Tony

January 15, 2016 | National Law Journal

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell's appeal of corruption charges, setting the stage for a significant review of federal bribery statutes.

By Tony Mauro

3 minute read

January 15, 2016 | National Law Journal

Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe once taught Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, but that did not prevent the Texas senator from taking a potshot at Tribe during Thursday night's televised GOP debate. In an email interview Friday, Tribe declined to comment on being in the spotlight. But he reiterated his earlier point that Cruz has been hoisted on his own petard, so to speak, as a fan of originalism in interpreting the Constitution.

By Tony Mauro

5 minute read

January 13, 2016 | Supreme Court Brief

As chief justice, John Roberts Jr. champions the independence of the federal judiciary in speeches and annual reports. On Wednesday, he delivered his "don't mess with the courts" message loud and clear from the bench.

By Tony Mauro

5 minute read

January 13, 2016 | Supreme Court Brief

As chief justice, John Roberts Jr. champions the independence of the federal judiciary in speeches and annual reports. On Wednesday, he delivered his "don't mess with the courts" message loud and clear from the bench.

By Tony Mauro

5 minute read

January 12, 2016 | National Law Journal

With six U.S. Supreme Court justices in the audience, President Barack Obama on Tuesday night sidestepped any direct discussion of the court in his final State of the Union address. He briefly mentioned contentious legal issues, including voting rights, campaign finance and marriage equality.

By Tony Mauro

2 minute read

January 12, 2016 | National Law Journal

With six U.S. Supreme Court justices in the audience, President Barack Obama on Tuesday night sidestepped any direct discussion of the court in his final State of the Union address. He briefly mentioned contentious legal issues, including voting rights, campaign finance and marriage equality.

By Tony Mauro

2 minute read

January 12, 2016 | Supreme Court Brief

Six years after President Barack Obama caused a stir by questioning the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling at a State of the Union address, he is likely to mention the court’s name Tuesday tonight. Whether controversy ensues is hard to predict.

By Tony Mauro

5 minute read

January 12, 2016 | Law.com

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down Florida's death sentencing system, ruling that it improperly gives judges, rather than juries, the power to decide that a defendant's punishment should be death rather than life in prison. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the 8-1 decision in Hurst v. Florida, invoking the court's Ring v. Arizona precedent from 2002. The court said in Ring that facts resulting in an increase in a sentence to capital punishment must be determined by the jury.

By Tony Mauro

3 minute read

January 12, 2016 | National Law Journal

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down Florida's death sentencing system, ruling that it improperly gives judges, rather than juries, the power to decide that a defendant's punishment should be death rather than life in prison. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the 8-1 decision in Hurst v. Florida, invoking the court's Ring v. Arizona precedent from 2002. The court said in Ring that facts resulting in an increase in a sentence to capital punishment must be determined by the jury.

By Tony Mauro

3 minute read

January 12, 2016 | Supreme Court Brief

Six years after President Barack Obama caused a stir by questioning the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling at a State of the Union address, he is likely to mention the court's name Tuesday tonight. Whether controversy ensues is hard to predict.

By Tony Mauro

5 minute read