Introduction Often described as a cornerstone of American constitutional law, Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) established the federal government’s broad authority over interstate commerce, shaping the balance of power between state and federal governments. Argued before the U.S. Supreme Court at a time when America was still in its infancy, the case pitted two steamboat operators—and,…
Case Study: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) — Expanding the Right to Counsel in State Criminal Trials Introduction In the pantheon of landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Gideon v. Wainwright stands as a powerful affirmation of due process and equal protection under the law. Decided in 1963, the ruling cemented the principle that the Sixth Amendment’s…
Former President Donald J. Trump suffered a major legal defeat Friday after U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell struck down his Executive Order 14230, which had imposed sweeping federal sanctions against the prominent law firm Perkins Coie LLP. The court ruled that the order was an unconstitutional abuse of executive authority and a retaliatory attack on…
More than 700 partners from top U.S. law firms have joined forces in a legal brief supporting Susman Godfrey LLP in its constitutional challenge against the Trump administration. The unprecedented show of solidarity, submitted Friday by the group Law Firm Partners United (LFPU), argues that a recent executive order targeting Susman Godfrey violates multiple constitutional…
Harvard University has filed a sweeping 51-page federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully freezing $2 billion in research funding in retaliation for the university’s alleged failure to crack down on antisemitism. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, claims the government is abusing its authority to force ideological compliance from one…
A prominent conservative federal judge has delivered a blistering rebuke of the Trump administration’s handling of the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, calling its actions “shocking” and a fundamental violation of constitutional due process. In a sharply worded Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion issued Thursday, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a Reagan appointee with…
In a high-stakes legal battle with constitutional implications, litigation powerhouse Susman Godfrey LLP on Monday, April 14, 2025, filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order to block enforcement of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that targets the firm’s operations and clients. The motion was filed in the U.S. District Court…
As the United States Supreme Court faces a wave of consequential litigation under the administration of President Donald J. Trump, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is distinguishing herself as the Court’s most forceful and independent liberal voice—issuing a series of sharply worded dissents that directly challenge both executive actions and the conservative majority’s procedural posture. In…
A new federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., is challenging President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on election regulations, arguing that it unlawfully encroaches on state authority and voter rights. The lawsuit, led by the Democratic National Committee, claims Executive Order 14248, titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” violates federal law and…