Supreme court

May 26, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to serve on the United State Supreme Court:

“Throughout her impressive life and career, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has demonstrated the integrity, leadership and intellect that make her an outstanding nominee to our nation’s highest court. I congratulate President Obama for his selection of Judge Sotomayor, a native New Yorker whose legal mind will undoubtedly benefit our entire judicial system.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- SANTA FE -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today praised President Barack Obama’s selection of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the United States Supreme Court.

“The President made an excellent choice in picking Judge Sotomayor, making her the first Hispanic Justice on the US Supreme Court,” said Governor Richardson.

“Her life experience combined with her legal intellect should make Judge Sotomayor an outstanding member of the Court. President Obama should be commended for combining diversity and impeccable legal credentials in his selection."

Source: New Mexico Governor

May 26, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine issued the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court:

"I am very pleased President Obama has chosen to diversify the court and reflect the multi-cultural heritage of our nation by nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court. The first Hispanic nominee to the high court, Judge Sotomayor claims excellent judicial qualifications, as evidenced by her distinguished tenure on the bench, and superb academic qualifications, that will truly make her an exceptional candidate for our times.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter issued the following statement today regarding President Obama's nomination of U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court:

"I applaud President Obama's historic nomination of U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court.    » read more »

05/26/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after the California Supreme Court issued its ruling on Proposition 8:

“While I believe that one day either the people or courts will recognize gay marriage, as Governor of California I will uphold the decision of the California Supreme Court.

"Regarding the 18,000 marriages that took place prior to Proposition 8’s passage, the Court made the right decision in keeping them intact. I also want to encourage all those responding to today’s Court decision to do so peacefully and lawfully.”

Source: California Governor

May 15, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – At the direction of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the state Department of Law filed a supplemental brief today with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting development of the Kensington Mine near Juneau.

“The state’s legal efforts, including the supplemental brief filed today, show support for developing our resources responsibly, growing Alaska’s economy and creating well-paying jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The brief should assist the Supreme Court with rendering a decision that finally allows the Kensington Mine to move ahead.”    » read more »

Statement of Allison Zieve, Senior Attorney, Public Citizen*

May 11, 2009 -- On Tuesday, the Health Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing on the Medical Device Safety Act of 2009 (H.R. 1346) – legislation that would restore important consumer protections eliminated by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Riegel v. Medtronic.

In the February 2008 Riegel ruling, the court held that the 1976 law that gives the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate medical devices also immunizes manufacturers of many medical devices from liability for injury caused by their products.    » read more »

April 17, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Supreme Court today issued an order that allows the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling to hold onto the slot machines and cash seized in March during a raid on the White Hall gambling facility in Lowndes County. Former Supreme Court Justice Mark Kennedy had ordered the Task Force to return the slot machines and cash, but the Task Force challenged Kennedy’s ability to decide the case based upon his ties to gambling interests in the state.    » read more »

How the Supreme Court Has Broken the Clean Water Act and Why Congress Must Fix It

Washington (April 14, 2009) -- For decades, the Clean Water Act has broadly protected America’s lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water sources from unregulated pollution and destruction, rescuing them from the dire straits they were in during the late 1960s and early 1970s. But because of a concerted effort by polluters and developers, and muddied rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court, up to 60 percent (at least 15,000 important waters) have lost these vital protections and countless other waters (including more than 50 percent of our streams and 20 million acres of wetlands) are at risk of losing protections.    » read more »

Key Decision in Response to Landmark Supreme Court Case Said to Be Announced April 16

March 10, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.--Coming on the same day that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first national reporting standards for global warming emissions, leaked information obtained by Greenwire shows that the Agency plans to issue an important, long-awaited finding on global warming’s impact on public health and welfare on April 16, with a 60-day public comment period and two public hearings to follow before the document is finalized.    » read more »

ill Would Allow Patients Hurt by Faulty Medical Devices To Hold Manufacturers Accountable

March 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congress should quickly pass legislation introduced today that would restore the rights of patients injured by defective or poorly labeled medical devices to hold manufacturers accountable in court, Public Citizen said today.

The Medical Device Safety Act is sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). Public Citizen and nine other public interest groups sent letters to Kennedy, Waxman and Pallone urging prompt action on the bills.    » read more »

Statement of Brian Wolfman, Director, Litigation Group at Public Citizen

March 4, 2009 -- "We are extremely gratified that the U.S. Supreme Court today in Wyeth v. Levine upheld the traditional right of patients harmed by defective and mislabeled drugs to sue drug companies to recover compensation for their injuries.

Drug companies are not perfect, and they sometimes fail to identify and inform doctors and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of problems with their products or their products’ labels. Nor is the FDA perfect. It is overworked and underfunded, and it depends almost entirely on drug companies for information about the safety and effectiveness of drugs.    » read more »

Feb. 25, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri and Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch commented on the decision by the United State Supreme Court in Carcieri v. Salazar (Secretary of the Interior). The Supreme Court found in favor of the State of Rhode Island, reversing the judgment of the US Court of Appeals.

The implication of this decision is that all laws and statutes of the State of Rhode Island will be applied equally to the Narragansett Indian Tribe as they do to all citizens of Rhode Island, including taxation, gambling, zoning, and all other civil and criminal laws.    » read more »

Following New Administration’s Request, U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case

WASHINGTON (February 23, 2009) -- The United States Supreme Court this morning declined to consider a Bush-era rule that would have allowed a cap-and-trade approach to toxic mercury emitted by the U.S. power industry. This decision invalidates the Bush rule and sets a new course that will help protect America’s waterways from toxic mercury pollution.    » read more »

16 June 2008 -- Thousands of same-sex couples are expected to wed in California following the state's Supreme Court ruling that overturned a ban on gay marriage.

State officials will issue the first marriage licenses at 5pm local time.

In a four to three decision in May, the California Supreme Court ruled against a voter-approved law that restricted marriage to a man and woman.

The court said the state constitution's guarantee of equal rights gives same-sex couples the right to marry.

California voters will have a chance to overturn the court ruling in November when they vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage to a man and a woman.

Twenty-seven U.S. states have amended their constitutions to limit marriage to a union between a man and a woman.    » read more »