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With just two weeks to go before the end of June, the pace of decisions is increasing, and keeping us increasingly busy. We’re going to get you almost caught up to speed tonight, with summaries of five of the six decisions handed down last week: Halo Electronics v. Pulse Electronics (14-1513), holding that judges have broad discretion to award enhanced damages for patent infringement…

Read More Halo Electronics v. Pulse Electronics (14-1513), Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (15-375), United Health Services v. United States ex rel. Escobar (15-7), Puerto Rico v. Franklin Calif. Tax-Free Trust (15-233) and United States v. Bryant (15-240)

Though the Puerto Rican Day Parade marched down Fifth Avenue Sunday, the Commonwealth was getting much less love on One First Street. Yesterday morning, in Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust (15-233), the Court held that Puerto Rico is a “State” under the Bankruptcy Code, with the result that a statute it enacted in response to its ongoing fiscal crisis is preempted by…

Read More Williams v. Pennsylvania (15-5040), Dietz v. Bouldin (15-458), Simmons v. Himmelreich (15-109) and Ross v. Blake (15-339)

As we settle into June, the Eight seem to be clearing out the less difficult decisions in preparation for what could be a messy end to the term, given some controversial issues (abortion, affirmative action, immigration) and the lack of a tie-breaking vote to decide them. This morning, the Court issued two unanimous decisions arising out of the prison context: Ross v. Blake (15-339)…

Read More U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes (15-290), Johnson v. Lee (15-789), Lynch v. Arizona (15-8366) and Order List

Just one new decision today (along with the first cert grant in ages). In United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. (No. 15-290), the Court held that a jurisdictional determination by the Army Corps of Engineers that a body of water consists of “waters of the United States” (such that it is regulated by the Clean Water Act) is a final agency…
Read More Foster v. Chatman (13-8349), Green v. Brennan (14-613) and Wittman v. Personhuballah (14-1504)

Three more decisions this morning—Green v. Brennan (14-613), holding that the 45-day limitations period for a constructive-discharge action under Title VII begins to run after the employee gives notice of his resignation; Wittman v. Personhuballah (14-1504), holding that a number of congressmen from Virginia lacked standing to defend the State’s congressional redistricting plan against a challenge brought by voters from the Third…

Read More CRST Van Expedited, Inc. (13-1375), Luna Torres v. Lynch (14-1096) and Betterman v. Montana (14-1457)

It’s that time of year! Fresh on the heels of the six decisions handed down Monday, the Court issued another three yesterday, with more to come on the other side of the weekend. This Update will cover the remaining three cases from earlier in the week, as well as one that fell through the cracks a few weeks ago. You can expect to hear from…
Read More Merrill Lynch v. Manning (14-1132), Husky Int’l Electronics v. Ritz (15-145), Sheriff v. Gillie (15-338) and Ocasio v. United States (14-361)