Appeal over burn pits rejected
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is rejecting appeals from military veterans who claim they suffer health problems because of open burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The justices on Monday left in place a federal appeals court ruling that more than 60 lawsuits over the burn pits could not go forward.
The lawsuits said military contractor KBR dumped tires, batteries, medical waste and other materials into open burn pits. The suits claimed the resulting smoke caused neurological problems, cancers and other health issues in more than 800 service members. The complaints said at least 12 service members died.
The appeals court said KBR was essentially under military control and had little discretion in deciding how to manage the waste. KBR's attorney said the decision to use burn pits "was made by the military."
KBR was formerly owned by Halliburton Corp.
Court stays out of dispute over appointment
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is refusing to be drawn into a dispute over the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as the acting U.S. attorney general.
The justices on Monday rejected an appeal in a case dealing with gun rights that also included a challenge to President Donald Trump's appointment of Whitaker to temporarily lead the Justice Department.
The appeal claims Whitaker's appointment is illegal under federal law and asks the court to name Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as a party in the case, instead of Whitaker.
The Justice Department in November released an internal legal opinion supporting the legality of Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general. Trump has called Whitaker "a highly respected person."
Former Attorney General William Barr has been nominated by Trump to again lead the Justice Department.
Justices leave in place campaign contribution limits
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is leaving in place Montana's limits on contributions to political campaigns.
The justices on Monday rejected an appeal from opponents of contribution limits. They wanted the court to review an appellate ruling that held the limits are a reasonable way to try to prevent corruption and still allow candidates to raise enough money to run a campaign.
Montana law caps contributions from individuals and political action committees to a gubernatorial candidate at $1,320 while political parties are allowed to donate $47,700. The caps can be adjusted based on inflation.
Court says death row inmate's case should get new look
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is telling Kentucky's highest court to take another look at the case of a serial murder on death row.
The court Monday told the Supreme Court of Kentucky to revisit Larry Lamont White's death sentence in light of a 2017 Supreme Court ruling. That ruling involved a man who claimed, as White does, that he shouldn't be executed because he's intellectually disabled.
White was sentenced to death in 2014 for the 1983 murder of Pamela Armstrong, a 22-year-old mother of five.
White had previously been convicted the 1985 killings of 22-year-old Deborah Miles and 21-year-old Yolanda Sweeney. He was sentenced to death for their murders, but that sentence was later overturned and White accepted a 28-year prison sentence.
Appeal from former Spokane chief denied
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by former Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub alleging due process violations in his ouster from the city.
The Spokesman-Review reports the court's decision last week ends the case. The former chief alleged that the public release of a letter from police brass containing accusations of harassment damaged his reputation, and that he was not afforded the opportunity to defend against those claims before his dismissal from the city in 2015.
A federal judge ruled against Straub in 2016, and a federal appeals court panel upheld that decision last summer - though one of the judges called the city's handling of the termination "a hot mess."
Straub's attorney, Mary Schultz, called the Supreme Court's decision disappointing.
Published: Wed, Jan 16, 2019
