South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns Murdaugh Murder Convictions, Orders RetrialMay 17, 2026Law and PolicySouth Carolina's Supreme Court unanimously overturned Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions, citing clerk jury influence, and ordered a new trial in the 2021 killings.
Judge Kaplan Denies Bankman-Fried Motion for New TrialMay 16, 2026Law and PolicyJudge Lewis Kaplan denied Sam Bankman-Fried's motion for a new trial, finding witnesses were known to the defense before trial and rejecting conspiratorial claims.
Second Circuit Hears Combs Appeal Over Acquitted-Conduct SentencingMay 16, 2026Law and PolicyThe Second Circuit heard oral arguments April 9 in Sean Combs' appeal of a 50-month sentence, centering on whether acquitted conduct was improperly considered.
South Carolina Supreme Court Vacates Murdaugh Murder Convictions, Orders RetrialMay 16, 2026Law and PolicySouth Carolina's highest court unanimously threw out Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions, citing a court clerk's improper contact with jurors during his 2023 trial.
Second Circuit Grills Both Sides Over Combs Acquitted-Conduct SentenceMay 16, 2026Law and PolicyThe Second Circuit heard oral arguments in Sean Combs' appeal of his 50-month Mann Act sentence, focusing on whether acquitted conduct was improperly used.
Sean Combs Defamation Suit Against NBCUniversal DismissedMay 16, 2026Law and PolicyA New York judge dismissed Sean Combs' $100 million defamation suit against NBCUniversal, ruling his reputation was already destroyed before the Peacock documentary aired.
Texas Hemp Industry Wins Injunction Blocking THCA RulemakingMay 14, 2026Law and PolicyA Travis County judge temporarily blocked Texas hemp regulations that counted THCA toward THC limits and raised licensing fees by up to 4,000%, setting trial for July 27.
22-State Coalition Urges Supreme Court to Stay Fifth Circuit Mifepristone RulingMay 6, 2026Law and PolicyA 22-state coalition and Connecticut filed separate amicus briefs asking the Supreme Court to stay the Fifth Circuit's mifepristone in-person dispensing ruling before a May 11 deadline.
5th Circuit Orders FDA to Reinstate Mifepristone In-Person RequirementMay 6, 2026Law and PolicyThe Fifth Circuit ordered the FDA to reinstate in-person mifepristone dispensing on May 1, 2026; the Supreme Court stayed the ruling three days later.
Alito Issues One-Week Stay Blocking Fifth Circuit Mifepristone RulingMay 6, 2026Law and PolicyJustice Alito issued a one-week administrative stay on May 4, 2026, blocking a Fifth Circuit ruling that would have banned mail-order mifepristone access nationwide.