Supreme Court Decision Syllabus (SCOTUS Podcast) – Details, episodes & analysis

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In Cunningham v. Cornell University, the Supreme Court addressed a fundamental pleading question under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Petitioners—former and current Cornell University employees—alleged that university fiduciaries violated ERISA §1106(a)(1)(C) by causing their retirement plans to pay excessive fees for recordkeeping services to Fidelity and TIAA-CREF, both parties in interest. The Second Circuit dismissed the claim, holding that plaintiffs must also plead that the transaction wasn’t exempt under §1108(b)(2)(A), which allows for reasonable arrangements with service providers.

The Supreme Court unanimously reversed. Writing for the Court, Justice Sotomayor held that §1106(a)(1)(C) sets out a categorical bar against certain transactions between plans and parties in interest, and plaintiffs need only plausibly plead the elements of that section to state a claim. The §1108 exemptions—such as those permitting “reasonable arrangements” for necessary services—are affirmative defenses that defendants must raise and prove. Citing Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Lab, the Court emphasized that statutory exemptions laid out in separate provisions do not become part of a plaintiff’s burden unless Congress says otherwise.

Just Sotomayor writing for a unanimous Court. Justice Alito filed a concurrence, joined by Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh.

Read by Jeff Barnum.

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In Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, et al. v. J.G.G., et al., the Supreme Court granted the government’s application to vacate temporary restraining orders issued by the District Court for the District of Columbia, which had blocked the removal of several Venezuelan detainees allegedly affiliated with the foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA). The detainees challenged President Trump’s Proclamation No. 10903, issued under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), which authorized their detention and removal.

The Court construed the TROs as appealable injunctions and held that the detainees’ claims must be brought in habeas corpus. Because the claims necessarily challenged the legality of confinement and removal under the AEA, they fell within the “core” of habeas jurisdiction. As such, jurisdiction and venue lay solely in the district of confinement—Texas—not in the District of Columbia. The Court emphasized that equitable relief cannot be sought outside habeas in this context, relying on precedents such as Ludecke v. Watkins and Heikkila v. Barber.

Although the detainees are entitled to judicial review regarding their classification and removal under the AEA—including notice and an opportunity to seek habeas relief—the proper venue to litigate those claims is the district of confinement. The Court clarified that such notice must be given promptly to allow detainees to exercise those rights before removal occurs.

Read by RJ Dieken. 

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In Dewberry Group, Inc. v. Dewberry Engineers Inc., the Supreme Court addressed the scope of monetary remedies under the Lanham Act. The case arose from a trademark dispute between two entities using the "Dewberry" name. The district court awarded the plaintiff not only the defendant's profits but also those of affiliated companies. The Fourth Circuit upheld this award, reasoning that a broad interpretation of "defendant’s profits" was permissible under the statute.​ 

The Supreme Court unanimously reversed, holding that a plaintiff in a trademark infringement case under the Lanham Act may recover only the profits of the infringing defendant itself—not those of its affiliates or related entities. The Court emphasized principles of corporate separateness and statutory interpretation, rejecting the expansive reading of "defendant’s profits" adopted by the lower court.​ 

Justice Elena Kagan delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. 

Read by RJ Dieken.

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In Lora v. United States, the Supreme Court reviewed whether the Section 924(c) prohibition on concurrent sentences applies to sentences arising out of different subsections. Justice Jackson, writing for a unanimous Court, writes that it does not, that crimes from other sections are not subject to the ban on concurrent sentences. Guest Host Jeff Barnum. 

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In Smith v. United States, the Supreme Court reviewed whether the principle of double-jeopardy prevents a person from being retried after a trial took place in the incorrect venue and the jury was selected from the incorrect district. In a unanimous decisions, Justice Alito writes that the defendant is entitled to set aside the jury's conviction, but that a new trial in a proper venue is appropriate. Read by Jake A. Leahy. 

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In Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin, the Supreme Court whether Congress abrogated tribal sovereignty in the Bankruptcy Code. Writing for the majority, Justice Kagan rules that Congress unequivocally abrogated tribal sovereign immunity in the Bankruptcy Code. Kagan reasons that "foreign or domestic" governments is a term such as "here or there;" meaning it encompasses all forms of governments anywhere. As the sole dissenter, Justice Gorsuch reasons that the words should construed more narrowly - that if Congress intended to abrogate tribal immunity, it would have done so. Hosted by Jake A. Leahy. 

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In Haaland v. Brackken, the Supreme Court reviewed whether provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act are constitutional under several portions of the Constitution. Writing for the majority, Justice Barrett writes that the Act, which (in part) prioritizes placing Indian children with Indian (rather than non-Indian families), is within the purview of Congress. Read by Founder RJ Dieken. Also included is an update from RJ Dieken - he was started the podcast and previously hosted it. *Note: This summary uses the term "Indian" for consistency, given that language is used in the decision. 

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In Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC, the Supreme Court examines the intersection of trademark law and First Amendment rights. The dispute centers around VIP's creation of a dog toy resembling a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, with humorous modifications. Jack Daniel's argues that the toy infringes and dilutes their trademarks, while VIP claims it is a parody protected under the fair use exclusion. The Court addresses the application of the Rogers test and the scope of the noncommercial use exclusion in the Lanham Act. Read by guest host Jeff Barnum. 

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In Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion Cty. v. Talevski, the Supreme Court reviewed  whether the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (FBHRA) provides a right of action under Section 1983 against a privately owned nursing home that received Medicaid funds. Hosted by Jake Leahy. 

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In Dubin v. United States, the Supreme Court reviewed whether a person who commits Medicaid fraud through fraudulent billing can also be convicted for statutory aggravated identity theft. The Court ruled for Dubin, holding that the aggravated identity theft charge can only be applied when the identity theft was at the crux of the crime, not if the fraud happened to involve personal information (here, the Medicaid number). Hosted by Jake Leahy.