Supreme Court Reverses Fifth Circuit on Batson Waiver in Death CaseMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Mississippi unreasonably applied Batson when it found a death row inmate waived his right to rebut race-neutral jury-strike justifications.
Supreme Court Cuts Compassionate Release Route for Mandatory Minimum PrisonersMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that First Step Act sentencing disparities don't qualify as grounds for compassionate release, overriding a 2023 Sentencing Commission policy.
Supreme Court Reverses D.C. Circuit, Restores Immigration Judges’ Speech RestrictionsMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court reversed the D.C. Circuit on May 26, siding with the Trump administration's policy requiring immigration judges to obtain prior approval before public speeches.
Supreme Court Weighs First National Transgender Sports PrecedentMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court is set to rule by July 2026 on two cases testing whether state transgender sports bans violate Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause.
Supreme Court Set to Rule on Presidential Removal Power and Independent Agency FateMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court is expected to rule before July in Trump v. Slaughter on whether presidents may fire FTC commissioners at will, potentially ending 90 years of agency independence.
Supreme Court Poised to Rule on Post-Election-Day Mail Ballot CountingMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court is expected to rule by July on whether states may count mail ballots arriving after Election Day, with 14 states and D.C. at risk of forced rule changes before the 2026 midterms.
Supreme Court Stays Fifth Circuit Order, Preserves Mifepristone Telehealth AccessMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court stayed a Fifth Circuit order that had reinstated in-person mifepristone dispensing rules, preserving telehealth access while litigation continues below.
Supreme Court Bars Wrongful-Conviction Claims as Grounds for Compassionate ReleaseMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in Fernandez v. United States that wrongful-conviction claims belong in habeas proceedings, not compassionate release motions, leaving AEDPA-barred prisoners without recourse.
Supreme Court Vacates Mississippi Death Sentence Over Batson Jury-Selection FailureMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court, 5-4, vacated a Mississippi death sentence after finding the trial court skipped a mandatory step in the Batson racial-bias jury-selection inquiry.
Supreme Court Trans Athlete Cases Await Decision as Term ClosesMay 28, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court has yet to decide two landmark cases on transgender athlete bans, with rulings on Equal Protection and Title IX standards expected by late June 2026.