State supreme courts

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states may use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of voters. The decision clears the way for states conducting voter roll checks to rely on the immigration records system, a move likely to intensify ongoing legal and political battles over election administration and proof-of-citizenship requirements.

The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions, throwing out the guilty verdicts in the high-profile double murder case. The disgraced former lawyer was convicted in 2023 of killing his wife Maggie and son Paul. The ruling is a major twist in one of America's most closely watched criminal cases.

Virginia Democrats have asked the US Supreme Court to override a state court ruling that struck down the state's redistricting plan. The dispute centers on whether the new legislative maps should stand ahead of upcoming elections. The move escalates a fight over partisan control of Virginia's legislature, with both parties watching closely because the redrawn districts could shape election outcomes.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will not take part in a pending climate change case, according to multiple US news outlets. No reason for his recusal was given in the reports. His absence could affect the outcome of the case, which is seen as pivotal for climate-related litigation and regulation in the United States.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has withdrawn from a major climate case, reversing an earlier decision to take part. The move comes amid scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest surrounding the justice. The reversal is drawing attention to ethical questions facing the Supreme Court and to the stakes of the climate litigation, which could have significant consequences for environmental regulation in the United States.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will no longer take part in a pending climate change case before the court. The announcement, reported by SCOTUSblog, removes one justice from a dispute with potential consequences for climate regulation, leaving eight justices to decide the outcome. Reasons for the withdrawal were not stated in the report.

Justice Minister Flávio Dino's ministry, under a decision attributed to Supreme Court justice Nunes Marques, must include Romeu Zema and other Novo party candidates for state governorships in official electoral debates in Brazil. The ruling extends debate participation rules beyond the major party candidates, affecting upcoming gubernatorial race broadcasts.

Wyoming's top elections official has welcomed a US Supreme Court decision concerning a controversial voter data system, according to WyoFile. The ruling touches on an ongoing national debate over how states collect, share and verify voter registration information, with election officials and voting rights groups divided over the system's implications for both election integrity and voter privacy.

A New York Times opinion piece argues that religion remains unfinished business for the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts. The article contends that despite a series of rulings expanding religious protections in recent years, key questions about the role of religion in American public life are still unresolved and likely to return to the court. It adds to ongoing debate over the conservative-majority court's approach to church-state issues.

United States forces are withdrawing from Iraq amid the war with Iran, while the Supreme Court has revived a Trump-era deportation policy. The two developments, reported together by NPR, mark a significant shift in American foreign and domestic policy, drawing attention to the changing U.S. military posture in the Middle East and to tightened immigration enforcement at home.

Major oil companies are asking the US Supreme Court to intervene in climate liability lawsuits brought by states and municipalities seeking damages for climate-related harms. The industry wants the justices to block or limit these cases, arguing they belong in federal courts rather than state courts, where plaintiffs have generally fared better. The move marks a renewed effort by the sector to stop a wave of litigation that could cost it billions of dollars.

A New York Times opinion piece argues that religion remains unfinished business for the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts. The essay examines how the Roberts Court has reshaped church-state law and suggests further religious liberty rulings are likely ahead, sparking discussion among legal observers about the court's direction on religion cases.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case concerning whether voting hours can be expanded when Election Day is disrupted. The dispute centers on how election officials should respond to interruptions such as polling problems on voting day. The case is drawing attention because Wisconsin is a closely contested swing state, and any changes to voting procedures could affect turnout and election administration.

New Jersey's attorney general is co-leading a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general urging Congress to fully fund security for the US Supreme Court. The joint call stresses that the justices and the court's facilities must be protected regardless of political affiliation. It comes amid ongoing concerns about threats to public officials and federal judges, and pressure on lawmakers to act before funding deadlines.

Several US state supreme court seats are up for election this November, drawing attention to races that could shift judicial majorities on issues like abortion, voting rights and redistricting. Court watchers are highlighting key contests, including in swing states, as national political spending increasingly flows into these usually low-profile judicial elections.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to take up the question of whether people serving life sentences for felony murder can seek parole. Felony murder holds defendants liable for deaths occurring during the commission of another felony, even without intent to kill. A ruling could open a path to parole for many incarcerated people across the state.

Six candidates are running for two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court, and voters are looking at who they are and where they stand. The race is drawing attention as the court's ideological balance carries weight on major issues facing the state. Coverage focuses on the candidates' backgrounds, judicial records, and the stakes of the election for Michigan's highest court.

The US Supreme Court has rejected Christa Pike's final appeal to stop her execution, removing the last legal obstacle to her death sentence in Tennessee. Pike was convicted in 1996 of the murder of fellow student Colleen Slemmer and has spent decades on death row as the only woman there. The decision revives debate over capital punishment in the United States.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Christa Pike, clearing the way for her execution. Pike, who was convicted of the 1995 murder of a fellow student in Tennessee, would be the state's first female execution in decades. The denial closes a major legal avenue and leaves her facing an imminent execution date.

Parents are pressing the US Supreme Court to safeguard religious education, arguing that families should be able to choose faith-based schooling without government interference. Reports say the case has drawn attention from education advocates and religious groups on both sides, with supporters calling it a matter of parental rights and critics warning about the separation of church and state.

Pennsylvania legislators are returning to session with two major state Supreme Court decisions hanging over their agenda: one on felony murder liability and another on the legality of skill games. The rulings could force lawmakers to respond with new legislation, shaping criminal justice policy and gambling regulation debates in Harrisburg.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is calling on Congress to fully fund the security funding request for the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeal adds a state-level voice to ongoing concerns about threats against federal judicial figures and the protection of the court's justices and facilities, an issue that has drawn bipartisan attention in Washington.

US states facing court setbacks on climate legislation are fighting to keep their laws alive. New York's climate superfund law, which would make fossil fuel companies pay for climate damages, is being challenged, with Suncor among the companies targeted in litigation echoed by a Colorado Supreme Court case brought by Boulder. Reporting outlines how courts keep blocking such laws and how states are responding with new legal strategies.

Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has updated the state's hunting regulations following a Delaware Supreme Court ruling concerning the minimum age requirement for hunters. The decision prompted the agency to revise its rules to bring them in line with the court's interpretation. Local outlets are reporting the regulatory changes, though details of the ruling and the specific amendments have not been widely circulated.

Pennsylvania's attorney general and state police are preparing to enforce a state Supreme Court ruling against unlicensed 'skill games' across the state. The move targets unregulated gambling-style machines operating outside Pennsylvania's licensed gaming system, and businesses hosting them could face action as enforcement plans take shape.

The US Supreme Court deadlocked in a case over whether states must fund religious charter schools, leaving the constitutional question unresolved. A new Oklahoma case is now testing the same issue, keeping alive the debate over whether charter schools with religious affiliations can receive public money while excluding religious instruction from state funding rules.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has reversed a murder conviction, finding that the jury instructions given at trial were faulty. The ruling sends the case back for further proceedings and underscores how errors in guiding jurors on the law can undermine an otherwise valid verdict. Legal observers note the decision may influence how trial courts craft instructions in serious criminal cases.