Internal memos reveal that the Supreme Court’s use of the “shadow docket” to bypass traditional procedures for issuing rulings originated with a swift decision against the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. This 2016 ruling, made with minimal explanation and without full judicial review, has since become a routine method for the Court to decide high-stakes matters. Liberal justices have expressed concern over this shift, noting its lack of transparency and the increasing use of the shadow docket to shape public policy.
Read More
A U.S. judge has made the decision to permanently block the release of a prosecutor’s report concerning the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, which focused on his alleged unlawful retention of classified documents. This ruling means that the Justice Department is now barred from making this report public.
The judge, Aileen Cannon, determined that releasing the report would constitute a “manifest injustice” to Trump and two other individuals who were charged alongside him. Her reasoning was based on the fact that the report would detail substantial allegations of criminal wrongdoing in a case that was ultimately dismissed and never proceeded to a jury trial.… Continue reading
The Department of Justice partially released files related to Jeffrey Epstein, but faced criticism for not fulfilling the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that several hundred thousand documents would be released, with more to follow, but this partial release drew rebukes and threats of legal action. The law mandates the release of all Epstein-related documents within 30 days of its enactment, but the DOJ’s actions appear to go against the act’s language. Leading figures from both sides of the aisle expressed disappointment, emphasizing the need for complete transparency and accountability.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood