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Supreme Court revisits McCain-Feingold

Solicitor General Paul Clement arguing today to uphold the "blackout" provisions of the federal campaign finance law meant to stop sham "issue ads".

AP story here.

11th conviction in Abramoff scandal

Former congressional staffer Mark Zachares, who got his post on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with the help of Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for his part in the influence -peddling scandal.

AP story is here.

"Partial birth" abortion ban

In an opinion by Justice Kennedy (on the left in sketch) the Supreme Court today upheld the federal ban on certain late-term, so-called "partial birth", abortions.  Justice Ginsberg (right) read her dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Stevens, Souter and Breyer.

Washington Post story here.

Lyle Denniston has an in depth post on ScotusBlog here.

Evelyn Coke's day in Court, Supreme that is.

Frail and sitting in a wheelchair the 73-year-old former home-care aide who regularly worked twenty-four hour days three or four times a week watched as her case, Long Island Care at Home, Ltd.  v.  Evelyn Coke, seeking overtime pay for in-home caretakers hired by third party companies.

Ms Coke, who is now disabled and depends on her son Michael, seated next to her, for home-care, is on the right.  Her attorney, H. Craig Becker is lightly sketched in on the left. Also penciled in is retired Justice O'Connor who was in attendance for the first ten minutes of argument.

The New York Times story is here.

   

SCOTUS goes green

In one of two cases decided in favor of environmentalists yesterday the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA needs to start regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

Justice Kennedy read the opinion for Justice Stevens who was absent.

Washington Post story is here.