2018 in United States case law
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| 2018 in United States case law | |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
| Jurisdiction | United States |
| Courts | Supreme Court of the United States, United States Courts of Appeals, United States district courts |
| Notable | Janus v. AFSCME, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Trump v. Hawaii |
2018 in United States case law
2018 saw the Supreme Court of the United States resolve high‑profile disputes involving First Amendment, administrative law, and federalism doctrines, while circuit courts across the United States Courts of Appeals and district courts grappled with questions arising from Affordable Care Act, immigration policy, and campaign finance controversies. Major opinions from the Court and influential appellate rulings shaped litigation strategies for American Civil Liberties Union, National Rifle Association, Planned Parenthood, and United States Department of Justice participants.
Major Supreme Court Decisions
The Court's decision in Janus v. AFSCME curtailed compulsory public-sector unions dues, implicating groups such as American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, National Education Association, and AFL–CIO, and invoking precedents like Abood v. Detroit Board of Education. In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Court addressed religious objections involving Civil Rights Act-style discrimination claims and referenced actors including Christian Legal Society advocates and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. In Trump v. Hawaii, the Court evaluated presidential authority over immigration and national security, intersecting with litigants including State of Hawaii and Presidents of the United States' executive actions. The Court's treatment of administrative deference in cases influenced by Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. and discussions about Longstanding precedent shaped subsequent opinions affecting agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Homeland Security.
Other significant rulings engaged statutes and doctrine involving Fourth Amendment search and seizure claims decided in clustered opinions that referenced litigants and amici including American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation. Decisions on campaign finance and speech invoked entities such as Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission contexts, affecting groups like Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, and multiple political action committees.
Federal Appellate and District Court Decisions
Circuit courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, issued influential en banc and panel opinions addressing immigration enforcement litigation tied to Executive Office for Immigration Review, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. District courts in jurisdictions such as District of Columbia, Southern District of New York, and Northern District of California decided suits involving Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and corporate defendants like Facebook, Google, and Apple Inc..
Appellate rulings on antitrust litigation implicated corporations including AT&T, Time Warner, and Microsoft Corporation, while labor and employment disputes involved parties such as Walmart and McDonald's Corporation and advocacy groups like Service Employees International Union. Several circuits issued precedents on standing doctrines and separation of powers claims that referenced litigants such as State of New York and State of California challenging federal policies. Bankruptcy courts and the United States Bankruptcy Court system resolved notable reorganizations invoking creditors like Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Chase.
Legislative and Administrative Responses
In reaction to court rulings, federal and state lawmakers in bodies like the United States Congress, California State Legislature, and New York State Legislature proposed statutory changes to address gaps highlighted by judicial decisions, engaging agencies including the Department of Labor and Department of Education. Administrative responses from the Department of Justice and independent agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission revised guidance and rulemaking agendas after appellate and Supreme Court opinions. State executives including Governor of California and Governor of New York issued directives and sought intervenor status in litigation related to regulatory authority and interstate disputes.
Legal Trends and Doctrinal Developments
2018 amplified doctrinal debates over administrative law and the viability of Chevron deference versus judicial review approaches favored by figures associated with the Federalist Society and commentators such as Antonin Scalia's textualist and originalism traditions. Copyright and technology jurisprudence involving parties like Netflix, Amazon (company), and Sony interacted with doctrines from cases tied to Digital Millennium Copyright Act enforcement. Privacy and surveillance litigation featured advocacy from Electronic Frontier Foundation and scholarly engagement with precedents like Katz v. United States, shaping lower‑court approaches to digital evidence and warrant requirements.
Impact on State Law and Litigation
State supreme courts, including the California Supreme Court and New York Court of Appeals, adapted to federal guidance by crafting state‑level doctrinal responses affecting statutes such as state civil rights laws and administrative codes. Municipalities like City of San Francisco and City of New York faced litigation shaped by federal rulings, influencing local ordinances concerning public employment, housing, and municipal regulation. State attorneys general from offices like the New York Attorney General and California Attorney General coordinated multistate litigation strategies in responses to federal policy changes.
Notable Bar and Judicial Ethics Actions
Professional responsibility controversies engaged institutions including the American Bar Association and state bar associations when disciplinary panels reviewed conduct of attorneys representing high‑profile clients such as members of Congress and executive branch officials. Judicial ethics inquiries involved complaints lodged against federal judges in districts including the Southern District of Florida and circuits like the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, with oversight references to bodies such as the Judicial Conference of the United States.