AUGUSTA — A Scarborough man stripped of his constitutional right to an attorney at trial after threatening multiple lawyers is now at the center of a push to have Maine pay for a poor person’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court. Members of the state commission that oversees indigent legal services on Tuesday said they […]
supreme court
Posted inNation / World
Supreme Court rules against Maine men’s gun case
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the broad reach of a federal law that bans people convicted of domestic violence from owning guns. The justices rejected arguments from two Maine men that the law covers only intentional acts of abuse and not those committed in the heat of an argument. The justices reviewed lower […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Supreme Court sends birth control case back to lower courts
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court rid itself Monday of a knotty dispute between faith-based groups and the Obama administration over birth control. The court asked lower courts to take another look at the issue in a search for a compromise. The justices issued an unsigned, unanimous opinion in a case over the arrangement devised by […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Supreme Court arguments start in Obama’s immigration case
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appeared divided between its liberal and conservative justices Monday over President Barack Obama’s immigration programs that could affect millions of people who are in the country illegally. The administration’s best hope for a favorable ruling after 90 minutes of arguments at the high court appeared to rest with Chief Justice […]
Posted inLetters
Cooler heads must prevail
I give kudos to Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King for doing their jobs by considering the president’s nominee, Merrick Garland, to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy. The Constitution is very clear that the president “shall have the Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate… (to) appoint Judges of the […]
Posted inLetters
Texas law must be stopped
The Supreme Court must strike down the Texas law that challenges women’s Constitutional right to make decisions about their own health care. It turns back the clock on women’s rights and jeopardizes the health of future generations of women. That law is set to further limit access to reproductive health care, including contraception and abortion, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Supreme Court upholds population-based electoral districts
WASHINGTON — A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can count everyone, not just eligible voters, in deciding how to draw electoral districts. The justices turned back a challenge from Texas voters that could have dramatically altered political district boundaries and disproportionately affected the nation’s growing Latino population. The court ruled that Texas’ challenged […]
Posted inLetters
Bring the court to full strength
This is in response to Roland Rancourt Jr.’s letter (March 25). Rancourt mentioned a speech given by Joe Biden in June of 1992 about not confirming a nominee for the Supreme Court — I don’t believe Biden’s speech was made into law. So much for hypocrisy. It appears to me that the Republicans are just […]
Posted inLetters
Republican obstructionism
In his letter March 25, Roland Rancourt Jr. hoped that Republican members of the U.S Senate will defer Supreme Court nomination hearings. He didn’t discuss the rationale those Republican members have given for obstructing the process required by the U.S. Constitution. He only talks about what he calls the hypocrisy of Vice President Joe Biden, […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Sen. Susan Collins hopes GOP will agree to Garland hearings
BANGOR — Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins admits she’s not having much luck trying to sway members of her own party to hold a hearing on President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court. But she’s hopeful they’ll come around. Collins said Wednesday she’s encouraged that Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley agreed to meet with Judge […]