U.s. Supreme Court 2012 Term Arguments

A case in which the Court held that eliminating the diminished capacity defense retroactively was reasonable.

A case in which the Court found that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires the plaintiff to prove their employer would not have taken an action but for the existence of improper motives.

A case in which the Court held that attempting to compel a person to issue a recommendation does not constitute extortion under the Hobbs Act.

A case in which the Court held that Congress’ approval of an interstate water compact does not violate the Commerce Clause and that the compact does respect state lines.

A case in which the Court held that it was a violation of the First Amendment to withhold funding from non-government organizations if they did not institute an anti-prostitution policy.

A case in which the Court found that the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act preempts a Virginia state law regarding beneficiary designation upon divorce.

A case in which the Court held that the Fifth Amendment's Self-Incrimination clause does not protect individuals that have not been arrested.

A case in which the Court held that the Necessary and Proper Clause gave Congress the power to create federal crimes and regulate their punishment, as well as apply the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) on a defendant.

A case in which the Court held that a non-custodial parent cannot stop an adoption made lawfully by a non-Indian parent by invoking the ICWA.

A case in which the Court held that when a municipal government is acting as a contract-based participant in the market, as opposed to a market regulator, it could not regulate motor carrier activities.

A case in which the Court held that naturally occurring genes cannot be patented, but a creation of a new product in a lab could be patented.

A case in which the Court held that a magistrate judge's improper participation in plea discussions does not warrant vacating a guilty plea.

A case in which the Court found that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment.

A case in which the Court found that the proponents of California's same-sex marriage ban (Proposition 8) do not have standing to appeal the decision that made Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

A case in which the Court held that an arbitrator did not exceed his power when he interpreted that the parties intended, even if not explicitly, to authorize class-wide arbitration.

A case in which the Court found that antitrust law applies to reverse payment agreements.

A case in which the Court found that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act does not override state law regarding transportation of property.

A case in which the Court held the Takings Clause must be evaluated under the capacity in which the Government fines, and the citizens do not need to file a Takings Clause challenge in the Court of Federal Claims.

A case in which the Court found that federal law preempts state law design-defect claims.

A case in which the Court found that a person who petitions under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act can recover attorney's fees regardless of if the petition was ultimately successful.