U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that detained migrants have the right to due process protections and must receive a bond hearing within 90 days.

The Supreme Court ruled in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections that federal spending programs should be treated as contracts, limiting the ability to sue individual government officials under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLIUPA). The decision, 6-3 along ideological lines, held that officials cannot be sued unless they explicitly consent, effectively weakening enforcement of RLIUPA against violations.

In Hunter v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that appeal waivers in federal criminal plea bargains are unenforceable if they result in a 'miscarriage of justice.' The case involved Munson Hunter III, who waived his right to appeal but argued that a court-ordered medication condition during supervised release violated his constitutional rights.

Texas is urging the Supreme Court to maintain an order by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, allowing enforcement of the App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420), which requires age verification and parental consent for minors accessing apps and paid content. The law faces challenges from groups including Students Engaged in Advancing Texas and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, who argue it imposes excessive restrictions on digital content access and app developers.

The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that a defendant can appeal a supervised-release condition even with an appellate waiver if enforcing it causes a miscarriage of justice. The case of Munson Hunter, who pleaded guilty to aiding wire fraud, was sent back to the 5th Circuit for further review.

A student group and the Computer and Communications Industry Association petitioned the Supreme Court to block Texas from enforcing SB 2420, a law requiring age verification and parental consent for minors' access to apps and paid content. They argue the law violates the First Amendment and imposes burdens on app developers. The 5th Circuit previously placed a hold on a federal judge's order blocking the law, prompting the emergency Supreme Court request.

The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the FCC's process for imposing penalties on telecom companies for legal violations does not violate the Seventh Amendment's right to a jury trial. AT&T and Verizon had challenged $57 million and $47 million penalties, respectively, for mishandling customer data, but the Court upheld the FCC's authority to issue enforceable orders requiring payment.

The Supreme Court sent a Florida death-row inmate's case back to lower courts and granted a new case involving the First Step Act. The case involves an inmate seeking transfer to a halfway house under the Act, with the Court to decide on the legal approach.

The Supreme Court paused a lower court ruling, allowing abortion pills to remain available through mail. The decision halted a May 1 order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. This ruling will stay in effect while a lawsuit proceeds.

The Supreme Court has extended a pause on abortion pill restrictions until Thursday, allowing abortion pills to remain available through the mail. Justice Samuel Alito extended the temporary pause on a lower court ruling that would have blocked access nationwide. The lawsuit is ongoing, and the earlier order required women to visit a healthcare provider in-person to obtain mifepristone.