Legal News Roundup: July 8

Posted in In the news on July 8, 2020

Here’s a roundup of some major legal stories from the past week.

Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Robocalls

NPR – The Supreme Court upheld a law that prohibits robocalls to cellphones. They also removed the exception for government-debt collection calls. Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan dissented.

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States Can Punish Electoral College Voters

CNN –  The Supreme Court ruled that states can punish electoral college voters who break a pledge to vote for a state’s popular vote winner in presidential elections. In 2016, 10 of the 538 presidential electors “went rogue.” The decision comes as the election season is fast approaching.

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U.S. Says Foreign Students May Have to Leave if Their School Goes Online-Only

The government’s ruling is a blow to many international students.

NBC News – The government announced that international students will not be allowed to remain in the country if the institution in which they’re enrolled is holding online-only courses this fall. Those failing to comply with the rules could face deportation. Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are suing over the ruling.

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County Subpoenas Partygoers Who Didn’t Cooperate in COVID-19 Contact Tracing

ABA Journal – Officials in Rockland County, New York, issued subpoenas when people who attended a party refused to cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracers. Up to 100 people attended the party hosted by a person showing symptoms of being sick. The host tested positive for COVID-19, along with eight others who attended the event. At the time, the state limited gatherings to 10 people. All eight people who received the subpoenas decided to cooperate

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