US federal courts

A US federal judge has overturned President Trump's ban blocking certain media outlets from White House coverage. The ruling means journalists previously excluded from press access can return to presidential events and briefings. The decision is being widely covered as a significant test of press freedom and the limits of presidential power over media access, with strong public interest in how the administration will respond.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states may use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of people registering to vote. The decision gives state election officials access to a federal immigration records system for voter roll checks, a step several Republican-led states have sought. Supporters frame it as a safeguard against noncitizen voting; critics warn it risks errors and could deter eligible voters, especially naturalized citizens, from registering.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states may use a federal citizenship verification tool when vetting voter registrations. The decision is seen as a win for election officials seeking to confirm eligibility, but its practical effect on the upcoming midterms is expected to be limited, since registration processes in most states will not change in time to alter November's outcomes significantly.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration may, for the time being, continue using its revamped federal voter eligibility database, which is used to check voter rolls against citizenship and other records. The decision is an interim one, allowing the database's use while legal challenges proceed. Supporters see it as a step toward election integrity; critics worry it could enable improper purges of eligible voters.

A federal court has ruled that the Pentagon can designate AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk, according to the El Dorado News-Times. The decision allows the Defense Department to maintain the designation against the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence firm, a move with potential implications for its ability to work with the US government and defense contractors.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a lower court's dismissal of internet advertising patents held invalid under Section 101 of the Patent Act, in a case involving Google. The ruling means the patents were found to cover ineligible abstract ideas rather than patentable inventions, dealing a blow to the patent holder.

The US judiciary is preparing a pilot programme for courthouse management, according to Facilities Dive. Details of the pilot's scope, timeline and participating courthouses were not provided in the initial report. The initiative suggests the federal court system is testing new approaches to how its facilities are administered.