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Supreme Court of the United States

Supreme Court Dismisses Facebook Case as 'Improvidently Granted'

The Supreme Court dismissed Facebook Inc.'s petition against Amalgamated Bank on Nov. 22, 2024, ruling the writ of certiorari was 'improvidently granted.' The rare per curiam decision ends the case without addressing the underlying legal issues that prompted the tech giant to seek high court review.

•Supreme Court issued a rare 'dismissed as improvidently granted' ruling in Facebook Inc. v. Amalgamated Bank

•The case was argued on Nov. 6, 2024, but dismissed just 16 days later without substantive ruling

Supreme Court of the United States

Supreme Court Vacates Death Penalty Ruling on IQ Standards

The Supreme Court vacated an Eleventh Circuit decision that had affirmed the vacation of Joseph Clifton Smith's death sentence based on intellectual disability findings. The high court remanded the case for clarification on how courts should evaluate IQ scores when determining intellectual disability in capital cases.

•Supreme Court vacated Eleventh Circuit decision that had affirmed vacation of Smith's death sentence

•Case centers on how courts should evaluate IQ scores ranging from 72-78 for intellectual disability claims

Regulatory

•Chairman Selig will personally sponsor the Agricultural Advisory Committee, continuing tradition of CFTC chair leadership

CFTC Chairman Selig to Sponsor Agricultural Advisory Committee

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig announced he will sponsor the CFTC's Agricultural Advisory Committee and is seeking nominations to fill current vacancies. The CFTC is requesting nominations by Feb. 18 as the agency emphasizes its commitment to agricultural market oversight.

•CFTC seeking nominations for AAC vacancies with Feb. 18 deadline for submissions to [email protected]

•Trump administration argues California's Proposition 50 redistricting map violates constitutional equal protection through racial gerrymandering

Trump DOJ Urges Supreme Court to Block California Redistricting Map

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to block California's new congressional redistricting map, arguing it constitutes an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The move highlights partisan tensions over redistricting as the administration simultaneously supports Texas's controversial map.

•California designed the map to create five new Democratic House seats in response to Texas creating five Republican seats

Regulatory

•Federal judge dismissed lawsuit against Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz after plaintiffs' strategic motion

Federal Judge Dismisses Chicago Immigration Enforcement Lawsuit

A federal judge in Chicago dismissed a lawsuit filed by protesters, religious leaders, and journalists against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operation known as 'Operation Midway Blitz.' The dismissal follows a strategic move by plaintiffs' attorneys after the Seventh Circuit stayed their preliminary injunction.

•Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals had previously stayed preliminary injunction, calling it overbroad

•Supreme Court released three opinions Tuesday: *Berk v. Choy*, *Ellingburg v. United States*, and *Coney Island Auto Parts*

Supreme Court Releases Three Opinions, Concludes January Arguments

The Supreme Court released opinions in three cases Tuesday, addressing federal court jurisdiction in medical malpractice suits, criminal restitution standards, and civil procedure timing rules. The court also concluded its January sitting with three oral arguments this week.

•*Berk* ruling clarifies that Delaware's medical malpractice affidavit requirement doesn't apply in federal court

Legislation

•Fifth Circuit heard en banc arguments on Louisiana and Texas laws requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms

5th Circuit Hears Ten Commandments School Display Cases Under New Framework

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments Tuesday in two consolidated cases challenging Louisiana and Texas laws requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms. The cases test how the Supreme Court's Kennedy v. Bremerton decision affects establishment clause analysis.

•Cases test application of Supreme Court's Kennedy v. Bremerton decision, which abandoned Lemon test for historical analysis

Regulatory

•Federal court granted FTC's temporary restraining order against Top Healthcare Options Insurance Agency Inc. and 11 related defendants

Court Halts Deceptive Health Insurance Telemarketing Scheme at FTC Request

A federal court in Florida has temporarily stopped operations of Top Healthcare Options Insurance Agency Inc. and 11 related defendants accused of running a deceptive telemarketing scheme that caused tens of millions in consumer harm. The FTC alleges the defendants misled consumers seeking comprehensive health insurance by selling limited benefit plans that left buyers exposed to crushing medical costs.

•Defendants allegedly operated deceptive telemarketing scheme causing tens of millions in consumer harm

Legal News

•Federal judge ruled Virginia's felon disenfranchisement policy violates the 1870 Virginia Readmission Act

Federal Judge Rules Virginia Violated Reconstruction Law on Felon Voting

A federal judge ruled Thursday that Virginia's broad felon disenfranchisement policy violates the 1870 Virginia Readmission Act, granting an injunction that protects voting rights for those convicted of felonies created after Reconstruction. The decision ends what the court called a century-long violation of federal law designed to protect formerly enslaved people's voting rights.

•Court granted injunction protecting voting rights for those convicted of felonies created after Reconstruction