Tony Mauro

May 21, 2009 | New York Law Journal

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Monday could make it significantly harder for plaintiffs in a broad range of cases to survive defendants' motions to dismiss, according to experts in civil procedure. "This is very bad for plaintiffs," said Alan Morrison, former head of Public Citizen Litigation Group, reacting to Monday's 5-4 decision in Ashcroft v. Iqbal. The ruling dismissed a complaint filed by a Pakistani Muslim against former Attorney General John Ashcroft seeking to hold Mr. Ashcroft liable for policies that led to the roundup of immigrants, including Mr. Iqbal, and their detention in the Metropolitan Detention center following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

By Tony Mauro

6 minute read

July 12, 2006 | National Law Journal

In the wake of a recent batch of Supreme Court decisions on the death penalty, abolitionists are beginning to draw parallels with a period more than 30 years ago, when the Court's long-standing support for capital punishment dissolved, at least for a while. This term, four justices made it clear that their concerns, especially about the possible execution of the innocent, are deepening. Their mood guarantees turmoil ahead on the issue, with Justice Anthony Kennedy in his characteristic role as swing vote.

By Tony Mauro

8 minute read

December 28, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

The indelible U.S. Supreme Court moment of 2010 took place across the street at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 27.

By By Tony Mauro

7 minute read

February 18, 2010 | National Law Journal

Critics of the Supreme Court's January ruling in Citizens United v. FEC are pointing happily to a Washington Post poll released Wednesday that indicates widespread public opposition to the decision and its green light for more corporate and union expenditures in election campaigns. More than three-fourths of Republicans and Democrats alike voiced criticism of the ruling, according to the poll. In addition, 72 percent of respondents favor action by Congress to curb the effect of the ruling.

By Tony Mauro

3 minute read

May 27, 2009 | New York Law Journal

President Barack Obama yesterday announced Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, extolling her "wisdom accumulated from an inspiring life's journey" and setting her on course to become the Court's first Hispanic and third woman in history. Defying criticism that the empathy Mr. Obama sought in a nominee will color her judgment, Judge Sotomayor pledged "never to forget the real world consequences of my decisions."

By Tony Mauro

9 minute read

May 07, 2008 | The Legal Intelligencer

Nearly a decade ago, when his show Ally McBeal was at its peak, lawyer-turned-Hollywood-producer David E. Kelley was invited to dinner at the home of then-Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

By Tony Mauro

11 minute read

March 23, 2001 | Law.com

By Tony Mauro

7 minute read

May 29, 2008 | National Law Journal

Isaac Lidsky, the Supreme Court's first blind law clerk, will soon be taking on the reading-intensive job that entails digesting hundreds of petitions and writing memos and rough drafts of decisions. "I'm not out to set records, and I've been very fortunate in my life," he says. "For many others with vision impairment, it's a different story."

By Tony Mauro

7 minute read

November 08, 2004 | Texas Lawyer

In the first moments of his second term on Jan. 20, 2005, President George W. Bush may come face to face � literally � with a reminder of the judicial vacancies he can fill in the next four years.

By Tony Mauro

6 minute read

January 09, 2006 | Law.com

By Tony Mauro

4 minute read