Not the Usual 6-3: Supreme Court Clears Way for Lawsuit Over Suicide Bombing
The Supreme Court has cleared the way for a wounded veteran to pursue a lawsuit against a military contractor over injuries sustained in a suicide bombing attack. The decision represents an unusual ruling that expands legal liability for defense contractors. Additionally, the Court sided with Michigan in a separate case challenging an aging oil pipeline, and reporting has emerged about the Court's emergency decision-making process.
Left-leaning outlets emphasize the veteran's ability to hold contractors accountable for combat-zone injuries, framing this as a victory for service members seeking justice. They also highlight the Michigan pipeline decision as environmental protection. Some coverage focuses on transparency concerns around the Court's shadow docket operations.
Center outlets report the core facts of both rulings with straightforward coverage of the veteran's lawsuit revival and Michigan's pipeline victory, presenting these as significant legal developments without strong ideological framing.
Right-leaning sources note the unusual nature of the Court's decision-making patterns and express concern about the shadow docket's lack of transparency. Some coverage questions the implications of expanded contractor liability and qualified immunity standards.
Key Differences
- Left outlets emphasize the veteran's victory and accountability angle; right outlets focus on procedural concerns about the Court's emergency docket transparency
- Coverage of the pipeline case appears across the spectrum but with different emphasis—environmental protection on the left versus energy policy concerns on the right
- Right-leaning sources dedicate more attention to shadow docket mechanics and institutional questions about the Court's decision-making process
Left(6)
ABC NewsBApr 22, 2:47 PM
Supreme Court revives wounded veteran’s lawsuit against a contractor over suicide bombing
The Supreme Court is clearing the way for a veteran wounded by a suicide bomb in Afghanistan to sue the government contractor for whom the attacker was working when he built the explosive
New York TimesAApr 22, 9:34 PM
Supreme Court Finds Soldier Injured in Suicide Bombing Can Sue
An American soldier was injured in a 2016 suicide bombing in Afghanistan. The justices cleared the way for the soldier to proceed with a lawsuit against a military contractor.
LA TimesAApr 22, 4:09 PM
U.S. troops may sue military contractors for their injuries, Supreme Court rules
Justice Clarence Thomas is joined by the liberals in refusing to shield negligent military contractors, even in combat zones.
The GuardianAApr 22, 5:00 PM
US supreme court sides with Michigan in its fight to shut down ageing pipeline
The case is part of a messy legal dispute about a section of the Line 5 energy pipeline beneath a Great Lakes channel The supreme court on Wednesday sided with Michigan in ruling that the state’s laws
New York TimesAApr 22, 3:34 PM
Supreme Court Rejects Oil Company Argument in Fight Over Great Lakes Pipeline
The justices sided with Michigan officials, who have raised environmental alarms and pushed to decommission an aging section of the pipeline.
The New RepublicBApr 21, 10:00 AM
The Supreme Court’s Shadow Docket Secrets Have Been Spilled
The New York Times on Saturday published a series of Supreme Court internal memos that amount, in hindsight, to a major milestone in the decline of American democracy. The closely held memos show how
Center(3)
PBS NewsHourAApr 22, 8:28 PM
Supreme Court revives wounded veteran's lawsuit against a contractor over suicide bombing
The Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for a veteran wounded by a suicide bomb in Afghanistan to sue the government contractor for whom the attacker was working when he built the explosive.
PBS NewsHourAApr 22, 4:40 PM
Supreme Court rules for Michigan in its fight to shut down an aging energy pipeline
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with Michigan in ruling that the state's lawsuit seeking to shut down a section of an aging pipeline beneath a Great Lakes channel will stay in state court.
The HillBApr 22, 2:05 PM
Trump rips Carville over call for more states, Supreme Court justices
President Trump ripped veteran Democratic strategist James Carville as a “wacko” on Tuesday, slamming the 81-year-old political consultant over his calls for Democrats to add new states and pack the S
Right(6)
Daily SignalCApr 22, 6:45 PM
Not the Usual 6-3: Supreme Court Clears Way for Lawsuit Over Suicide Bombing
The Supreme Court had another 6-3 ruling in deciding that a veteran wounded by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan could sue a military contractor. In an unusual twist, however, the court’s three liberals
Just the NewsCApr 22, 12:00 AM
Supreme Court sides with Michigan attorney general in pipeline fight
The company had requested that the case be moved to federal court, but the high court ruled, as Nessel had argued, that Enbridge had waited too long to file the request.
ReasonAApr 21, 11:00 AM
The Supreme Court's 'Shadow Docket' Has Sprung a Leak
Plus: a credible new report on the Alito retirement rumors.
National ReviewBApr 21, 8:38 PM
An Underwhelming Leak on the Supreme Court’s Emergency Docket
The Times inadvertently illustrates that Barack Obama was the real norm-breaker in the showdown between the Supreme Court and the executive branch.
ReasonAApr 21, 6:48 PM
Does A Shadow Docket Ruling Create "Clearly Established" Law For Purposes of Qualified Immunity
Would a school district that violated Mirabelli still have QI?
The Western JournalDApr 22, 7:43 PM
Trump Rips SCOTUS a New One: Dems Don't Need to Add Justices Because the Court Is 'Already Packed' for Them
President Donald Trump took aim at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, accusing the nation’s highest court of already being stacked against his agenda. In a lengthy Wednesday post on the […] The post Trum
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