Author: Zach Schonfeld

Supreme Court sides with Jack Daniels in trademark fight against poop-themed dog toy

The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Jack Daniel’s in its trademark fight against a poop-themed dog toy that parodies the company’s whiskey bottles. In a unanimous decision authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the high court ruled for the whiskey maker but left unaddressed whether the First Amendment provides parodies with heightened protections from trademark-infringement…

Attorney for billionaire at center of Clarence Thomas controversy offers to meet with Judiciary staff

An attorney for GOP megadonor Harlan Crow offered to meet with Senate Judiciary Committee staff as Democrats push to investigate undisclosed, luxury trips that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted from the real estate developer. Crow’s attorney, Michael Bopp, has rebuffed the committee’s demands for information, but in a Monday letter, Bopp offered to meet…

Trump demands recusal of judge overseeing hush money criminal case

Former President Trump is calling for the New York judge overseeing his hush money criminal case to recuse himself, arguing the judge cannot be impartial. Trump’s lawyers noted in a new filing apparent political donations Judge Juan Merchan made to then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and liberal-leaning groups. They also referenced the judge’s participation in a…

Why Supreme Court recusals are attracting newfound attention 

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan became the first to adopt a new ethics principle that indicates justices may explain why they are recusing themselves from a case. But her conservative colleague on the bench, Justice Samuel Alito, opted not to share why he was stepping aside from a separate case, raising questions about whether the…

Supreme Court preview: the major decisions still to come

The Supreme Court’s decision season is in full swing. The justices in the coming weeks will hand down major rulings on student debt relief, affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act, with opinions in 30 remaining cases expected to be released by June 30. Here’s a preview of the major decisions. Student Debt Relief The…