Legal reporter Supreme Court, lower courts, law. Now mostly retired after 72 years in news business. Still paying attention, though.

Joined August 2009
Photos and videos
17 May 2025
With only 2 dissents, SCt gives firm legal protection to scores of Venezuelan migrants facing swift deportation by Trump team. Court doesn’t wait for lower courts to finish spelling out rights. Details at: lyldenlawnews.com/2025/05/16…
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15 May 2025
SCt at historic hearing today seems eager to face constitutionality of Trump's birthright citizenship curb, even though that is not technically at issue. Watch for early order on what comes next. Details at: lyldenlawnews.com/2025/05/15…
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14 May 2025
Tomorrow at 10, SCt goes to the bench for a special hearing, on the Trump ExOrder seeking to narrow birthright citizenship. Here is a link to a listener's guide for the broadcast of the audio: lyldenlawnews.com The Supreme Court, babies and citizenship
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For the first time, a court has issued a final ruling that bars Trump Admin. from deporting non-citizens by using powers under a 1798 law. An appeal of the Texas judge's ruling is almost a certainty. Details at: lyldenlawnews.com/2025/05/02…
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30 Apr 2025
Hard to explain lineup in today's SCt ruling on benefits to fed employees who lose pay b/c called to active military duty: Sotomayor with 4 conservatives in majority favoring more generous result, Kagan and Jackson w/ Ct's 2 most conservatives JJ in dissent.
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30 Apr 2025
There is another puzzling thing, this in Thomas dissent. On p. 4, at end of recital of lower ct procdgs, he says: "We granted cert." That's usually what maj. opin. says. Cud it be this was once the majority opin., & someone switched? Who wd hv opted to be less generous to vets?
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30 Apr 2025
Or, perhaps, who wud have been MORE generous to vets, switching to make that the maj. position? Maybe Sotomayor?
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29 Apr 2025
Very good amicus filed in SCt birthright citizenship case by GWU prof. Alan Morrison. Faults DOJ for seeking stay with no arg. on the merits -- usually needed as part of plea for a stay. Brief filed 4-25 at SCt docket no. 24A884.
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19 Apr 2025
Pres. Trump is talking again about firing the Fed chair, Jerome Powell. That threat hangs over a pending SCt case on the broad question of presidential power to fire such officials. Details at: lyldenlawnews.com/2025/04/18…
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15 Apr 2025
Lawfare's Roger Parloff demolishes Trump Admin claim that Abrego Garcia was member MS-13 gang. But Roger may over-state SCt action: it told govt. to seek his "release from custody" but did not go on, as J. Xinis had, to mandate "return." That's fair read, but doesn't say that.
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11 Apr 2025
Someone on here (can't figure out who) said nice things here about my work re SCt. Nicest part was they wished me well on 92d birthday. Special thanks for giving me back, unspent, 2 years.
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11 Apr 2025
Much impressed w/ Prof. Kreis essay on state prosecution of natinoal election "coups." Since fn 28 limits his points by not dealing with Pres'l immunity, I look forward to a whole new essay on that point.
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11 Apr 2025
SCt, in a major ruling on immigrants' rights, decides 9-0 that Trump Admin. must take unspecified steps to return from an El Salvador prison a Maryland illegally sent there. Details at: lyldenlawnews.com/2025/04/11…
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For the first time in any of the Trump Admin's appeals to SCt, it asked the Court to rule this term on a rapid schedule the constl. issue of President's power to fire Exec Branch officials. Details at: lyldenlawnews.com/2025/04/09…
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Dividing 5-4, in compromise ruling, SCt stops Judge Boasberg efforts to prevent secret deportations of foreign nationals but gives those threatened with removal new legal rights. Details at: lyldenlawnews.com/2025/04/07…
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29 Mar 2025
SCt's growing habit of using emergency matters (like stays) to make major declarations being imitated more by lower courts. See J. Walker and J. Henderson on presidential removal power (CADC cases 25-5037 and 25-5057) yesterday. Humphrey's Executor precedent cut to a mere shadow.
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