Federal courts

A US judge has overturned President Trump's White House media ban, ruling against the administration's restrictions on press access. The decision is drawing wide attention as a significant check on presidential power over media coverage, with broadcasters and press freedom groups closely watching its implications for White House access going forward.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for states to use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of voters. The decision, reported by CyberScoop, hands states a federal tool for eligibility checks and is being read as a significant ruling in the ongoing legal fights over state voter-verification practices and election administration.

A federal judge has temporarily paused the Trump administration's ban barring certain media outlets from the White House, allowing CNN journalists back into the building to cover the president. The ruling marks a significant check on the administration's efforts to control press access, and CNN is airing the network's return to briefings as a major development in the ongoing legal fight over press freedom.

The Mexican government has filed a lawsuit against Meta in federal court, accusing the company of human rights violations. The news, reported by Milenio, is drawing wide attention as it marks an unusual step of a national government taking a major US tech company to court over rights issues. Details of the alleged violations and the specific platform or policies targeted have not yet been laid out publicly.

A federal judge has ordered the White House to respond by 12:30 PM over alleged non-compliance with a court order concerning press access. The ruling puts the administration on a tight deadline to explain its position, and the development is drawing heavy attention given the ongoing dispute between the press corps and the White House over media access rules.

Donald Trump publicly reacted to a CNN reporter during his appearance at the United Nations, in an exchange that drew wide attention. The moment came as a federal judge weighed a possible ruling on the White House's policy restricting certain media outlets' access, a case with implications for press freedom. The confrontation and the pending court decision are being discussed together as the latest flashpoint between the administration and news organizations.

A coalition of news organizations has asked a federal court to bar the White House from enforcing a ban that restricts journalists' access to the administration. The legal challenge argues the exclusion of reporters from official spaces violates press freedom protections. The filing comes amid ongoing tensions between the administration and media outlets over access to presidential events.

Brazil's São Paulo regional electoral court (TRE-SP) has ordered a candidate from the Novo party to take down a video about federal deputy Erika Hilton, according to Metrópoles. The ruling comes amid heightened attention to Hilton, one of Brazil's most prominent trans politicians, as parties clash over campaign content targeting her.

A second federal court has ruled against New York's Climate Change Superfund Act, the law requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay into a fund covering climate adaptation costs. The decision deepens the legal uncertainty around the statute, which had already faced a earlier federal court challenge, and raises questions about whether states can hold energy producers financially liable for past emissions.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Seattle's diversity, equity and inclusion initiative may have created a hostile work environment, allowing related claims to move forward. The decision raises questions about how public employers implement DEI programs and could influence how cities across the United States design and manage workplace diversity policies.

Federal agencies are quietly removing the so-called Trump 'loyalty question' from US government job applications. The move follows a federal judge's ruling earlier this month that the question, which asked applicants about their support for the administration's policies, is likely unconstitutional. Commenters are discussing the rollback as a sign of limits on politically charged hiring practices in the federal workforce.

Recent court victories for the EPA's Solar for All program are prompting discussion about how grantees used litigation to defend federal clean-energy funding. The program, which channels $7 billion to expand solar access in low-income communities, has faced political and legal challenges, and its future now hinges on whether grantee lawsuits can shield it from efforts to claw back or restructure the funds.

A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration cannot withhold FEMA antiterrorism preparedness grants from states based on their election-related policies. The decision stops the administration from making homeland security funding conditional on states changing how they run elections, a move critics called an improper use of federal money to pressure states over voting rules.

New York has taken its turn presenting arguments in a federal court case involving the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration over commercial driver's licenses. The litigation, reported by trucking outlet Land Line, centers on disagreements between the state and the federal safety agency. Details of the court's response and next steps in the case were not given.

A federal court ruling has cleared the way for a Jewish charter school to open in Oklahoma. The decision is significant because charter schools are publicly funded, raising unresolved questions about the separation of church and state. The case is expected to draw further legal challenges as other states and religious groups watch closely for its implications on publicly funded religious education.

A group of news organizations has asked a federal court to suspend the White House's ban on certain journalists' access while their legal challenge proceeds. The outlets argue the exclusion disrupts routine press coverage of the presidency and raises First Amendment concerns. The request is pending as the underlying case moves forward.

The US Supreme Court is set to begin its new term with a significant environmental case on its docket. The National Constitution Center highlighted the case as the term's marquee opening matter, drawing attention to how the justices may shape federal environmental regulation. Observers are watching closely for signals on the Court's approach to agency power and climate-related disputes.

A federal appeals court has refused Donald Trump's attempt to block sanctions connected to his settlement with the IRS, according to Politico. The ruling keeps the sanctions in place for now, dealing a legal setback to the former president as his court battles continue to pile up across multiple jurisdictions.

Colorado's attorney general has asked a federal judge to stop remodeling work on a planned immigration detention facility in the state. The legal move seeks to block construction activities while the case proceeds, adding to ongoing disputes between state officials and federal immigration authorities over detention policy. Details of the court filing and the facility's operator were not immediately available.

A US federal appeals court has signalled support for a contempt inquiry into deportation flights carried out despite court orders. The move advances a dispute over whether officials defied judicial rulings blocking removals. The ruling intensifies the constitutional clash between the judiciary and the executive branch over immigration enforcement powers.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is calling on Congress to fully fund the security funding request for the U.S. Supreme Court. The request would provide additional resources to protect the justices and the Court itself. Jackley's appeal adds a state-level voice to ongoing debates in Washington over security spending for federal institutions and officials.

Twin sisters who worked as MRI technicians while running a side business brokering golf tee times have pleaded guilty to federal tax violations. Details of the charges, the amounts of unpaid tax, and potential sentences have not been released in available reporting, but the guilty pleas were entered in federal court. The unusual combination of day jobs and a golf-side business has drawn attention to the case.

State attorneys have asked a federal judge to temporarily block the construction or opening of a planned new immigration detention facility. The legal motion seeks an immediate pause while the court considers the state's objections to the project. Details about the specific grounds for the request and the federal response were not immediately available, and the case is expected to proceed in the coming weeks.

A federal judge has blocked rules from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that tied election-related requirements to anti-terrorism grant funding. The ruling stops the agency from attaching those conditions to security grants, a decision that affects how states and local governments receive and use federal money intended to protect elections and public safety. The full reasoning behind the order and any next steps, including possible appeals, are not yet detailed in available reporting.

The Department of Justice has joined President Trump's legal fight against Judge Kathleen Williams. A unanimous Eleventh Circuit panel had left Williams free to enforce restrictions stemming from her finding that Trump used a federal lawsuit to manufacture judicial legitimacy for an administration position. The Justice Department's intervention escalates the dispute, drawing attention to the growing clash between the judiciary and the administration over the case.

Several news organizations barred by the White House are asking a federal judge to extend a court order blocking the administration from enforcing the bans. The outlets argue the restrictions on access violate press freedom protections, and they want the injunction kept in place while the case proceeds. The dispute centers on which journalists are allowed into White House press events.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for the federal government to resume rapid deportations of migrants to third countries while litigation continues. The interim ruling does not decide the underlying legal questions, but allows removals to proceed in the meantime. The phrase 'for now' signals the decision is temporary, and lower courts may still impose limits as the case moves forward.

Federal courts have ruled that the EPA's elimination of the Solar for All program was unlawful, according to a statement from Fletcher. The program, which aimed to expand solar access, had faced attempts to shut it down. The ruling suggests the courts found the agency lacked authority to end the initiative in the manner it did.

A judge has eased travel restrictions for a man facing charges of throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The ruling loosens limits placed on him while his case proceeds. Monk seals are protected under federal law, and people throwing rocks at them have previously faced serious penalties, drawing widespread attention.

A federal judge in New York has ruled that the state's climate change act is unconstitutional and preempted by federal law. The decision strikes at one of the most ambitious state-level climate statutes in the United States and is expected to draw an appeal. Legal experts and climate advocates are watching closely, as the ruling could influence similar climate laws in other states and reshape how states may regulate emissions.

A federal judge has upheld an Idaho law that prohibits daycares from requiring vaccines or other medical treatments for the children in their care. The ruling leaves Idaho daycare providers unable to impose immunization requirements, keeping the state among the most permissive in the US on childhood vaccine rules. Supporters of the law view it as protecting parental choice, while public health advocates warn it could increase the risk of disease outbreaks in childcare settings.