Mark Sherman

September 27, 2006 | National Law Journal

The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to decide whether public employee unions must get special permission before spending some workers' dues on political causes, accepting an appeal from the state of Washington that involves fees paid to the Washington Education Association. At issue is whether the union needs teachers to say "yes" before the fees can be used for political causes or whether teachers must specifically object to having a portion of their fees spent for that purpose.

By Mark Sherman

3 minute read

May 21, 2007 | Law.com

Justice Clarence Thomas sat through 68 hours of oral arguments in the Supreme Court's current term without uttering a word. That's saying something -- or not -- even for the taciturn justice. According to a recent tally, Thomas has spoken 281 words since transcripts began identifying justices by name in October 2004. By contrast, Thomas' neighbor on the bench, Justice Stephen Breyer, has uttered nearly 35,000 words since January.

By Mark Sherman

2 minute read

March 24, 2010 | Law.com

Justice Antonin Scalia tends to see things as black or white. Justice Stephen Breyer sees a lot more gray. When contentious decisions come down at the Supreme Court, Breyer and Scalia are almost always on opposite sides. During an event organized by the Supreme Court Historical Society on Tuesday, they tried to explain why their differing views of judging so often lead them to opposite conclusions when the topic is abortion, the death penalty, gay rights or physician-assisted suicide.

By Mark Sherman

2 minute read

March 01, 2007 | The Legal Intelligencer

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reinstated a Nevada child molester�s conviction yesterday in a decision that continued the justices� refusal to apply recent rulings on criminal procedure to older cases.

By Mark Sherman The Associated Press

2 minute read

April 26, 2011 | New York Law Journal

By Mark Sherman

3 minute read

March 31, 2008 | The Legal Intelligencer

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to step into a legal fight between the Justice Department and a member of Congress who has been indicted on bribery charges.

By MARK SHERMAN

3 minute read

October 21, 2008 | National Law Journal

The Supreme Court is taking a look at federal prosecutors' efforts to pin identity theft charges on undocumented foreign workers who have Social Security and identification numbers that belong to others. The justices said Monday that they will hear arguments next year to resolve an issue that has divided federal appeals courts around the country.

By Mark Sherman

3 minute read

July 22, 2008 | Law.com

Louisiana prosecutors asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to revisit its recent decision outlawing the death penalty for people convicted of raping children. The unusual request is based on the failure of anyone involved in the case -- lawyers on both sides as well as the justices -- to take account of a change in federal law in 2006 that authorizes the death penalty for members of the military who are convicted of child rape. It is unclear when the justices will take up the request.

By Mark Sherman

4 minute read

May 01, 2007 | National Law Journal

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that local governments can compel private trash haulers to use municipal facilities, even if it would cost more to keep garbage at home than to dispose of it elsewhere. The 6-3 ruling upholding local ordinances in upstate New York protects a stream of money that allows the counties, like other governments that have built recycling centers and landfills, to help pay off millions of dollars in debt they incurred to establish such facilities.

By Mark Sherman

2 minute read

April 27, 2005 | The Legal Intelligencer

Bankrupt Adelphia Communications Corp. has agreed to pay the government $715 million to settle a federal fraud investigation, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Monday.

By Mark Sherman

2 minute read