Court Watch with Alex Swoyer
The 'Court Watch' podcast with Washington Times legal affairs reporter Alex Swoyer breaks down the Supreme Court's major cases and top news stories about the justices, federal courts and perplexing legal battles with key insight from court watchers from both sides of the aisle.
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Recent Stories
Supreme Court to review federal ban on drug users owning guns
The Supreme Court said Monday it will take up a challenge the federal ban on gun possession by drug users, in a case advocates hope will bring clarity to the country's chaotic landscape of marijuana and firearms laws.
ICE director hits back at 'political rhetoric,' media 'spin' for imperiling officers and Americans
Protests and sanctuary jurisdictions are forcing ICE to divert personnel and hindering its ability to reach higher arrest and deportation numbers, acting Director Todd Lyons told The Washington Times as he blamed political rhetoric.
WATCH: VA secretary demands apology after Sen. Blumenthal's spinal cord research 'lie'
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said a senior Democrat needs to apologize to the department after wrongly suggesting it was curtailing research work on spinal cord injuries.
Supreme Court takes second shot at ending Democrats' rigging of modern elections
Democrats are in a pickle. Their gerrymandering edge may vanish, allowing at least a dozen congressional seats to fall into Republican hands.
Judge rejects Idaho transgender athlete's bid to drop case now before Supreme Court
A federal judge has rebuffed a transgender athlete's bid to dismiss a challenge to Idaho's women's sports law, ruling that it would be "fundamentally unfair" to drop the five-year-old case as it sits on the brink of a Supreme Court decision.
The Supreme Court must end illegal vote counting
Under federal law, Election Day in the United States is not two days, two weeks or two months. It is a single day.
Supreme Court poised to redraw part of Voting Rights Act
The Supreme Court plowed into the thorniest of political issues Wednesday as the justices sought to sort out how much -- if at all -- states and judges can use race when they address discrimination in how congressional and state legislative district maps were drawn.
Supreme Court to hear Louisiana congressional district map dispute over race
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has traveled a circuitous path to the U.S. Supreme Court, where her office this week will argue that the 60-year-old Voting Rights Act should not promote Black voters' interests over those of others.
Supreme Court won't hear Alex Jones defamation appeal over Sandy Hook comments
The Supreme Court announced Tuesday it would not hear an appeal from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones over a $1.4 billion defamation judgment on his comments describing the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting as a hoax.
Supreme Court won't hear dispute over school keeping student gender transition from parents
The Supreme Court announced Tuesday it would not hear a legal challenge to a Colorado school district's policy of not informing parents about a student's gender transition.
Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones' appeal of $1.4 billion defamation judgment in Sandy Hook shooting
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and left in place the $1.4 billion judgment against him over his description of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting as a hoax staged by crisis actors.
Black residents worry new Louisiana congressional district could be lost in Supreme Court case
For nearly three decades, the small town of Mansfield was represented in Louisiana's congressional delegation by white Republicans, even though its population is about 80% Black and leans heavily Democratic.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy defends opinions on abortion and gay marriage
Retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy has defended his decisions on abortion and gay marriage, despite being a devout Catholic, in a new interview this week.
WATCH: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan on the left's attack on justice, the law
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan spoke with The Washington Times' Alex Swoyer about judges handling President Trump's executive orders, immigration, crime and lawfare.
Judiciary chairman says impeachment is 'on the table' for anti-Trump judges
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said impeachment of judges who issue "stupid" rulings thwarting President Trump is "on the table," though he said Congress needs to explore other options first.
Supreme Court won't get involved in Google v. Epic Games, forcing app store changes
The Supreme Court this week rejected a request from Google to stop Epic Games' demand to get access to the search giant's app store.
Supreme Court takes Colorado's 'conversion therapy' case and tests religious freedom
When the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in 2015, I wondered what standard it would use should polygamists appeal for similar rights.
Man charged with having explosive materials near DC church hosting annual Red Mass celebration
A New Jersey man has been arrested on charges that he had explosive materials in his possession near a Washington, D.C., church that was preparing to celebrate an annual Mass marking the start of the U.S. Supreme Court's term, according to police and court records.
Man arrested at D.C. cathedral had more than 100 bombs, manifesto against Supreme Court, ICE agents
A New Jersey man accused of having a Molotov cocktail outside a D.C. cathedral also had more than 100 homemade explosives and a manifesto expressing hate for the Supreme Court, immigration agents and the Catholic and Jewish faiths, court documents show.
Justices eye letting candidates challenge states that change voting rules
The Supreme Court seemed poised Wednesday to embrace new rules that would give candidates for federal office the chance to challenge election rules in court well before the voting takes place -- a move that could give Republicans more room to confront Democratic states' mail-in ballot laws.
Reagan's originalist revolution changed the Supreme Court forever
As they celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year, many Americans will remember fondly the patriotism and pageantry of the 1976 bicentennial.
Hawaii's gun ban: A constitutional betrayal
The Supreme Court announced Friday that it will take up a case challenging a Hawaii law that bans concealed carry almost everywhere.
WATCH: Supreme Court skeptical of Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ children
Colorado's law banning "conversion therapy" for children confounded the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with justices saying it seemed to shut down speech that would normally be protected by the First Amendment.
Supreme Court hears arguments on whether states can ban conversion therapy for LBGTQ+ kids
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in its latest LGBTQ+ rights case Tuesday, weighing the constitutionality of bans passed by nearly half of U.S. states on the practice known as conversion therapy for children.
Trump won't rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell
President Trump on Monday did not rule out a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, saying he'd look at the case after the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of her sentence.
Supreme Court returns to the bench for new term, rejects dozens of legal battles on first day
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear arguments in Missouri's effort to declare itself a "gun sanctuary" where federal firearms restrictions do not apply. That was one of dozens of cases the high court refused to add to its docket on the first day of its new term.
Supreme Court rejects Missouri's bid to defend gun sanctuary law
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Missouri's case that sought to declare the state a gun sanctuary that negates federal firearms restrictions.
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, won't review Epstein-related conviction
The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear an appeal from convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Man arrested with Molotov cocktail outside D.C. church marking new Supreme Court term
D.C. police said they arrested and charged a man who had a Molotov cocktail while camping in front of a Northwest church set to celebrate its Red Mass, a special service to mark the beginning of the new Supreme Court term.
Supreme Court to hear challenge to Hawaii's concealed carry ban
The Supreme Court announced Friday it would hear a major gun rights case out of Hawaii during its 2025-26 term, which begins next week.
Supreme Court kicks off new 'Trump term' with clashes on powers
The Supreme Court is ready to kick off the "Trump term," with the justices on Monday opening a session in which they will grapple squarely with questions about President Trump's aggressive first-year agenda and the limits of executive power.
Tennessee court sets execution date for the state's only woman on death row and 3 male inmates
The Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday set execution dates for four people, including the only woman in the state on death row.
The Supreme Court keeps backing Trump. Justice Kavanaugh explains why
President Trump has been on a winning streak at the Supreme Court, though it's often not clear why. Enter Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who has emerged as a kind of court interpreter.
Sector-specific tariffs shielded from threat of reversal in court; Trump uses national security law
President Trump is leaning heavily into tariff powers that allow him to tax imported timber from Canada, furniture from Asia and heavy trucks from Germany without fearing a reversal from the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court allows Fed Reserve member Lisa Cook to remain in job despite Trump firing
The Supreme Court said Wednesday that Lisa Cook, the Federal Reserve board member whom Donald Trump is trying to fire, can remain on the job at least into early next year, when the court will hear oral argument on the case.
Illinois ballot case before Supreme Court could help candidates challenge mail-in ballot laws
A conservative legal watchdog group says it hopes the Supreme Court will squarely decide this term if political candidates can challenge state laws that allow mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day and if those laws are legal, given there's only one federal Election Day.
Trump administration aims to suspend Harvard University from federal funds over antisemitism
The Department of Health and Human Services has referred Harvard University for suspension and debarment of federal funding over its treatment of Jewish students.
DOJ sues anti-Jewish protesters outside New Jersey synagogue
The Trump Justice Department sued anti-Jewish protesters Monday in a civil lawsuit, accusing them of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.
Justice Clarence Thomas defends Supreme Court overturning precedent, says cases aren't 'gospel'
Justice Clarence Thomas defended the Supreme Court's overturning precedent in a recent appearance at Catholic University Law School.
Ex-Treasury, Fed leaders tell Supreme Court to let Lisa Cook stay at central bank during firing case
A "who's who" of former economic officials urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to let Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook remain in her job while the courts decide whether President Trump fired her lawfully.
Florida school district stops 'Witchy Wednesday' announcements about moon worship after complaints
A Florida school district announced Tuesday it would cease morning announcements that included witchcraft rituals following a complaint from Christian students represented by a religious liberty organization.
Legal group warns Florida school to stop making Christian students listen to 'witchy' announcements
A religious liberty legal group is warning a Central Florida high school over its hosting of "Witchy Wednesday" video announcements and compelling students to receive instructions on moon worship and witch-type rituals.
Supreme Court OKs Trump firing of FTC official, may end 80-year executive power limit
The Supreme Court signaled Monday that it is prepared to embrace expansive firing powers for the president, as the justices allowed President Trump to move ahead with booting a member of the Federal Trade Commission.
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett tells Texas crowd why Roe v. Wade was wrong
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett defended her vote to overturn national abortion rights during a recent speech in Texas, where the Trump appointee said there is no history or tradition for abortion in the U.S.
What a would-be assassin's internet history looks like
Months before ever beginning to target Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, Nicholas Roske was obsessed with finding someone to assassinate.
Feds seek 30 years to life sentence for Nicholas Roske, Kavanaugh's attempted killer
The federal government has asked a judge to sentence the person who tried to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's to 30 years in prison to life.
Trump asks Supreme Court to rebuff lower judge, end deportation amnesty for Venezuelans
The Trump administration accused lower courts of defying Supreme Court rulings as the Department of Homeland Security asked the justices to step in yet again and allow the end of a Biden-era deportation amnesty program for migrants from Venezuela.
Vaccination case heads to Supreme Court as mother challenges California's mandatory immunization law
A mother and son in California have asked the Supreme Court to intervene and let the child back attend school again, saying the state is refusing to allow her a religious exemption to mandatory immunization laws.
Judge dismisses Trump's $15B libel suit against New York Times, allows president to refile complaint
A federal judge has dismissed President Trump's $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, saying the lengthy campaign-style diatribe against the newspaper wasn't professional or proper in a court of law.
Supreme Court to weigh Trump's tariffs on Nov. 5
The Supreme Court will hear the challenge over President Trump's tariffs the first week of November, the court announced Thursday.
