Trump Officials Again Urge US Supreme Court Intervention on Mail Ballots The US Department of Justice has once again petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene in a legal dispute over President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections. The request comes as the administration seeks to halt a recent ruling by a federal judge that blocked the implementation of Trump’s directive to tighten voting-by-mail rules nationwide. The case, which centers on the authority of federal agencies to regulate election procedures, has drawn sharp legal and political divisions, with Trump’s team arguing the order is essential to prevent fraud, while voting rights advocates claim it undermines democratic access. The dispute began in March 2024 when Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to enforce stricter mail-in voting rules. The directive required the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit to states a list of eligible voters, while the Justice Department was tasked with investigating and prosecuting election officials who issued ballots to individuals deemed ineligible under federal law. Additionally, the order mandated the US Postal Service to deliver ballots only to voters on each state’s approved mail-in ballot list. The Postal Service recently announced it would begin implementing these changes, sparking immediate controversy. The legal battle intensified when US District Judge Indira Talwani of Boston issued a ruling on Tuesday, effectively expanding an earlier decision she had made in June. In that initial ruling, Talwani had blocked the enforcement of Trump’s order in 23 Democratic-governed states and Washington, D.C., which had challenged the directive as unconstitutional.#donald_trump #us_supreme_court #us_department_of_justice #us_postal_service #indira_talwani
Refunds Coming for Exporters Owed $10 Billion from Illegal U.S. Tariffs The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in February declared certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) illegal, triggering a massive refund process for affected importers. Over $160 billion in gross revenue was collected from these tariffs before the court’s decision, with Canadian exporters now seeking approximately $10 billion in refunds. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has implemented the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system to manage the refund process, though challenges remain in navigating the complex administrative and legal framework. The CAPE system is operational for most entries, including regular consumption entries and warehouse withdrawal entries. Importers who filed for refunds after their goods were withdrawn from bonded warehouses can now access their money through the automated portal. However, older entries—those that have completed the liquidation process—are still entangled in legal disputes. Liquidation, akin to settling a restaurant bill, occurs by day 314, after which CBP finalizes the duty assessment. Importers have 80 days post-liquidation to claim refunds via CAPE, but after day 81, the portal locks out users unless they file a protest within 180 days. The litigation now centers on “finally liquidated entries,” which are no longer eligible for routine refunds. The Court of International Trade (CIT) ordered CBP to refund duties, but the U.S. government argues that only parties directly involved in the court case should receive refunds. This disagreement has escalated to the Federal Circuit, where the court will decide whether the CIT’s order can apply broadly to all importers.#us_supreme_court #federal_circuit #customs_and_border_protection #court_of_international_trade #cbp
Waaree Energies Reports Record Revenue and Profit in Q1 FY27 Waaree Energies, a leading Indian solar module manufacturer, announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 (Q1 FY27), ending June 2026. The company reported a significant surge in revenue, with operations generating Rs. 7,931.79 crore during the quarter. This marks a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 79.22% compared to Rs. 4,425.83 crore in the same period last year. However, the revenue declined by 6.47% on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis from Rs. 8,480.25 crore recorded in the March 2026 quarter. Net profit for the quarter stood at Rs. 891.87 crore, reflecting a 15.39% YoY growth from Rs. 772.89 crore in Q1 FY26. Despite this increase, the net profit dropped by 20.81% QoQ from Rs. 1,126.26 crore in the previous quarter. The company’s operating EBITDA for the quarter reached Rs. 1,439.92 crore, a 44.38% YoY rise, with margins at 18.15%. Additionally, Waaree added new orders worth Rs. 16,000 crore, bringing its total order book to Rs. 61.5,000 crore. The financial results highlighted mixed performance, with the company attributing its earnings to factors beyond its core operations. Waaree noted that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on reciprocal duties imposed on exporters significantly impacted its financials. Based on refunds accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the company recognized Rs. 349.28 crore as other operating revenue related to the refund of reciprocal duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs. It also recorded a reduction in the cost of assets and inventory worth Rs. 25.13 crore. Exports from India to the U.S. declined sharply from Rs. 1,034 crore to Rs. 287 crore during the quarter. However, domestic U.#us_supreme_court #customs_and_border_protection #waaree_energies #jignesh_rathod #international_emergency_economic_powers_act
Supreme Court Justices Disclose Millions in Book Earnings and Teaching Income The U.S. Supreme Court justices released financial disclosure reports on June 29, 2026, revealing that four justices earned over $2 million collectively in book royalties and other outside income in 2025. The filings, which included details about teaching positions, gifts, and investment transactions, followed heightened scrutiny of the justices’ financial activities after previous revelations about unreported luxury trips and real estate deals. Eight of the nine justices disclosed their 2025 outside income, with conservative Justice Samuel Alito granted a 90-day extension to file his report. Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reported earning $1.18 million in book advances from Penguin Random House for her memoir “Lovely One,” published in 2024. This adds to nearly $2.07 million in book income she disclosed from Penguin in 2024. Jackson also listed a $2,500 gift—a painting titled “Worthy” by Chicago artists Paul Branton and Kristen Williams—which will be displayed in her chambers. Branton described the artwork as a tribute to Jackson, sharing it on social media. Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor disclosed $88,100 in royalties from Penguin Random House for her children’s books “Turning Pages” and “Just Ask!” She noted that these amounts were net of her literary agent’s commission and that Penguin spent $7,473 to promote “Just Shine!” Sotomayor also revealed receiving concert tickets worth $4,333 from Rimas Entertainment, a record company representing Bad Bunny. The tickets were provided during a private trip to Puerto Rico in August 2025. While the report did not specify which concert she attended, the label’s roster includes Bad Bunny, who was performing in San Juan at the time.#us_supreme_court #ketanji_brown_jackson #penguin_random_house #samuel_alito #sonia_sotomayor
Supreme Court Overturns Hawaii's Gun Ban on Public Property The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Hawaii’s law prohibiting firearms on private property open to the public—unless the owner explicitly permits them—is unconstitutional. The 6-3 decision, split along ideological lines, marked a significant shift in the interpretation of Second Amendment rights following the 2022 Bruen ruling, which established a historical test for evaluating gun regulations. The majority, led by conservative justices, argued that the law violated the constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense, while dissenters criticized the ruling as an overreach that prioritized gun rights over public safety and property protections. In the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito emphasized that the law “hobbles what the Second Amendment protects,” framing it as an undue burden on individuals’ right to carry firearms in public spaces. He cited the Bruen standard, which requires modern gun regulations to align with historical practices at the time of the Constitution’s ratification. Alito rejected Hawaii’s attempt to justify the law by referencing 19th-century statutes, such as an 1865 Louisiana law that restricted firearm possession on private property without consent. He called these laws “tainted artifacts” linked to the Black Codes, which historically targeted African American rights, and dismissed Hawaii’s reliance on them as invalid. The dissenting opinion, authored by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and joined by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, argued that the majority had “manipulated” the Bruen precedent to justify a broad interpretation of gun rights.#hawaii #us_supreme_court #samuel_alito #sonia_sotomayor #clarence_thomas
US Importers Begin Seeking Refunds for Nullified Trump Tariffs A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump without constitutional authority is set to launch on Monday, allowing importers and their brokers to begin claiming reimbursements for the taxes the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled invalid. The process, managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will open an online portal at 8 a.m. for companies to submit declarations detailing the goods on which they paid billions in import taxes. If approved, refunds could take 60-90 days to process, though the government plans to handle claims in phases, prioritizing more recent tariff payments. The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on February 20 declared that Trump overstepped his authority by imposing new import tax rates in April 2020, citing the U.S. trade deficit as a national emergency. The ruling invalidated tariffs on products from nearly every country, though the court did not explicitly address refund mechanisms. However, a judge at the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled last month that companies subjected to the IEEPA tariffs were entitled to refunds, setting the stage for the current system. CBP estimates that over 330,000 importers paid a total of $166 billion in tariffs on more than 53 million shipments. However, not all cases qualify for the initial phase of refunds, which applies only to tariffs estimated but not finalized or within 80 days of a final accounting. To participate, importers must register for CBP’s electronic payment system, with 56,497 businesses already enrolled as of April 14, eligible for refunds totaling $127 billion, including interest. Accuracy is critical for successful claims.#donald_trump #us_supreme_court #us_customs_and_border_protection #us_court_of_international_trade #ice_miller
Asia-Pacific Economies Face Growing Economic Risks Amid US-Iran Conflict Asia-Pacific economies have entered 2026 on fragile footing, with the escalating US-Iran conflict adding significant uncertainty to growth prospects for major countries like China, India, and others in the region, according to Moody’s Analytics. The report highlights how the Middle East conflict has intensified existing economic challenges, compounding risks to GDP growth and complicating the outlook for the region. The global economy has endured a series of disruptions since the start of the decade, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Trump administration’s trade policies. Now, the Middle East conflict has introduced another layer of instability, particularly for economies reliant on energy imports. The disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and damage to Gulf energy infrastructure have driven oil prices past $100 per barrel, fueling inflation concerns and straining supply chains. Moody’s Analytics warns that the Middle East conflict has created a “troublesome mix of external threats” for Asia-Pacific economies. The report identifies three key risks: the ongoing conflict, Trump-era tariff policies, and the potential slowdown of the AI-driven economic boom. The conflict’s impact is particularly pronounced for countries dependent on imported energy, such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which maintain strategic oil reserves to buffer against price shocks. However, India and Southeast Asian nations, which have smaller reserves, rely more on price caps and subsidies to protect consumers from volatility. The report notes that while exports have remained strong due to front-loaded shipments ahead of US tariff hikes, domestic demand remains weak across much of the region.#strait_of_hormuz #us_supreme_court #reserve_bank_of_india #taiwan #moody_s_analytics
Immigration News Green Card: Democrats Push TPS Pathway as SIJS Youth Face Detention Pressure Democrats are advancing legislation to create a permanent-residency pathway for long-term Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, while enforcement actions have led to the detention and deportation of young immigrants granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) protections. The conflicting policies highlight the growing tension between expanding legal pathways and strict immigration enforcement. A Democratic lawmaker, Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, introduced the Respect for Essential Workers Act, which aims to protect TPS holders and allow eligible workers to apply for green cards after a set period following the law’s enactment. TPS is a humanitarian designation for nationals of countries experiencing conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. It permits individuals to live and work in the U.S. temporarily but does not automatically grant citizenship. The proposed bill would open an application process for TPS holders, prevent deportation of those classified as essential workers, and enable qualifying individuals to pursue green cards. The policy debate occurs amid efforts to end TPS for nationals of several countries, including Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar, Ethiopia, and Yemen. These terminations affect tens of thousands of migrants, with deadlines ranging from mid-2025 to 2026 for losing TPS protections and work authorization. Legal challenges have delayed or temporarily blocked some terminations. On March 16, the U.S.#us_supreme_court #department_of_homeland_security #representative_sheila_cherfilusmccormick #special_immigrant_juvenile_status #us_citizenship_and_immigration_services
Oldest Active Federal Judge Seeks Supreme Court to Lift Suspension A 98-year-old federal judge, who holds the distinction of being the oldest active judge in the U.S. judiciary, has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her suspension from hearing new cases. Judge Pauline Newman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is seeking to have the suspension lifted, arguing that the action violates her constitutional rights and undermines judicial independence. Newman, who will turn 99 in June, was suspended in 2023 by the Federal Circuit’s judicial council after refusing to undergo medical evaluations to assess claims of memory loss and confusion. The suspension effectively barred her from presiding over new cases, a move she contends is akin to an impeachment process reserved for Congress. In her petition, Newman asserts that the suspension threatens the principle of judicial independence and may infringe upon the separation of powers between branches of government. Her legal challenge centers on the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act, which grants judicial councils authority to investigate allegations of disability against federal judges. Newman argues that the act’s provisions are unconstitutional, as they enable councils to act as a form of impeachment without due process. She claims the law violates her right to a fair legal proceeding and undermines the independence of the judiciary. In August 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to review the bulk of Newman’s challenge to her suspension. The court’s decision, reported by the ABA Journal, left her petition unresolved, prompting her to seek higher judicial review.#us_supreme_court #judicial_conduct_and_disability_act #judge_pauline_newman #aba_journal #law360
Costco Signals Price Cuts If Tariff Refunds Materialize Costco Wholesale, a major U.S. retailer, has indicated it may reduce prices if it receives refunds from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. The company, which joined over 1,000 businesses in suing the government over the legality of the tariffs, emphasized its commitment to lowering costs for customers if refunds become available. The Supreme Court’s ruling in late 2025 overturned Trump’s tariffs, which had been imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Costco’s CEO, Ron Vachris, stated during a post-earnings call that it remains uncertain whether companies will receive refunds for the tariffs paid in 2025. However, he noted that Costco would prioritize passing savings to customers if refunds are processed. The company has already adjusted prices on items like textiles, bedding, and cookware following the reduction of tariffs on countries such as China. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the emergency duties, Trump’s continued enforcement of temporary import levies has added pressure on consumer companies navigating a volatile trade environment and rising costs. Sales at Costco have remained stable as shoppers increasingly seek value amid high living expenses, including rent and fuel costs. Competitors like Walmart and Costco are attracting customers across income levels by offering discounted in-house brands, such as Costco’s Kirkland Signature line. Costco’s quarterly same-store sales, excluding gas, rose 6.7% in the second quarter, surpassing analysts’ expectations of a 5.88% increase. Net income for the period grew nearly 14% to $2.04 billion.#donald_trump #costco_wholesale #us_supreme_court #ron_vachris #kirkland_signature
