoice v. Paxton (a pending petition on the Texas law) and … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Justices were not asked to swear under penalty of perjury that they didn’t leak Dobbs

Gail Curley, the Supreme Court’s marshal, said on Friday that she spoke with the justices as part of her investigation into the Dobbs leak but that the justices – unlike court employees – were not asked to swear under penalty of perjury that they were not responsible for the leak.

In a brief, prepared statement released by the court, Curley indicated that she “followed up on all credible leads, none of which implicated the Justices or their spouses.”

Curley’s … Read the rest

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Justices probe global consequences of allowing U.S. prosecutions of companies owned by foreign governments

The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Tuesday in the case of a Turkish bank that the U.S. government accuses of committing money laundering and fraud as part of a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran. During over 90 minutes of debate, the justices appeared skeptical of the bank’s contention that federal laws bar the government from prosecuting the bank, but they also expressed concern about the consequences of allowing the prosecution to go forward.

Halkbank, whose majority … Read the rest

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Justices revive Texas man’s bid to throw out conviction that state prosecutors no longer defend

The Supreme Court on Monday revived efforts by a Texas inmate to throw out his conviction and death sentence in a case in which prosecutors agree that he should get a new trial. The ruling in favor of Areli Escobar came on a list of orders released from the justices’ private conference last week. The justices did not grant any new cases, but they called for the Biden administration’s views in three cases and denied review in over 300 … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Homeowners ask the justices to enforce a New York consumer-protection law against banks

The Petitions of the Week column highlights a selection of cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

A response to the mortgage crisis of 2007, the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 ushered in a host of new federal rules and oversight for the financial sector. This week, we highlight cert petitions that ask the court to consider, among other things, whether that … Read the rest