Tag: U.S. Supreme Court
K. Lloyd Billingsley | Thursday July 1, 2021 at 3:59 PM PDT
The U.S. Supreme Court has again upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this time on the grounds that the plaintiff states lack standing to make the case, not on its constitutional merits or practical worthiness. That calls for some review of the way the ACA actually functioned. In California, the ACA created eligibility issues...
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William J. Watkins, Jr. | Wednesday November 11, 2020 at 11:23 AM PST
Appalachian Trail hikers often call Pennsylvania “Rocksylvania” because of the rocky terrain along the trail. With all the shenanigans related to the 2020 election, “Fraudsylvania” is perhaps the most appropriate moniker. Things are a mess. According to this article from The Epoch Times: More than 20,000 absentee ballots in Pennsylvania have impossible return dates...
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Samuel R. Staley | Monday October 5, 2020 at 11:45 AM PDT
The debate over Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s Senate confirmation is yet another flashpoint in an uncivil and disruptive presidential election. For those interested in learning more about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), or who simply want to be entertained during these trying times, try teeing up these movies for...
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Samuel R. Staley | Tuesday June 9, 2020 at 3:27 PM PDT
Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words is now streaming on PBS. It’s appearance on PBS is a important testimonial to the hard work and objectivity brought by filmmaker Michael Pack to the story of one of America’s most controversial and misunderstood figures on the American political landscape. Thomas is notoriously private about...
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K. Lloyd Billingsley | Wednesday October 23, 2019 at 9:24 AM PDT
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case challenging the federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency, CNBC reports. A California law firm “alleges that the structure of the agency grants too much power to its director, in violation of the Constitution’s separation of powers.” The CFPB director can be removed only for inefficiency, neglect of...
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K. Lloyd Billingsley | Wednesday May 15, 2019 at 9:37 AM PDT
Lower state income taxes, or their complete elimination, might encourage more creative entrepreneurs to remain in California.
K. Lloyd Billingsley | Wednesday June 27, 2018 at 12:05 PM PDT
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Mark Janus.
J. Huston McCulloch | Wednesday June 21, 2017 at 2:30 PM PDT
Last Monday, the Supreme Court announced that it would hear a Wisconsin case that would overturn a highly gerrymandered State Assembly redistricting map that heavily favors Republicans. The Court plans to hear arguments next fall, and it is expected that it will be closely divided. (New York Times, “Justices Take up Gerrymandering Based on...
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William J. Watkins, Jr. | Tuesday June 20, 2017 at 6:00 PM PDT
In Matal v. Tam, the Supreme Court handed down an important First Amendment decision. This case dealt with a band’s application for federal trademark registration of the band’s name, “The Slants.” The Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) denied the application based on 15 U.S.C. 1052(a), which prohibits the registration of trademarks that may “disparage ....
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William J. Watkins, Jr. | Tuesday May 23, 2017 at 4:58 PM PDT
In a unanimous decision (TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC), the U.S. Supreme Court gave a kick in the rear to patent trolls. The Verge has this article on the case. Patent trolls obtain patents not for the purpose of producing an invention or a technology but to license and enforce the patents. In other...
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