Supreme Court Declines Review of High-Profile Legal Disputes
Justices reject cases involving George Floyd protests, Roberto Clemente's estate, and privacy claims.
1Supreme Court Rejects Petitions
The Supreme Court declined to review over 200 cases following its November 6 conference. Among the rejected petitions were disputes stemming from the 2020 George Floyd protests in Minneapolis, claims regarding the legacy of baseball legend Roberto Clemente, and privacy allegations brought by actor Randy Quaid and his wife, Evgenia Quaid.
2Minneapolis Business Property Claims
Businesses located at the intersection where George Floyd was killed sought review after the city blocked access with concrete barricades for over a year. The plaintiffs alleged this action violated the Constitution’s takings clause by causing economic losses and increased crime. Lower courts previously denied their requests for compensation and judicial relief.
3Clemente Estate Image Dispute
The sons of Roberto Clemente challenged Puerto Rico’s use of their father’s image on license plates. The initiative generated 15 million dollars but sparked public resentment toward the family. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that takings clause claims are intended for public property use, not protecting individual family legacies.
4Privacy Claims by the Quaids
Randy and Evgenia Quaid alleged that a Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department employee shared restricted law-enforcement database information without authorization. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals previously dismissed the case, citing the litigation privilege doctrine. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal effectively ends the couple’s pursuit of this privacy lawsuit.
5Terrorism Litigation and AstraZeneca
In a separate development, the justices requested the solicitor general’s views on AstraZeneca UK Ltd. v. Atchley. This case examines whether terrorism victims can sue major pharmaceutical and medical-device companies under the Antiterrorism Act. The plaintiffs allege these firms aided and abetted terrorists operating in Iraq, raising significant questions regarding corporate liability.
6Transgender Rights Case Remanded
The court sent Roybal v. Griffith back to a lower court for reconsideration regarding jail policies for transgender inmates. This decision follows recent rulings in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and United States v. Skrmetti, which addressed transgender participation in sports and medical treatments for minors under the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
7Upcoming December Oral Arguments
The justices granted the solicitor general permission to participate in three upcoming December arguments. These include cases concerning the Eighth Amendment’s excessive fines clause regarding a 95,000 dollar airplane forfeiture, the Second Amendment’s application to semiautomatic rifle bans, and parental standing to challenge state laws involving gender-transition services for runaway minors.
8Judicial Discretion and Finality
The court’s decision to deny review in these diverse matters underscores the limited capacity of the justices to address every legal conflict. By declining these petitions, the Supreme Court allows lower court rulings to stand, maintaining the current legal status quo across various constitutional, property, and privacy issues throughout the United States.
Original article: SCOTUSblog — Supreme Court Declines Review of High-Profile Legal Disputes