Supreme Court Rewrites VRA Section 2, Requires Proof of Intentional DiscriminationMay 19, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais replaces the VRA's results-based standard with an intent requirement, rewriting 40 years of voting-rights precedent.
Supreme Court Accelerates Callais Mandate, Forcing Louisiana to Redraw Congressional MapMay 19, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court immediately finalized its Callais redistricting ruling, skipping the normal waiting period and forcing Louisiana to redraw its congressional map for 2026.
Supreme Court GVR in Alabama Redistricting Case Revives Gerrymandered MapMay 19, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court's GVR in Allen v. Caster vacates special-master remedial maps and sends Alabama's redistricting case back to a lower court, leaving the legislature's challenged map in place for 2026.
Judge McMahon Rescinds NEH Grant Cancellations; Kelly v. Hegseth Argued at CircuitMay 19, 2026Legal NewsJudge McMahon ordered NEH grant cancellations rescinded, a circuit court heard Kelly v. Hegseth on military authority, and a Georgia judge denied Fulton County's ballot return motion.
Lawfare Database Catalogs 400-Plus Immigration Habeas Noncompliance CasesMay 19, 2026Legal NewsLawfare's new searchable database catalogs 400-plus federal immigration habeas cases flagging government noncompliance with court orders, offering a critical tool for contempt and oversight proceedings.
Federal Court Blocks USCIS Policy Penalizing Travel-Ban Country ApplicantsMay 19, 2026Legal NewsA Boston federal judge blocked a USCIS policy penalizing travel-ban country applicants, finding it likely violates the INA's nationality-discrimination bar.
States Sprint to Redraw Maps After Supreme Court Guts VRA Section 2May 19, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court's Callais ruling gutted VRA Section 2, triggering immediate map rewrites in Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama, and canceling a Mississippi special session.
Second Circuit Hears Combs Appeal Over Record Mann Act SentenceMay 19, 2026Legal NewsThe Second Circuit heard oral arguments in Sean Combs' Mann Act appeal, with his defense challenging a 50-month sentence as the highest ever for the offense and arguing the judge penalized conduct the jury rejected.
Colorado AI Antidiscrimination Law Stayed Ahead of June 30 Effective DateMay 19, 2026Legal NewsA federal magistrate in Denver stayed Colorado's AI antidiscrimination law on a joint motion by xAI, the DOJ, and the state AG, marking the Trump administration's first litigation challenge to state AI regulation.
Supreme Court Declines to Resolve VRA Private Enforcement FightMay 19, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court on May 18 issued a GVR order in *Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe*, vacating the Eighth Circuit's judgment and remanding...