Federal courts

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states can use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of people registering to vote. The decision lets states run voter rolls against the immigration-status system, a step several Republican-led states have sought. Supporters argue it protects election integrity, while critics warn it could wrongly purge eligible voters and raises privacy and accuracy concerns about the database.

The Mexican government has filed a lawsuit against Meta, accusing the company of human rights violations, in a federal court. The case was reported by Milenio and has drawn broad attention, as it marks an unusual direct legal challenge by Mexico against one of the world's largest technology companies over alleged rights abuses.

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from tying federal anti-terrorism grants to changes in election procedures. Under the policy, states seeking security funding would have been required to alter election rules, a condition critics said was coercive. The ruling halts the requirement while litigation proceeds, and comes amid ongoing disputes over federal authority over state-run elections.

Major US news organizations are asking a federal court to block the White House from enforcing a ban that restricts their access to the president and press events. The legal challenge escalates a fight over press freedom and whether the administration can punish outlets for their coverage. The case is drawing attention to how far a president can go in controlling which journalists get access.

A federal judge has ordered the White House to explain by 12:30 PM why it has not complied with a court order concerning press access. The ruling escalates a legal standoff between the judiciary and the administration over journalists' access to the president. The deadline puts immediate pressure on the White House to respond or face potential contempt proceedings.

A federal judge has ruled that the federal government cannot withhold counterterrorism funding from states as a way to force changes to how they administer elections. The decision limits the use of grant conditions tied to election policy and is being closely watched by state officials and election administrators concerned about federal overreach.

The US Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to take up a case that could narrow legal protections for transgender people. The filing is being read as an effort to roll back established interpretations of sex discrimination protections. Civil rights groups warn the case could strip away safeguards in employment, healthcare and education, while supporters argue the current reading of federal law goes too far.

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to block a lower court order that halted its policy on transgender inmates, reportedly ending the housing of transgender women in women's federal prisons. The emergency application goes to the justices after a district court ruled against the policy. The request sets up another high-profile clash over transgender rights and presidential authority before the Court.

A U.S. appeals court has upheld the government's designation of AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk. The ruling keeps in place the decision, which stems from Pentagon-related concerns about the firm and affects its standing in federal procurement. The designation is a significant blow for one of the country's leading artificial intelligence developers and raises questions about how similar rulings could shape the AI industry's relationship with government contracts.

A federal court has ruled that Washington, D.C.'s parole and supervised release system discriminates against people with disabilities. The decision, highlighted by the ACLU of the District of Columbia, finds the system failed to accommodate disabled people under supervision. Advocates say the ruling could force reforms in how parole conditions and support services are administered across the capital's criminal justice system.

The US Supreme Court has allowed states to use a federal database to verify the citizenship of voter registration applicants. The decision, reported by Route Fifty, clears the way for expanded vetting ahead of the midterm elections, though analysts say its practical effect on the upcoming contests will be limited because implementation timelines and coverage constraints restrict how widely the tool can be applied.

The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to allow restrictions on gender-affirming health care for transgender inmates in federal prisons. The request seeks to undo lower court rulings that blocked such limits, and it lands amid ongoing legal and political battles over transgender rights and the treatment of transgender people in the US justice system.

A federal judge has reinstated a $7 billion solar energy program intended to help low-income families access solar power, after the Trump administration scrapped it. The ruling restores funding under the program, though the administration is expected to appeal, leaving the program's future uncertain. The case has become part of the broader legal fight over the administration's efforts to unwind climate and clean-energy funding approved under prior legislation.

A federal court ruling has cleared a path for the establishment of a Jewish charter school in Oklahoma. The decision touches on ongoing legal debates over whether religiously affiliated groups can operate charter schools, which are publicly funded but independently run. Supporters see it as a win for school choice and religious liberty, while critics warn it could blur the line between church and state in public education.

A federal court has ruled that prediction market operator Kalshi is subject to Tennessee's gambling laws in relation to its sports event contracts. The decision means Kalshi cannot treat its sports contracts as federally regulated financial products exempt from state gaming rules, and could face enforcement in Tennessee. The ruling is being watched closely as states increasingly challenge prediction markets offering sports wagering without state licenses.

The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to let it enforce limits on gender-affirming care for transgender inmates in federal prisons. The request asks the justices to allow the policy to take effect while legal challenges proceed, and it lands amid ongoing national battles over transgender healthcare and prison rights.

A federal court ruling could call into question Wisconsin's law banning AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The case raises legal questions about whether computer-generated depictions fall under existing statutes targeting child exploitation. Observers are watching to see whether the state's prohibition survives constitutional scrutiny or requires legislative revision.

An Illinois court has ruled that the Illinois Interest Act's preemption extends to federal credit unions, following earlier decisions covering national banks. The ruling means federal credit unions operating in Illinois can rely on federal law to shield certain fee and interest practices from state penalty claims. Consumer finance lawyers are flagging the decision as a significant win for credit unions facing class actions under the Illinois Finance Penalty Act framework.

A federal judge has upheld an Idaho law that prohibits daycares from requiring vaccines or other medical treatments as a condition of enrollment. The ruling means childcare facilities in the state cannot deny care to unvaccinated children. Supporters view the decision as a win for parental choice, while public health advocates warn it could weaken protection against preventable diseases among young children.

The Bureau of Land Management has appealed a federal judge's order that halted a logging project in Oregon over concerns about old-growth forest protections. The ruling had blocked the agency from proceeding with timber sales, and the appeal sets up a fresh legal fight over how public lands with mature and old-growth trees are managed. Environmental groups have pushed to preserve such forests, while the agency argues its project complies with federal law.

Federal agencies are removing the so-called Trump 'loyalty question' from job applications following a federal judge's ruling earlier this month that the question is likely unconstitutional. The question, introduced during the Trump administration, asked applicants about their allegiance to the president. The quiet removal suggests agencies are complying with the court's decision without public announcement, and the story is drawing attention as part of ongoing debates over civil service independence and the politicization of federal hiring.

Two EQT shale gas subsidiaries have failed in their bid to have a lawsuit over children's health in West Virginia dismissed from federal court. The ruling means the case, tied to Marcellus Shale drilling operations, can proceed against the natural gas giant's units. Environmental groups and residents are watching closely, as the outcome could shape accountability for drilling impacts on communities near gas development.