USA Archive - Law Commentary

A close-up of a gray wolf looking directly at the camera, set against a blurred forest background.

Trump Administration Rolls Back Protections on Gray Wolf Despite Concerns from Environmentalists

The U.S. Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, announced the delisting of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on October 29, 2020. After 45 years of being classified as an endangered species, the Trump Administration has announced the successful restoration of the species that dominates the lower... Read More about Trump Administration Rolls Back Protections on Gray Wolf Despite Concerns from Environmentalists

Image of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp at a public event.

How Will the Defeat of Johnny Depp’s Libel Case in London Affect His Libel Lawsuit Pending in Virginia?

When international celebrity Johnny Depp, 57, lost his court case against News Group Newspapers, the publishers of the British tabloid The Sun, women’s groups across the world celebrated as legal teams sat down to dissect how this case will impact future libel cases both in Britain and the US. At... Read More about How Will the Defeat of Johnny Depp’s Libel Case in London Affect His Libel Lawsuit Pending in Virginia?

Smiling woman holding a sign that reads "WE ARE EQUAL."

Babb v. Wilkie: Age Discrimination and the "But-For" Standard for Public Sector Employees

In April of 2020, a Supreme Court made up of justices who ranged in age from 52 to 87 entered a ruling on a case regarding age discrimination of federal employees. One might imagine that a nation where octogenarian justices rule on its most important cases and where the largest... Read More about Babb v. Wilkie: Age Discrimination and the "But-For" Standard for Public Sector Employees

An assortment of drug-related items, including pills, a syringe, and a vial, with the word "Addiction" prominently displayed on a document.

Oregon Voters Pass Measure 110 to Decriminalize Hard Drugs

Oregon has become the first U.S. state to abolish criminal penalties for possession and use of all drugs, including cocaine, LSD, and heroin. The ballot initiative, known as Measure 110 or the “Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act,” also redirects state funding to expanded healthcare access and addiction services without... Read More about Oregon Voters Pass Measure 110 to Decriminalize Hard Drugs

A group of lawyers discussing a legal case around a conference table, with documents and a binder in front of them.

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Insurance Company for the Alleged Wrongful Denial of Medical Coverage

The law firm of Gianelli & Morris has filed individual and class action complaints against UnitedHealthcare of California alleging the wrongful denial of coverage for the Coflex medical device to treat the plaintiffs’ spinal stenosis and back pain. On November 4, 2020, the California insurance law firm Gianelli & Morris... Read More about Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Insurance Company for the Alleged Wrongful Denial of Medical Coverage

Sign at a protest reading "END POLICE BRUTALITY" with participants in the background.

Immunity Overturned for Indicted Sheriff Deputies

Georgia’s Supreme Court recently overturned immunity granted to three former sheriff’s deputies indicted for Eurie Lee Martin’s murder. The court’s unanimous decision will see the former deputies tried in Washington County for Martin’s murder and other charges. In a story that has become too familiar, three white law enforcement officers... Read More about Immunity Overturned for Indicted Sheriff Deputies

A man with glasses speaks into a microphone against a blue background.

Facebook, Twitter, Google CEOs Testify to Senate to Defend Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act

On Wednesday, October 28, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology virtually brought together the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google for a lengthy hearing on Social Media Content Moderation. The hearing centered around amending Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act (CDA). Section 230 is what Chairman Wicker... Read More about Facebook, Twitter, Google CEOs Testify to Senate to Defend Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act

Bayer Settles Lawsuits for Faulty Birth Control Device “Essure” for $1.6 Billion

Christie West underwent an emergency partial hysterectomy to remove a dysfunctional birth control device called Essure, manufactured by Bayer AG. Ariel Grace died at birth due to injuries to her mother that were caused by the same faulty sterilization implant. These tragedies are two of the almost 39,000 claims against... Read More about Bayer Settles Lawsuits for Faulty Birth Control Device “Essure” for $1.6 Billion

Section 230 Brings Social Media CEOs Back to the Senate

Jack Dorsey, Sundar Pichai, and Mark Zuckerberg, the CEOs of Twitter, Google, and Facebook, respectively, appeared before the Senate on October 28. The hearing was called to examine the consequences of Big Tech’s “immunity” under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA). Section 230 gives platforms like Twitter, Google,... Read More about Section 230 Brings Social Media CEOs Back to the Senate

A close-up image of a person holding a handgun in a holster, resting on their hip. The background is blurred, focusing on the firearm.

Open Firearm Carry at Michigan Polling Places 2020

On October 16, 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson ordered that all open-carry firearms were to be prohibited at polling places across the state. The action led an alliance of gun-rights groups to file suit and request a preliminary injunction against the order on October 22. Oral arguments were... Read More about Open Firearm Carry at Michigan Polling Places 2020

A close-up of a smartphone screen displaying a Facebook post by Donald J. Trump discussing concerns about mail-in voting and election integrity.

Pennsylvania Mail-In Voting Reaches U.S. Supreme Court

The voting case Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar technically should have ended in Pennsylvania with the state supreme court’s decision. The highest authority on a state’s laws is that state’s judiciary—not the federal one. Justice Samuel Alito describes the petitioning of this state-decided matter to the U.S. Supreme Court... Read More about Pennsylvania Mail-In Voting Reaches U.S. Supreme Court

Exterior view of the United States Environmental Protection Agency building with visible lighting and signage.

Environmental Regulations: Is the Federal Government in Charge, or the States?

Modern concerns over climate change have thrust the environment into the international spotlight, but not for the first time. In the 1960s, industrialism in the United States led to environmental degradation that became difficult to deny. In one alarming example, the Cuyahoga River caught fire. The flames on the surface... Read More about Environmental Regulations: Is the Federal Government in Charge, or the States?

University of San Diego campus building with outdoor seating area.

The University of San Diego Joins the Pandemic Legal Battle Arena

In a time when seeking a college degree equates to willfully taking on long-term debt, the merits of formal education had already come into question before the pandemic. Recently, in the light of COVID-19 shutdowns, the U.S. university system has evoked more than the usual begrudging frustration from paying student... Read More about The University of San Diego Joins the Pandemic Legal Battle Arena

Text message alert about the extension of Michigan's Stay Home Stay Safe order due to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Restrictions in Michigan Deemed Unconstitutional

The Michigan Supreme Court recently ruled that Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders regarding COVID-19 restrictions are unconstitutional. They said that she is not allowed to add or extend restrictions after April 30. Whitmer had said that the state needed more time in order to "allow for an orderly transition during... Read More about COVID-19 Restrictions in Michigan Deemed Unconstitutional

Sign promoting participation in the 2020 U.S. Census, encouraging people to be counted.

Supreme Court Census Decision Leaves Communities Uncounted

Once every decade, the U.S. is bombarded by the pleasantly passive marketing of the census. Ad campaigns gently inform residents of the census’s significance, matter-of-factly highlighting voter representation and the values of civic duty. The 2020 census, however, has joined the ranks of other once-unshakeable institutions now eyed by the... Read More about Supreme Court Census Decision Leaves Communities Uncounted