Judicial news

Here are some recent judicial news stories:

Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could potentially overturn the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, involves a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. (Source: CNN)
• The Supreme Court has also agreed to hear a case that challenges the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. The case, California v. Texas, was brought by 20 Republican-led states that argue that the ACA is unconstitutional because the individual mandate, which requires individuals to purchase health insurance, was repealed in 2017. (Source: The New York Times)

Federal Courts

• A federal judge in Texas has blocked the Trump administration's "public charge" rule, which would have allowed immigration officials to deny green cards to immigrants who use certain public benefits. The rule was set to take effect on October 15, but the judge's ruling puts it on hold indefinitely. (Source: The Washington Post)
• A federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects young immigrants who were brought to the US as children from deportation. The program was rescinded by the Trump administration in 2017, but the judge's ruling requires the administration to accept new applications and renew existing ones. (Source: NPR)

State Courts

• A state court in Florida has ruled that a law requiring felons to pay fees and fines before they can vote is unconstitutional. The law was passed in 2019, but the court's ruling means that thousands of felons who have completed their sentences will be able to vote in the upcoming election. (Source: The Miami Herald)
• A state court in New York has ruled that the state's gun control laws are constitutional, rejecting a challenge from the National Rifle Association (NRA). The lawsuit argued that the laws, which include a ban on certain semi-automatic rifles and a requirement for background checks, violate the Second Amendment. (Source: The New York Times)

Judicial Appointments

• President Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett is a conservative judge who has been criticized by some for her views on abortion and healthcare. (Source: The New York Times)
• The Senate has confirmed Judge Justin Walker to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Walker is a conservative judge who was nominated by President Trump and has been criticized by some for his views on healthcare and the environment. (Source: The Washington Post)