WASHINGTON — Five lawyers will take turns at the Supreme Court lectern Tuesday for the highly anticipated and extended arguments over same-sex marriage. Among them are the Obama administration’s top lawyer at the high court, with more than two dozen arguments behind him, and two lawyers making their first appearance before the justices. The cases […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Supreme Court shows deep division over ACA
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is sharply divided over the tax subsidies that make insurance affordable for millions of Americans under President Barack Obama’s health overhaul. The justices on Wednesday aggressively questioned the lawyers on both sides of the latest politically charged fight over the Affordable Care Act. Chief Justice John Roberts said almost nothing […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. Supreme Court to hear same-sex marriage case
WASHINGTON — Setting the stage for a potentially historic ruling, the Supreme Court says it will decide whether same-sex couples nationwide have a right to marry under the Constitution. The justices said Friday they will review an appellate ruling that upheld bans on same-sex unions in four states. The case will be argued in April […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Group addresses runaway federal government
LEWISTON — Michael Farris doesn’t mince words on the matter: The United States is on the road to tyranny and there are few options left to rein it in. The federal government is out of control, Farris said, spending with abandon, regulating us into oblivion and generally trampling the U.S. Constitution by knowingly misinterpreting the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine Supreme Court OKs Grand Falls wind farm
GRAND FALLS TOWNSHIP — Maine’s highest court is upholding a state Board of Environmental Protection decision to give a developer the go-ahead to build a wind farm on Passadumkeag Ridge in Grand Falls Township. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued a ruling on Tuesday that affirmed the board’s decision. The nonprofit Passadumkeag Mountain Friends had […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Constitution Day observed Wednesday at UMF
FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington will observe Constitution Day with a U.S. Supreme Court case review by Jim Melcher, UMF professor of political science and adviser for the UMF pre-law program. Free and open to the public, the eighth annual Constitution Day will be presented at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in […]
Posted inLetters
P.T. Sawyer: A matter of choices
I am writing to urge American women not to be apathetic in the face of threatened erosion of their reproductive rights, especially in light of the June 30 Supreme Court ruling on a case brought against Hobby Lobby. Please let me introduce myself: I am not an activist or even politically well informed. But I […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Supreme court strikes down protest-free zones around abortion clinics
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a 35-foot protest-free zone outside abortion clinics in Massachusetts. The justices were unanimous in ruling that extending a buffer zone 35 feet from clinic entrances violates the First Amendment rights of protesters. Chief Justice John Roberts said authorities have less intrusive ways to deal with problems […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine supreme court rejects appeal in raw milk case
PORTLAND (AP) — The state supreme court has rejected a Blue Hill farmer’s challenge of regulations requiring him to spend thousands of dollars to be licensed to sell raw milk at his farm stand. Farmer Dan Brown wanted to continue selling milk the way he had for years based on his understanding from state officials […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Supreme court supports prayer at public meetings
WASHINGTON — Prayers that open town council meetings do not violate the Constitution even if they routinely stress Christianity, a divided Supreme Court ruled Monday. The court said in 5-4 decision that the content of the prayers is not significant as long as they do not denigrate non-Christians or proselytize. The ruling by the court’s […]