Alex Swoyer
Articles by Alex Swoyer
Justices asked to rule on whether fining homeless people is cruel and unusual punishment
A small Oregon city's efforts to limit homelessness have drawn support from the state with the nation's largest homeless population. Published April 18, 2024
Supreme Court again rejects ex-Trump attorney Sidney Powell’s request to review sanctions
The Supreme Court this week again refused to consider pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell's request to review sanctions issued against her and other lawyers that contested the 2020 election results in Michigan. Published April 17, 2024
Supreme Court rules landowners can sue Texas over highway expansion that flooded, damaged property
The Supreme Court Tuesday ruled in favor of a Texas rancher and other landowners who say the state flooded their properties, allowing them to sue the state for compensation for their damaged buildings, animals and crops. Published April 16, 2024
Supreme Court grapples with obstruction charge lobbed at 350 Jan. 6 defendants, including Trump
The Supreme Court struggled Tuesday with the government's case against 350 Jan. 6 defendants from the 2021 protest at the U.S. Capitol, with justices pondering how a law written in the wake of the Enron document-shredding scandal can be applied to those who brought the 2020 election certification to a halt. Published April 16, 2024
Trump tells Supreme Court that framers of Constitution would back his absolute immunity claim
Former President Trump argued in a Supreme Court brief filed Monday that the Constitution's framers would have supported his position that a president can't face criminal prosecution for official acts. Published April 15, 2024
Justice Thomas absent from high court Monday with no reason given
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was missing from oral arguments on Monday without an explanation from the court. Published April 15, 2024
Supreme Court rejects GOP lawmakers’ case on docked pay for avoiding screening after Jan. 6 riot
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a challenge from three House Republicans who were fined for not going through security scanners before entering the chamber following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Published April 15, 2024
Conservative activist linked to Justice Thomas rejects Democrats’ ‘politically motivated’ subpoena
Conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo rejected a subpoena by Senate Democrats demanding information on his relationship with some Supreme Court justices, saying he won't comply with the "unlawful and politically motivated" order. Published April 12, 2024
Supreme Court to review feds’ use of obstruction charge against Jan. 6 defendants, Trump
The fate of hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants lies with the Supreme Court, which will hear a case Tuesday arguing that the obstruction law under which they were charged was never meant to apply to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Published April 12, 2024
Idaho’s AG: DOJ was ‘political’ in suing state over pro-life law ahead of Supreme Court arguments
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador says the Supreme Court is poised to bolster state voters when it rules on his office's appeal of a lower court ruling that supported what he calls the Department of Justice's "political" attack on Idaho's abortion ban. Published April 11, 2024
Election catalyst for hurried Trump trial; average case takes 26 months to go through federal courts
It usually takes defendants charged with federal crimes more than two years for their cases to work their way through the courts, another indication that the push to put former President Donald Trump on trial more rapidly this year is motivated by the election calendar. Published April 10, 2024
More than 50 left-leaning groups push for Supreme Court term limits, back House legislation
More than 50 left-of-center activist groups are backing legislation that would create term limits for Supreme Court justices. Published April 10, 2024
Ex-military leaders ask Supreme Court to reject Trump’s absolute immunity claims
More than a dozen retired four-star military leaders who served in various administrations over the past six decades told the Supreme Court on Monday that former President Donald Trump's claim of absolute immunity imperils national security. Published April 9, 2024
‘Unprecedented’: Jack Smith tells Supreme Court to reject Trump’s claim of absolute immunity
Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked the Supreme Court to reject former President Donald Trump's claim of absolute immunity. Published April 9, 2024
Civil rights lawyer runs as ‘conservative Democrat’ to unseat Atlanta judge on Trump trial
The civil rights lawyer running to unseat Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing former President Trump's Georgia trial, is touting his pro-life and pro-gun views after opponents labeled him a liberal. Published April 8, 2024
Most voters back Supreme Court decision keeping Trump on ballot
Most people approve of the Supreme Court's decision to keep former President Donald Trump on the ballot, but they're skeptical of his claim of absolute immunity from prosecution, which the justices will weigh this month, according to a new poll published Wednesday. Published April 3, 2024
Man charged in Kavanaugh attempted assassination is negotiating about possible plea deal
The California man charged with trying to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh is in talks to resolve his case ahead of any trial -- which has not been set two years after the foiled plot. Published April 3, 2024
Religious broadcasters ask Supreme Court to rule on their high royalty fees
Religious broadcasters are asking the Supreme Court to rule on whether their paying higher fees to stream music online than secular outfits like National Public Radio violates their First Amendment rights. Published April 3, 2024
Federal judge faces ethics complaint after criticizing Trump on CNN
An ethics complaint was filed Tuesday against a federal judge for making remarks on CNN about former President Donald Trump's conduct at his trial in New York. Published April 2, 2024
Republican state AGs urge Supreme Court to address climate change lawsuits against oil companies
A group of Republican state attorneys general this week urged the Supreme Court to get involved in litigation filed by local and state governments against fossil fuel companies alleging they are liable for damage caused by climate change. Published April 2, 2024
