Tony Mauro

August 27, 2009 | Law.com

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a pair of statements on the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. -- one from Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., and the other from Justice Stephen Breyer, who worked for Kennedy 30 years ago as chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee. And a handwritten note found in the recently released papers of the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist serves as an example of Kennedy's talent for making alliances and extending courtesies across the aisle and with adversaries.

By Tony Mauro

2 minute read

December 31, 2008 | National Law Journal

California atheist Michael Newdow -- famed for challenging the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance -- has gone to federal court seeking an injunction to prevent Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., as well as the congressional sponsors of the Jan. 20 inaugural and several other defendants, from inserting the words "so help me God" into the presidential oath of office. But the plaintiffs indicate that they would have no objection if President-elect Barack Obama chooses to add the words himself.

By Tony Mauro

3 minute read

June 30, 2006 | The Legal Intelligencer

By a cascading series of mix-and-match majorities, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld most of the controversial mid-decade Texas Republican redistricting plan spearheaded by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

By Tony Mauro ALM

4 minute read

March 15, 2000 | Law.com

More than six years ago, when California political science Professor Peter Irons sought to market the Supreme Court's oral argument tapes, the Court's first reaction was to threaten the professor with a lawsuit. It appears the Court -- or at least Chief Justice William Rehnquist -- has traveled a long way since then, judging by Tuesday's remarkable decision by the Judicial Conference to, in effect, allow federal judges' financial disclosure forms to be posted on the Internet.

By Tony Mauro

4 minute read

April 14, 2006 | Law.com

Victory was sweet as a sauterne last May for the lawyers who persuaded the Supreme Court to tear down trade barriers that prevented the interstate shipment of wines direct to consumers, capping a six-year battle waged by small wine makers and their elite legal team. Then came the hangover. A fee dispute broke out earlier this year over how much money the winning team should receive. Papers filed in the case shed a rare behind-the-scenes light on how war is waged in high-stakes high court litigation.

By Tony Mauro

8 minute read

June 06, 2005 | Law.com

The latest flavor of the week on the menu of potential Supreme Court nominees is Michael McConnell. But it's hard to decide what he is: conservative, liberal or a blend of both.

By Tony Mauro

10 minute read

October 11, 2007 | National Law Journal

In a sometimes chaotic oral argument Wednesday that exceeded usual time limits, the Supreme Court struggled to sort out a death penalty case that pits the state of Texas against President George W. Bush in a battle over states' rights and the scope of international treaties. It appeared clear that the justices were worried about where Bush's order to Texas courts to heed a ruling by the International Court of Justice left the Supreme Court itself -- and less interested in other separation of powers issues.

By Tony Mauro

5 minute read

June 15, 2007 | The Recorder

The conservative-liberal split in the Supreme Court was underscored when the justices, led by Clarence Thomas, voted 5-4 to deny a habeas corpus appeal because of an unmet deadline.

By Tony Mauro

4 minute read

March 29, 1999 | Law.com

The FBI file of U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) earlier this month, turns out to be tame stuff, especially when compared with the controversial dossier on Thurgood Marshall. But the 272-page Brennan file is a good read, ultimately remarkable for what it doesn't say about the man who turned out to be one of the great liberal justices of recent times.

By Tony Mauro

10 minute read

October 01, 2006 | Law.com

President Bush�s use of signing statements is drawing criticism from all quarters.

By Tony Mauro

5 minute read