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The Justice Department in a filing sought a stay pending its appeal of the judge's preliminary injunction. Doughty's order specifically mentioned certain officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. U.S. officials have said that in contacting social media companies they were aiming to tamp down misinformation about American elections and about COVID vaccines to curb preventable deaths. It raises grave separation-of-powers concerns," the Justice Department filing said, referring to the Constitution's division of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The judge's order made some exceptions for communications between government officials and the companies, including to warn about risks to national security and about criminal activity.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joe Biden's, Terry Doughty, Doughty, Donald Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, Kanishka Singh, Will Dunham, Mike Scarcella Organizations: Twitter, YouTube, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice, Republican, New, Circuit, District, Department of Health, Human Services, U.S, Department, Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency . U.S, ., Thomson Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, Missouri, Washington

☆ Biden admin seeks emergency order halting ban on social media company contacts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 6 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday asked a federal appeals court for an emergency order halting a lower court ruling that bars some government agencies and officials from meeting and communicating with social media companies about moderating their content. Circuit Court of Appeals, the administration said the lower court ruling was "both sweeping in scope and vague in its terms," and likely to be overturned on appeal. The lower court order, issued by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in Louisiana, came in a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri and by several individuals. They alleged that U.S. government officials effectively coerced social media companies to censor posts over concerns they would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections. The social media companies mentioned in the lawsuit include Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Twitter and Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) YouTube.

Persons: Biden, Terry Doughty, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Daniel Wallis, Himani Organizations: New, Circuit, Appeals, U.S, District, Facebook, Inc, Twitter, YouTube, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, Constitution, Thomson Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, Missouri, U.S, New York

The court's conservative majority has taken an expansive view of Second Amendment rights in a nation facing persistent gun violence including mass shootings. The court has widened gun rights in three major rulings since 2008. "The stakes are high for those experiencing domestic violence if violent partners can legally possess firearms," Lungwitz said. The National Rifle Association, an influential gun rights group, did not respond to a request for comment. "By removing those kinds of considerations, it makes constitutional law - and Second Amendment law, in particular - even more removed from the way that ordinary citizens think about constitutional protections."

Persons: Joe Biden's, Zackey Rahimi, Rahimi, Janet Carter, Bruen, James Ho, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Prelogar, Lungwitz, Jacob Charles, Charles, John Kruzel, Will Dunham, Scott Malone Organizations: U.S, Supreme, New York, Circuit, Appeals, Republican, University of Texas School, Law's, Violence, Democratic, National Rifle Association, Pepperdine University Caruso School of, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Texas, New York, New Orleans

July 6 (Reuters) - A federal judge's order restricting Biden administration officials from contacting social media companies about moderating their content will face tough legal challenges on appeal, experts said. The Biden administration on Wednesday filed a notice with the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. THREAT OF HARMThe Biden administration has argued that there was no threat of harm because the lawsuit challenged communications that ended more than a year ago. It also said that while it urged social media companies to stop the spread of dangerous misinformation, the companies themselves - including Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), YouTube owner Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Twitter Inc - ultimately made their own decisions. Burt Neuborne, a professor at New York University School of Law, was more skeptical of the free speech claims.

Persons: Terry Doughty, Biden, Jonathan Turley, Doughty's, Doughty, Jameel Jaffer, Jaffer, Mark MacCarthy, Burt Neuborne, I'm, You'd, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Brendan Pierson, Andrew Goudsward, Kanishka Singh, Alexia Garamfalvi, Leslie Adler Organizations: Biden, U.S, District, New, Circuit, Appeals, George Washington University Law School, Department of Health, Human Services, Facebook, Inc, Twitter Inc, Meta, Columbia University, Brookings Institution, New York University School of Law, Republican, Democrat, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, New Orleans, Missouri, U.S, New York, Washington

☆ Supreme Court to decide fate of Biden student loan forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - The U.S Supreme Court on Friday was set to rule on the legality of President Joe Biden's plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt - a move intended to benefit up to 43 million Americans and fulfill a campaign promise. Both Biden, a Democrat, and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump relied upon the HEROES Act beginning in 2020 to repeatedly pause student loan payments and halt interest from accruing to alleviate financial strain on student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the arguments, a Justice Department lawyer portrayed the debt relief as a benefits program rather than an assertion of regulatory power not authorized by Congress. Circuit Court of Appeals found that at least one of the states, Missouri, had proper standing. Some 53% of Americans said they support Biden's debt relief, with 45% opposed, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll from March, with respondents dividing sharply along partisan lines with Democrats broadly supportive and Republicans generally opposed.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Biden's, Pell, Donald Trump, Myra Brown, Alexander Taylor, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S Supreme, Higher Education, Act, Democrat, Republican, Justice Department, Congress, Circuit, Appeals, Biden, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Arkansas , Iowa , Kansas , Missouri , Nebraska, South Carolina, U.S, Missouri, Louis, Texas, New Orleans

☆ US Supreme Court to weigh legality of domestic-violence gun curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( John Kruzel | Industry Insight | Corporate Attorneys Don T Want To Pay Law Firms For Chatgpt When They Could Use It Themselves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The case involves a Texas man charged with illegal gun possession while subject to a domestic violence restraining order after assaulting his girlfriend. The 1994 law at issue in the current case prohibited a person subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing a firearm. Circuit Court of Appeals in February declaring the law unconstitutional in a ruling that applied to Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the Supreme Court on behalf of Biden's administration that the 5th Circuit's ruling was "profoundly mistaken." Twenty-three states, mostly Democratic-led, urged the Supreme Court to hear the dispute, as did groups advocating for the prevention of gun violence and domestic abuse.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Zackey, Rahimi, Elizabeth Prelogar, Prelogar, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, New York, New, Circuit, Appeals, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Texas, United States, New York, Kennedale, Arlington , Texas, New Orleans, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi

☆ Supreme Court to weigh right of accused domestic abusers to own guns
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to weigh whether people accused of domestic violence have a right to own firearms in a case that will test the scope of recently expanded gun rights. The justices agreed to hear a Biden administration appeal in defense of a federal law that prohibits people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing guns. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, turned to the Supreme Court, said in court papers that the appeals court's ruling was "profoundly mistaken." The decision "threatens grave harms for victims of domestic violence," she said. Last year's Supreme Court ruling led to a flurry of challenges to longstanding laws — both federal and state — and prompted some judges to find they are unlawful under the new standard.

Persons: Zackey, Rahimi, Elizabeth Prelogar, Biden, Prelogar Organizations: Justice Department, U.S, Circuit, New York State Locations: Texas, Arlington , Texas, New Orleans, New

☆ US Supreme Court won't scrutinize Mississippi curb on voting by felons
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( John Kruzel | Industry Insight | Corporate Attorneys Don T Want To Pay Law Firms For Chatgpt When They Could Use It Themselves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The state's felon disenfranchisement policy has been shown to have a disproportionate impact on Black Mississippians, nearly 29,000 of whom were disenfranchised between 1994 and 2017, according to court filings. Black Mississippians account for 36% of the state's voting age population but 59% of those who have been disfranchised for life due to a felony conviction. The 1890 version had removed crimes thought to be "white crimes" and added those thought to be "Black crimes," with the aim of discriminating against Black voters, according to court records. Eight crimes listed in the 1890 version of the provision - bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement and bigamy - remain as disqualifying offenses today. A key question in the case was whether the process of amending Mississippi's felon disenfranchisement provision purged the discriminatory intent behind the 1890 version and brought the law into compliance constitutional race-based voter protections.

Persons: Roy Harness, Kamal Karriem, Constitution's, Harness, Karriem, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Black, Constitution, Harness, The, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Civil, Mississippi, U.S, The New Orleans

WILMINGTON, Delaware, June 29 (Reuters) - A legal case making its way through the courts could remove the abortion pill mifepristone from the market or restrict access to the drug. George Delgado - A California palliative care specialist, Delgado helped pioneer "abortion reversal" treatments for women who change their mind after taking mifepristone. Circuit Court of Appeals as an example of the harm caused by the approval of the abortion pill. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists has said abortion reversal is not supported by science and does not meet clinical standards. Foley said in his abortion pill testimony he also treats women for abortion pill reversal.

Persons: George Delgado, Delgado, mifepristone, Gynecologists, Ingrid Skop, Skop, Donna Harrison, Harrison, Tyler Johnson, Johnson, AAPLOG, Steven Foley, Foley, CMDA, Tom Hals, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: U.S, Circuit, Appeals, American, of Obstetrics, American Association of Pro, Christian Medical, Dental, Charlotte Lozier Institute, Reuters, Indiana, Alliance, Hippocratic, Republican, FDA, Thomson Locations: WILMINGTON , Delaware, California, Texas, Florida, North Dakota, An Indiana, Indiana, Wilmington , Delaware

Circuit Court of Appeals "for review in the ordinary course and in advance of the 2024 congressional elections in Louisiana." Democrats have accused Republicans of exploiting state legislature majorities to draw electoral maps that dilute the clout of Black and other minority voters. The map was challenged by Black voters and civil rights groups in two lawsuits. The plaintiffs in court papers said that "stark racially polarized voting almost universally leads to the electoral defeat of Black-preferred candidates" in Louisiana. The Supreme Court in that ruling elected not to further roll back protections contained in the Voting Rights Act as it had done in two major decisions in the past decade.

Persons: Kyle Ardoin, Shelly Dick, Jon Bel Edwards, Black, Dick, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S . House, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Black, . House, Circuit, Republicans, Democratic, disenfranchising, The U.S, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Alabama, Orleans, United States, Louisiana's, The, New York

The justices found that the plaintiffs - the Republican-governed state of Texas and three non-Native American families - lacked the necessary legal standing to bring their challenge. They also rejected challenges to the law, known as the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, on other grounds. Congress passed it to end a longstanding practice in the United States of removing many Native American children from their families and placing them with non-Native Americans. At the time of the law's passage, between 25% and 35% of all Native American children were removed in states with large Native American populations, according to court papers. Interior Department and federal officials by Texas and the three families who sought to adopt or foster Native American children.

Persons: Amy Coney Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Joe Biden, Biden, Jennifer, Chad Brackeen, Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Constitution's, Republican, Indian Child Welfare, Tribal Nations, Indian Child Welfare Association, National Congress of American, Child Welfare, U.S . Interior Department, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Texas, United States, Navajo, New Orleans, New York

The deal would preserve the mandate nationwide while appeals play out, but allow the employer challenging the mandate, Texas-based Braidwood Management, to stop covering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV and other preventive services without co-pays for its employees for now. The preventive care mandate, part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) often referred to as Obamacare, covers services recommended by a federal task force. The ruling does not apply to services the task force recommended before the ACA was enacted in 2010, including breast cancer screening. More than 150 million people were eligible for preventive care free of charge as of 2020 under the ACA, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Biden administration has said O'Connor's ruling threatens public health.

Persons: Biden, District Judge Reed O'Connor, O'Connor, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Circuit, Appeals, Braidwood Management, Affordable, PrEP, HIV, District, . Constitution, U.S . Senate, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Major, Thomson Locations: Texas, Braidwood, U.S, Fort Worth , Texas, ., New York

May 17 (Reuters) - Federal appeals court judges appeared to express support on Wednesday for opponents of the abortion pill mifepristone to pursue their challenge to its U.S. approval, which has potentially far-reaching consequences for abortion access across the country. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to overturn last month's unprecedented ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas suspending mifepristone's approval. [1/2] A patient prepares to take Mifepristone, the first medication in a medical abortion, at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., April 20, 2023. Circuit Judges James Ho and Wilson were appointed by Donald Trump. SAFE AND EFFECTIVEMifepristone remains available for now, following an emergency order from the U.S. Supreme Court putting Kacsmaryk's order on hold during the appeal.

[1/2] A patient prepares to take Mifepristone, the first medication in a medical abortion, at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., April 20, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File PhotoMay 17 (Reuters) - U.S. appeals court judges began hearing arguments on Wednesday in a legal battle over the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone, with potentially far-reaching consequences for abortion access across the United States. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to overturn last month's unprecedented ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas suspending mifepristone's approval. Danco Laboratories, which sells the drug under the brand name Mifeprex, is also expected to argue before the court. The emergency room doctors said they were being forced to complete surgical abortions, which was against their conscience, for women who took the pill and failed to complete a medical abortion.

[1/2] A patient prepares to take Mifepristone, the first medication in a medical abortion, at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., April 20, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File PhotoMay 17 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court in New Orleans will hear arguments on Wednesday in a closely watched case brought by anti-abortion activists seeking to ban the abortion pill mifepristone, with potentially far-reaching impact on abortion access across the United States. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn last month's unprecedented ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas suspending mifepristone's FDA approval. Mifepristone remains available for now, following an emergency order from the U.S. Supreme Court putting Kacsmaryk's order on hold during the appeal. Whichever way the 5th Circuit panel rules, the decision is sure to be appealed, first to the full court and then to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Circuit Court of Appeals panel that will hear the Biden administration's appeal to keep the abortion pill mifepristone on the market are staunchly conservative, with a record of opposing abortion rights. - In 2019, she co-authored a majority opinion for the full 5th Circuit that upheld a Texas law that effectively banned the most common abortion procedure for terminating second-trimester pregnancies. - Also in 2019, she wrote a majority panel 5th Circuit opinion invalidating the Affordable Care Act's mandate requiring individuals to purchase health insurance. - In 2019, he was part of a 5th Circuit panel that rejected Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, but in a concurring opinion argued against the constitutional right to abortion. - In 2018, he voted to uphold a Texas law requiring burial or cremation of fetal remains.

☆ Appeals court pauses ruling that could end Obamacare's preventative care mandate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Circuit Court of Appeals issued an "administrative stay" of the March 30 ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor of Texas. Administration lawyers said in court filings that O'Connor's decision would affect preventive care for 150 million people. In his March ruling, O'Conner blocked only the requirement that most insurers cover a range of preventive care. The appeal is in the early stages and the appeals court has not yet set a date for arguments. O'Connor ruled that enforcing the recommendations violated constitutional language on how government officials can be appointed.

☆ As US debates abortion pill ban, Argentina expands its use
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Anna-Catherine Brigida | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Benjamin Castro, a 26-year-old non-binary Argentine musician and teacher, poses for pictures during an interview in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 4, 2023. Argentina is the latest country in Latin America to green light the drug, part of a two-pill abortion regimen, which now faces the threat of a ban in the United States. "Having mifepristone available is key for ensuring abortions that are safe and high quality," she said. For Benjamin Castro, a 26-year-old non-binary Argentine musician and teacher, mifepristone access came too late. Castro, who was assigned female at birth and uses male pronouns, sought an abortion in 2020 during the pandemic, before mifepristone was available, receiving only misoprostol pills.

May 8 (Reuters) - A case brought by anti-abortion groups seeking to ban the abortion pill mifepristone nationwide will be heard next week by a panel of three deeply conservative judges hostile to abortion rights, a federal appeals court revealed on Monday. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in New Orleans on May 17 to overturn a court order that suspended the federal government's approval of mifepristone. The U.S. Supreme Court put that order on hold, meaning that mifepristone remains available while the case is appealed. In 2021, Ho was in the majority in a 2-1 ruling refusing to block Texas's six-week abortion ban. Wilson, another Trump appointee, as a state legislator voted to ban abortion once fetal cardiac activity is detected, around six weeks.

May 8 (Reuters) - A group of abortion providers on Monday filed a lawsuit aiming to preserve access to the abortion pill mifepristone as anti-abortion opponents aim to ban it in a separate case. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Charlottesville, Virginia, is similar to one filed in Spokane, Washington by the Democratic attorneys general of 17 states and the District of Columbia in February. GenBioPro Inc, which sells a generic version of mifepristone, is also suing to block the FDA from restricting the drug. All three lawsuits come in response to a lawsuit last year by anti-abortion groups in Amarillo, Texas federal court challenging the FDA's approval of the drug in 2000. They said the dueling district court orders had created "day-to-day, week-to-week uncertainty" about using the drug.

Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Justice Department said the order, from U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, "has no legal justification and threatens the public health." It asked the court to stop the order from taking effect until it can fully hear the administration's appeal. He found that the federal task force that decides what preventive care must be covered under the federal healthcare law, also known as Obamacare, was unlawfully appointed, voiding all of that task force's determinations since 2010. More than 150 million people were eligible for preventive care free of charge as of 2020 under Obamacare, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data. Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Circuit Court of Appeals, called the April 7 order by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk "abrupt and profoundly disruptive." The 5th Circuit is preparing to hear May 17 arguments on the matter after the U.S. Supreme Court last week put on hold Kacsmaryk's order. Danco Laboratories, which manufactures the brand-name version of the drug, was due to make a separate filing with the 5th Circuit. A panel of three 5th Circuit judges is scheduled to hear arguments on whether to uphold Kacsmaryk's order. The 5th Circuit has a conservative reputation, with 12 of its 16 active judges appointed by Republican presidents.

☆ Facing China, the Philippines and U.S. Join in Biggest Military Drill Yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More weapons could come. After the foreign and defense ministers of both the United States and the Philippines held talks earlier this month, Washington said it would commit to adopt “a security sector assistance road map” in the Philippines, which “will guide shared defense modernization investments.” Mr. Marcos is set to meet President Joe Biden next week in Washington. Collin Koh, a research fellow and expert on maritime security in Southeast Asia, said that the Philippines could “help to complicate Chinese defense planning” in the South China Sea. “Even weaker actors can pull off certain victories,” he said, pointing to how Ukraine’s vastly outgunned military had shocked and stymied Russian forces over the past year. Now, they say they are more reassured, especially after several visits by high-level U.S. officials.

However the 5th Circuit rules, the case will likely continue for months or years. HOW DID THE CASE GET TO THE 5TH CIRCUIT? WHAT COULD THE 5TH CIRCUIT DO? No matter what the court does, the losing party will have a chance to appeal to the full 5th Circuit and then to the U.S. Supreme Court. Once it does come, the losing side will again have the chance to appeal to the 5th Circuit and, eventually, the Supreme Court.

HOW DID THE CASE GET TO THE SUPREME COURT? The Biden administration and Danco immediately asked the Supreme Court to overrule the 5th Circuit and impose an emergency stay. WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT DO? The injunction was not at issue before the Supreme Court, and remains in effect. Once it does come, the losing side will again have the chance to appeal to the 5th Circuit and, eventually, the Supreme Court.

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