Ketanji Brown Jackson

US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdaily

The Supreme Court heard a North Dakota case that could affect property owners nationwide.

A pipeline company acting for the government offered landowners too little, sparking years of litigation. The landowners won but still faced $380,000 in legal fees. North Dakota law says the company must cover them, but the federal government disagrees.

Bob McNamara argued that companies must respect state laws protecting property owners, even when using eminent domain. The justices seemed skeptical, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested federal law should govern unless Congress says otherwise.

US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdaily

The Supreme Court on Monday let border barrier and road work resume in Texas's Big Bend Sector by putting a lower court's block on hold while the government seeks further review.

The suit, from a river guide, an environmental group and a church preservation group, challenges waivers Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued for the work. The justices said the claim is about federal law, not the Constitution.

The court cited border security and the nearly $500,000 a day the halt was costing. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson would have rejected the request.