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Civil rights

Every story on LexCircuit filed under civil rights: court orders, regulation, ethics opinions, litigation and research, each summarized across its sources.

41 stories

9TH CIR.Court order

Ninth Circuit keeps California's captive audience meeting ban on hold

A Ninth Circuit panel affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking California's SB 399, which bars employers from disciplining workers who skip mandatory meetings about religious or political matters. Judge Richard Tallman wrote that the law applies only when employers express opinions at those meetings, so it regulates speech based on content. The court found the business groups likely to succeed on their First Amendment claim and did not decide federal labor-law preemption.

Order (Courthouse News Service) → · Law360
N.D. TEX.Breaches and incidents

Racial remarks to lawyer triggered misconduct probe of Dallas federal judge Ada Brown

A misconduct complaint against U.S. District Judge Ada Brown of the Northern District of Texas followed an April 2026 sanctions hearing in Dallas at which she repeatedly called attorney Ezra Young, who is Latino, white and accused him of mistreating Black lawyers, according to a hearing transcript reported by Bloomberg Law. The complaint helped launch a Fifth Circuit investigation; Brown temporarily lost her docket and a special committee ordered a psychiatric examination. Brown denies wrongdoing.

Report (Bloomberg Law) → · ABA Journal
N.Y.Court order

New York's top court removes Canandaigua town justice over racial slur and biased remarks

The New York Court of Appeals on October 27, 2026, removed Canandaigua Town Justice Walter W. Jones from office, accepting the Commission on Judicial Conduct's recommended sanction. The court found Jones used a racial slur while recounting a story to a court staff member and a public defender in May 2024, then days later said from the bench that a Black defendant had played the race card.

Order (WXXI News) → · Bloomberg Law, ABA Journal
U.S. FEDCourt order

Fourth Circuit strikes down West Virginia Daniel's Law in suits against Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a ruling that West Virginia's Daniel's Law, which restricts publishing the home addresses and phone numbers of judicial and law enforcement officials, violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. A former state law enforcement officer had sued Thomson Reuters America, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and other people-search providers under the law. The court said the statute's lack of a notice requirement, which similar laws include, was fatal.

Order (Bloomberg Law) → · National Law Journal, Law360
INDIA · SCILitigation

India's Supreme Court seeks government reply to publishers' data protection law challenge

The Supreme Court of India on October 27, 2026, issued notice to the central government on a petition by the Digital News Publishers Association, representing 21 digital news publishers, challenging the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and its 2025 rules. The publishers argue the law lacks a journalism exemption. The court declined an interim stay without hearing the government and listed the case for November 17.

Filing (LiveLaw) → · Bar & Bench, The Times of India
M.D.N.C.Litigation

Tyler Technologies agrees to $1.5 million settlement over North Carolina eCourts arrests

Tyler Technologies, the vendor behind North Carolina's eCourts court records system, has agreed to pay up to $1.5 million to settle a federal class action by people allegedly wrongly arrested or held too long because of software problems. Plaintiffs asked the Middle District of North Carolina on October 26, 2026, to approve the deal, which needs preliminary and final court approval.

Filing (The Assembly) → · Carolina Journal
S.D.N.Y.Court order

Judge rules Justice Department unlawfully fired prosecutor Maurene Comey

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled on October 26, 2026, that the Justice Department illegally fired Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor in Manhattan and the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, because the firing violated civil service protections and her due process rights. He rejected the government's argument that presidential removal power covered the firing and said Comey is entitled to reinstatement and back pay. The department said it would appeal.

Order (Bloomberg Law) → · NPR
5TH CIR.Court order

En banc Fifth Circuit rules detained unadmitted immigrants have no right to bond hearings

The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled 10-7 on October 23, 2026 that immigrants who entered the country without being admitted have no constitutional right to a bond hearing while detained during deportation proceedings, even if they are long-term residents. The decision in Sosnava Rodriguez v. Vergara reverses habeas rulings that freed three Texas men and backs the administration's no-bond detention policy in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Order (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit) → · The Texas Tribune
9TH CIR.Court order

Ninth Circuit rules Trump lacked authority to federalize California National Guard in Los Angeles

A split Ninth Circuit panel on October 23, 2026, affirmed a preliminary injunction against President Trump's June 2025 federalization of the California National Guard in Los Angeles. Judge Jennifer Sung, joined by Judge Eric Miller, held that the deployment exceeded the president's statutory authority and rejected claims of a rebellion, relying on the Supreme Court's Trump v. Illinois ruling. Judge Mark Bennett dissented.

Order (Courthouse News Service) → · Bloomberg Law, Law360

Rulings this week

All court orders

5TH CIR.Court order

Fifth Circuit vacates Mississippi anti-DEI injunction and reassigns case after AI-tainted rulings

A Fifth Circuit panel on October 22, 2026, vacated U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate's preliminary injunction against Mississippi's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools and universities, and ordered the case reassigned on remand. Writing for the panel, Judge Jerry Smith cited AI hallucinations in Wingate's temporary restraining order and said the court misapplied the Supreme Court's facial-challenge standard.

Order (Law.com) → · Bloomberg Law, Courthouse News Service
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court refuses to let Bureau of Prisons enforce policy ending transgender inmates' care

The Supreme Court on October 21, 2026, denied the Trump administration's request to pause a federal judge's order barring the Bureau of Prisons from enforcing its February 2026 policy on health care for transgender inmates. The policy would have stopped inmates from obtaining hormone therapy and social accommodations such as makeup and wigs. Justices Alito and Thomas would have granted the request.

Order (SCOTUSblog) → · ABA Journal (The Washington Post)
11TH CIR.Court order

Eleventh Circuit: Escambia school board members can be deposed over library book removal votes

A divided Eleventh Circuit panel on October 19, 2026, held that Escambia County, Florida, school board members cannot use legislative privilege to avoid depositions about why they voted to remove specific library books. Judge Andrew Brasher, joined by Judge Jill Pryor, ruled the votes applied existing policy and were administrative acts. Chief Judge William Pryor dissented. PEN America, Penguin Random House, authors and parents allege First Amendment violations.

Order (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit) → · Courthouse News Service
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court will hear Asian-American parents' challenge to Maryland magnet school lottery

The U.S. Supreme Court on October 19, 2026, agreed to hear Association for Education Fairness v. Montgomery County Board of Education, a challenge by mostly Asian-American parents to admissions for four selective magnet middle schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. The justices limited review to whether a plaintiff attacking a facially neutral admissions policy as racially discriminatory must show aggregate disparate impact relative to the group's share of applicants.

Order (Supreme Court of the United States) → · NBC News, SCOTUSblog
4TH CIR.Court order

Fourth Circuit rules Catholic Relief Services violated Title VII by ending same-sex spouse's coverage

A divided Fourth Circuit on October 16, 2026, affirmed that Catholic Relief Services violated Title VII and Maryland law by terminating a gay employee's husband's health coverage. The 2-1 panel held Title VII's religious-organization exemption covers only religion-based employment decisions, not sex discrimination motivated by religious belief, and rejected the group's RFRA, church autonomy and Free Exercise defenses.

Order (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit) → · Bloomberg Law, Law360 Employment Authority
CAL.Litigation

DOJ sues California over more than 20,000 registrants it says are likely noncitizens

The Justice Department sued California on October 15, 2026, seeking to stop tabulation of vote-by-mail ballots from more than 20,000 people it says are likely noncitizens after comparing state voter rolls with federal immigration data. Voting-rights groups warned the suit may conflict with an October 9, 2026, D.C. court order vacating DOJ's voter-roll purge policy, Above the Law and Democracy Docket reported.

Filing (U.S. Department of Justice) → · Democracy Docket, Above the Law
U.S. FEDCourt order

Eleventh Circuit lets Florida enforce social media limits for children under 14

A three-judge Eleventh Circuit panel on October 14, 2026 reversed and vacated a preliminary injunction against Florida's HB 3, holding the law likely constitutional as applied to members of the Computer & Communications Industry Association. The panel said HB 3 is likely content-neutral and survives intermediate scrutiny. HB 3 bars children under 14 from opening accounts on platforms with certain addictive features and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds.

Order (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit) → · Florida Phoenix, NetChoice
CAL.Litigation

ACLU asks California civil rights agency to investigate Criteria's Emotify hiring assessment

The ACLU and the ACLU of Northern California filed a complaint on October 6, 2026, asking the California Civil Rights Department to investigate Criteria Corp.'s hiring assessments. The complaint centers on Emotify, an emotional intelligence test the groups say closely mirrors clinical autism diagnostic tools and may unlawfully screen out disabled applicants under state and federal law.

Filing (ACLU of Northern California) → · Bloomberg Law, Law360
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court vacates rulings on Washington legislative map, orders Ninth Circuit review under Callais

The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Garcia v. Hobbs and Trevino v. Hobbs, vacated the judgments and remanded both cases to the Ninth Circuit for further consideration in light of Louisiana v. Callais. The challengers, including a Republican state lawmaker, had argued that Washington's court-drawn Yakima Valley legislative map was a racial gerrymander after a 2023 ruling found the prior map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Order (Supreme Court of the United States) → · Courthouse News Service, Democracy Docket, Campaign Legal Center
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court declines Maine lobstermen's Fourth Amendment challenge to boat tracking

The U.S. Supreme Court on October 5, 2026, declined to review a challenge by Maine lobstermen to a state Department of Marine Resources rule requiring continuous tracking of vessels that hold federal lobster permits. The denial leaves in place a First Circuit ruling that the rule does not violate the Fourth Amendment's protection against warrantless searches because commercial fishing is a closely regulated industry.

Order (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360
CAL.Regulation

California limits employers' use of automated decision systems in discipline and firing

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 947 on September 30, 2026. From July 1, 2027, employers may not rely solely on an automated decision system to discipline or fire a worker; when they primarily rely on one, a human must corroborate the decision and the employer must give the employee written post-use notice. Employers may not use such systems to infer protected status or predict and punish workers for exercising legal rights.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, Office of Senator Jerry McNerney
CAL.Regulation

California requires a state prosecutor to investigate immigration-officer shootings that kill unarmed civilians

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1806 on September 29, 2026. New Government Code section 12525.4 requires a state prosecutor, the Attorney General unless another is named, to conduct an independent investigation of any shooting by an immigration enforcement officer that kills an unarmed civilian, and to prepare a written report with a statement of facts and a detailed analysis and conclusion on each investigatory issue.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires police to inform crime victims of immigration-relief rights by 2028

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1994, the Defending Immigrant Victims Act, on September 29, 2026. It adds Penal Code section 679.028, requiring law enforcement and prosecutors to inform crime victims — or their next of kin, parents, or guardians — of immigration-relief rights by January 1, 2028. The Attorney General must design an 'Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources' card covering U and T visas, VAWA relief, the cooperation requirement, and legal-services resources.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California bars officers from obstructing medical care for people in their control

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2318 on September 29, 2026. It adds Penal Code section 832.11, making it unlawful for law enforcement — including federal officers acting under color of law — to deny, delay, or obstruct medical care for a person under their control when safe and reasonable and a medical professional requested care or is present and willing. Denials must be documented within 72 hours and reported to civilian oversight when a professional was present.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California bans wearable electroshock 'shock gloves' in law enforcement through 2029

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2760 on September 29, 2026. The bill adds Government Code section 7286.1, prohibiting law enforcement — including federal officers operating in California — from using wearable electroshock devices known as shock gloves through January 1, 2030. It bars the use of state funds to purchase the devices and directs the Department of Justice to complete a study of them by January 1, 2029.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California No Kings Act creates state-law action for federal constitutional violations under color of law

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 747, the No Kings Act, on September 29, 2026 (Chapter 752, Statutes of 2026), adding Civil Code section 53.8 as an urgency statute effective immediately. Any natural person who, under color of law, deprives someone of federal constitutional rights is liable to the injured party, and immunity defenses are limited to those available under 42 U.S.C. 1983. Claims must be filed within two years.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California bars civil arrests at courthouses and within 1,000 feet of them

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 873 on September 29, 2026. Civil Code section 43.54 bars civil arrests at a courthouse, including public ways within 1,000 feet, and of people traveling to or from one for lawful activity; arrests under a valid judicial warrant are exempt. Violators are liable for false imprisonment or false arrest, with actual damages plus $10,000 in statutory damages. Court security must ask entering officers for identification, purpose and a judicial warrant.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires developers and users of clinical AI tools to identify and mitigate biased impacts

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 503 on September 30, 2026. From January 1, 2027, developers of AI clinical decision support systems used in health programs must identify systems with known or foreseeable risk of biased impacts, disclose intended uses and risks to deployers, and make reasonable efforts to mitigate that risk. Deployers must regularly monitor the systems and take reasonable, proportionate steps to mitigate biased impacts.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
U.S. FEDRegulation

Education Department repeals 2024 Title IX rule and recodifies prior text

The Education Department published a final rule repealing its 2024 Title IX regulations and recodifying the text that existed before the 2024 rulemaking at 34 CFR part 106. The department said the 2024 rule was vacated nationwide and had not been enforced for over a year and a half. The rule omits four obsolete provisions, including a sentence vacated by Victim Rights Law Center v. Cardona. It took effect September 29, 2026.

Text (Federal Register) →
U.S. FEDRegulation

SBA removes affirmative action and disparate-impact provisions from Title VI rules

The Small Business Administration published a final rule rescinding provisions of its Title VI regulations (13 CFR part 112) that authorized or required affirmative action by SBA program applicants and recipients. The rule also removes references to employment practices and drops disparate-impact coverage, stating the regulations prohibit only intentional discrimination. SBA cited a December 2025 DOJ Title VI revision and Executive Order 14281. The rule took effect September 29, 2026.

Text (Federal Register) →
NICARAGUA · NI HIGH COURTCourt order

NI High Court upholds Parades Commission Drumcree Garvaghy Road determination

In a hearing that ended at 2:15am BST on September 27, 2026, Mr Justice Michael Humphreys of the High Court in Northern Ireland dismissed a remitted challenge by Garvaghy Road residents to the Parades Commission determination allowing a limited Orange Order parade along the road, Belfast Live, The Irish Times and The Independent reported. He held the commission’s decision was reasoned and not irrational, saying the court cannot substitute its view for the commission’s.

Order (The Irish Times) → · The Independent, Belfast Live
NICARAGUA · NI CACourt order

NI Court of Appeal overturns injunction barring Drumcree Garvaghy Road parade

At an 11:30pm sitting on September 26, 2026, Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal allowed an appeal against a High Court injunction that had temporarily blocked the Parades Commission’s determination permitting an Orange Order parade along Portadown’s Garvaghy Road on September 27, The Independent and The Irish Times reported. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said Justice Patricia Smyth, who granted the Saturday injunction, had “unfortunately erred in law.”

Order (The Independent) → · The Irish Times
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court stays block on modified SAVE voter citizenship database

The Supreme Court on September 25, 2026 stayed a District of Columbia federal court order that had vacated DHS’s modified Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program used to help states verify voter citizenship. The unsigned majority said challengers likely have standing but are unlikely to succeed on Social Security Act, Privacy Act and APA claims, citing 8 U.S.C. §1373. Justices Jackson, Sotomayor and Kagan dissented.

Order (SCOTUSblog) → · Supreme Court of the United States, BBC News, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
UK · EATCourt order

EAT: TUPE assignment unaffected by allegedly unlawful redeployment

In McConnell v WM Morrisons Supermarkets Ltd [2026] EAT 149, the Employment Appeal Tribunal held that the lawfulness of an employer’s redeployment decision forms no part of the TUPE “assigned” test, Solicitors Journal and GOV.UK reported on September 25, 2026. HHJ Feeny nonetheless remitted the claimant’s indirect disability discrimination and reasonable-adjustments complaints after finding the employment tribunal had misunderstood those claims.

Order (Solicitors Journal) → · GOV.UK
UKLitigation

Tribunal lets Gitpod disability claimant pursue £76m schedule of loss

The Birmingham Employment Tribunal refused Gitpod’s bid to cap Shannon Burns’s disability-discrimination schedule of loss at £1 million, allowing her to pursue about £76 million, The Independent reported on September 24, 2026. Burns, a former Gitpod vice-president of engineering with ADHD, previously won liability findings after her dismissal following a work trip. The tribunal also ordered disclosure of the value of Gitpod’s sale to OpenAI; a remedies hearing remains pending subject to appeal.

Filing (The Independent) → · Scottish Legal News
U.S. FEDProduct launches

Harvey launches US, UK, and Australia pro bono program with major-firm design partners

Harvey launched a dedicated pro bono program in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia on September 22, 2026, Artificial Lawyer and LawSites reported. First-phase design partners are senior pro bono leaders at Ashurst Perkins Coie, DLA Piper, and Nelson Mullins; Harvey will build custom agents for high-volume casework, dedicate legal engineering support in the US and UK, and plans a later free-access pilot for frontline legal services organizations.

Announcement (Artificial Lawyer) → · LawSites
D.D.C.Litigation

CNN, MS NOW, and Politico sue Trump in federal court over White House press access ban

CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a joint lawsuit against President Donald Trump and senior administration officials in Washington federal court on September 21, 2026, challenging the revocation of press credentials. The twenty-seven-page complaint alleges the administration violated the First Amendment by imposing viewpoint-discriminatory exclusions based on editorial coverage and violated Fifth Amendment due process by banning journalists without notice, hearing, or published standards.

Filing (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) → · NPR, Bloomberg Law, Journal Record