Verdict . News

•Supreme Court ruled on Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's expropriation exception in Holocaust property case

Supreme Court Clarifies Foreign Immunity Rules in Holocaust Property Case

The Supreme Court issued a decision in Republic of Hungary v. Simon, addressing when Holocaust survivors can sue foreign governments in U.S. courts under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The case involves Jewish survivors seeking damages for property seized during World War II.

•Jewish survivors sued Hungary for property seized during World War II using 'commingling theory'

•Brenda Andrew challenged her death sentence based on prejudicial evidence about her personal life introduced at trial

Supreme Court Rules on Prejudicial Evidence in Oklahoma Death Penalty Case

The Supreme Court decided Andrew v. White on Tuesday, addressing whether the introduction of irrelevant evidence about a defendant's personal life violated federal due process rights in a capital murder case. Brenda Andrew had challenged her death sentence, arguing that evidence about her sex life and extramarital affairs rendered her trial fundamentally unfair.

•The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals denied relief, finding any trial errors were harmless

•Federal courts lose supplemental jurisdiction when plaintiffs amend complaints to remove federal claims that enabled removal

Supreme Court Rules on Federal Jurisdiction After Amended Complaints

The Supreme Court ruled in Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger that federal courts lose supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims when plaintiffs amend complaints to remove federal claims that originally enabled removal from state court.

•The ruling resolves a circuit split on whether federal courts can retain jurisdiction over state claims after federal basis disappears

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

•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

•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

•Supreme Court begins four-week winter recess after completing January argument session

Supreme Court Begins Winter Recess After Trump v. Cook Arguments

The Supreme Court has entered a four-week winter recess following the conclusion of its January argument session. The final week included oral arguments in Trump v. Cook regarding the president's effort to remove Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook and an emergency petition from California Republicans challenging new electoral maps.

•Court heard arguments in Trump v. Cook regarding presidential removal of Federal Reserve Board member

•Supreme Court granted cert in four cases covering Roundup liability, digital privacy, employee benefits, and pharmaceutical patents

Supreme Court Grants Four Major Cases, Likely Final Additions to Term

The Supreme Court granted certiorari in four significant cases on Friday, potentially marking the final additions to its October 2025-26 term docket. The cases address corporate liability for Roundup herbicide, digital privacy rights, pharmaceutical patents, and employee retirement protections.

•All four cases were one-time relists, potentially the final grants for October 2025-26 term