The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and The National Law Journal have teamed up to bring you enhanced coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court. On television, NLJ’s Marcia Coyle will be a regular commentator on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and on the Web we will provide video and audio from the show as well as a regular podcast to accompany Coyle’s in-depth articles and analysis.
June 25, 2008
Justices Cut Valdez Damages, Rule on Child Rape
The Supreme Court rejected use of the death penalty for those convicted of child rape Wednesday and cut the punitive damages awarded for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The National Law Journal’s Marcia Coyle recaps the decisions.
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June 12, 2008
Justices Rule Terror Suspects Can Appeal Detentions
A Supreme Court ruling Thursday granted Guantanamo detainees the right to challenge their cases in civilian courts. Marcia Coyle joins legal experts in examining the case and its impact on anti-terror efforts.
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May 27, 2008
Justices Back Workers on Retaliation in Discrimination Cases
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that workers who face retaliation after complaining about race discrimination may sue their employers under a Civil War-era law. The case grew out of the firing of a black associate manager at a Cracker Barrel restaurant who claimed he was fired after he complained about race discrimination by other supervisors. In a separate case, the court ruled that the part of the major anti-age bias law covering federal employees also protects them from retaliation after complaining about discrimination.
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May 19, 2008
Supreme Court Upholds Penalties for Promoting Child Porn
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a criminal provision of a 2003 federal law making it a crime to promote or present material as child pornography. In a victory for the Bush administration, the high court ruled in a 7-2 vote to reject the argument that one part of the law illegally infringed on free-speech or other rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Marcia Coyle examines the implications of the decision.
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April 28, 2008
Ruling on Voter ID Law May Spur Tighter State Regulation
The Supreme Court voted 6 to 3 Monday to uphold an Indiana law requiring voters to show photo identification at polling stations. Marcia Coyle examines the impact of the Supreme Court decisions on voters and state regulations.
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April 16, 2008
Justices Uphold Kentucky’s Use of Lethal Injections
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Wednesday to uphold Kentucky’s use of lethal injections for executions � a highly anticipated ruling in the debate over capital punishment. Executions have been on hold across the country since September, when the court agreed to hear the Kentucky case.
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March 18, 2008
Second Amendment in Spotlight as Court Hears Gun Case
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case debating the constitutionality of Washington, D.C.’s ban on handguns. After a report on the case’s background, Marcia Coyle examines how the case played out in before the justices.
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February 27, 2008
Justices Consider Exxon’s Valdez Damages Challenge
The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in Exxon’s appeal of a civil suit that awarded $2.5 billion in punitive damages to victims of the 1989 Exxon Valdez shipwreck and oil spill in Alaska.
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January 9, 2008
Justices Appear Divided Over Indiana Voter ID Law
The Supreme Court appeared reluctant Wednesday to strike down the nation’s strictest requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls. The case involves a challenge to an Indiana voter ID law that opponents say unfairly burdens poor and minority voters.
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January 7, 2008
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Lethal Injection
The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on the legality of lethal injection as it pertains to the Constitution’s “cruel and unusual punishment” clause. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal offers insight into the case.
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December 10, 2007
Justices Give Judges More Leeway in Issuing Drug Sentences
Judges can override federal sentencing guidelines and issue lighter sentences for defendants in crack cocaine cases, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in two cases that will provide judges more leeway in determining punishments for drug violations. The National Law Journal’s Marcia Coyle offers analysis of the court’s decision.
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December 5, 2007
Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Case Testing Rights of Detainees
The Supreme Court considered Wednesday whether terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have constitutional rights to challenge their detention in court. Legal experts evaluate the high court hearings and what a decision could mean for U.S. policy.
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November 20, 2007
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Gun Control Case
The U.S. Supreme Court set the stage for a major ruling on the Second Amendment Tuesday when it agreed to take a case weighing the constitutionality of a ban on handguns in Washington, D.C. Marcia Coyle details the significance of the case.
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October 31, 2007
Death Penalty Debate May Hinge on Upcoming Court Case
The Supreme Court decided to delay a Mississippi man’s execution late Tuesday, the latest decision by the court to halt an execution since the justices agreed to hear a case testing the legality of lethal injections early next year. Marcia Coyle explains what the court action means and what to expect in the months ahead.
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October 30, 2007
Court Considers Legalities of Child Pornography Statute
The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in case questioning whether a law that bans the promotion of online child pornography infringes too heavily on free speech rights. Marcia Coyle takes us through the day at the high court.
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October 10, 2007
High Court Rules on Special Education Law, Hears Death Row Case
The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case testing how states’ rights apply to international treaties and ruled in suit examining whether public school systems should have to pay for private school special education. Marcia Coyle recaps the day at the high court.
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October 9, 2007
High Court Mulls Corporate Fraud Liability, Rejects Torture Case Appeal
The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday about the liability of company banks and accountants in corporate fraud cases and rejected an appeal by a German man who claims the CIA kidnapped and tortured him. Marcia Coyle provides an update.
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October 1, 2007
Supreme Court to Weigh Education Law, More in New Session
The U.S. Supreme Court opened its new term Monday with a docket that includes cases on reimbursement for private education, election law and the rights of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Marcia Coyle previews the term and potential challenges for the court.
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June 28, 2007
Court Strikes Down Racial Criteria in School Diversity Plans
The Supreme Court Thursday ruled against allowing race-based criteria in proposed diversity plans in two school districts. Following a report by Marcia Coyle on the ruling and the mood in the courtroom, Roger Clegg and Theodore Shaw, two experts in race relations analyze the likely impact of the Court’s decision.
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June 25, 2007
Supreme Court Rules on Three Free Speech Cases
The Supreme Court ruled Monday on three First Amendment cases dealing with a high school student, campaign ads and faith-based initiatives. Legal expert Marcia Coyle talks about their implications.
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May 29, 2007
Justices Limit Time Employees Can Sue over Pay Disparity
The Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling Tuesday limited workers’ ability to sue employers for pay discrimination that results from decisions made years earlier. The case involved how to apply a 180-day deadline for pay decisions made under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. Marcia Coyle explains the ruling’s significance.
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April 25, 2007
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Restricting Campaign Ads
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on a part of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that, under certain conditions, bars campaign ads by interest groups close to elections.
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April 18, 2007
Supreme Court Upholds Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday narrowly upheld a ban on the procedure known as partial-birth abortion. Marcia Coyle discusses the implications of the 5-4 decision.
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March 19, 2007
Justices Weigh Free Speech for Students
The Supreme Court heard a case about the free speech rights of students after a high-school senior in Juneau, Alaska, was suspended for displaying a sign, “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” at an off-campus school activity. The school said its actions were consistent with its responsibility to teach students the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior.
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Feb. 27, 2007
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Special Education, Police Rights
The Supreme Court heard two notable cases this week, one involving lawyer rights for parents of special education students and the other on the constitutionality of police tactics in high-speed chases. The National Law Journal’s Marcia Coyle details the arguments.
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Feb. 23, 2007
Released Audio Tapes Shed Light on Court Hearings
The Supreme Court has released the audio tapes of some of its highest profile hearings, granting the public unprecedented access to courtroom proceedings. NewsHour correspondent Kwame Holman reports on the sounds of the Supreme Court, with commentary from Marcia Coyle and National Law Journal columnist Mark levy.
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Jan. 22, 2007
Supreme Court Strikes Down California Sentencing Rules
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down California’s sentencing guidelines Monday, preventing judges from increasing prison time for convicted criminals based on factors not considered by a jury. Marcia Coyle discusses the impact of the decision.
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Dec. 6, 2006
Supreme Court Revisits Race in Public Schools
The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday about whether schools in Seattle, Wash., and Louisville, Ky., can consider race when placing students in public elementary and secondary schools. Marcia Coyle explains the cases that could affect millions of students nationwide.
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Nov. 29, 2006
Supreme Court Takes up Global Warming Case
The U.S. Supreme Court heard its first case on global warming Wednesday, with 12 states asking the court to mandate limits on greenhouse emissions from new cars and trucks. Experts discuss the case and analyze its significance.
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Nov. 28, 2006
Justices Hear Both Sides of Wage Discrimination CaseThe Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on a case dealing with the statute of limitations on claims of gender discrimination in pay. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal explains the arguments.
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Nov. 8, 2006
Court Hears Arguments on “Partial Birth” Abortion Ban
The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments on the federal late-term abortion ban, the first major abortion issue before a more conservative court now that Samuel Alito has replaced retired justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Full audio of the oral arguments: Real Audio | MP3
Oct. 3, 2006
Abortion, Race and Business Law on Supreme Court’s New Term Docket
The U.S. Supreme Court began its new term Monday with cases on the docket about late-term abortion rights, the use of race in public schools, patent law and pollution control. Legal experts Marcia Coyle, Walter Dellinger and Douglas Kmiec discuss the cases and the issues that will define the new term.
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July 3, 2006
Hamdan, Redistricting Rulings Mark New Roberts Court’s First Term
The U.S. Supreme Court marked the last week of its 2005-6 term with major rulings on Guantanamo’s military tribunals, Texas redistricting and Kansas’ death penalty law.
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June 29, 2006
Coyle Analyzes Hamdan Decision
The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the Bush administration’s policy of trying terror suspects before military tribunals is illegal, saying it violated U.S. law and the Geneva Convention. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal discusses the specifics of the decision.
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June 29, 2006
Court Rules Against Military Tribunals for Detainees
In a blow to the Bush administration, the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 Thursday that the president overstepped his authority in ordering military war crimes trials for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detainees.
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June 28, 2006
High Court Upholds Texas Redistricting Map
The Supreme Court supported most of the Texas congressional map engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but overturned one district on the grounds that Hispanics were denied fair representation.
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June 26, 2006
Court Rules Against State Campaign Finance Law
In two much-anticipated decisions, the Supreme Court struck down Vermont’s stringent campaign finance limits while ruling that the Kansas Supreme Court had improperly ruled the state’s death penalty law unconstitutional.
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