Supreme Court’s 8-1 Decision Allows HISA to Continue Regulating Horse Racing Amid Ongoing Legal Disputes

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court voted 8-1 to uphold a lower court’s stay, allowing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) to enforce national medication and anti-doping standards across U.S. horse racing tracks. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, emphasizing the lack of urgency for emergency intervention.The Authority, established by Congress in 2020, was tasked with creating uniform safety standards for an industry that generates $3.6 billion annually. Following recent high-profile equine fatalities, HISA’s oversight has aimed to enhance safety measures for horses and jockeys alike, and early results show a 50% decrease in horse deaths at participating tracks since the anti-doping program began in 2023.Despite bipartisan support, a legal battle ensued when the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that HISA’s regulatory powers violated the non-delegation doctrine by granting excessive authority to a private entity. This decision clashed with the Sixth Circuit, which upheld HISA’s constitutionality under Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oversight, creating a judicial split that may compel the Supreme Court to address the issue fully.With backing from the Biden administration and Senator Mitch McConnell, HISA’s supporters argue it has revitalized the sport’s integrity and sustainability. The House has introduced legislation to dismantle HISA. Yet, advocates highlight

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Federal Judge Denies Trump’s Bid to Move New York Hush Money Case to Federal Court

A federal judge denied former President Donald Trump’s request to transfer the New York hush money case to federal court. The judge ruled that the payments involved were “private, unofficial acts,” unaffected by the Supreme Court’s recent decision on presidential immunity.Trump’s legal team attempted to move the state case to federal court, referencing the Supreme Court’s ruling this summer, which granted immunity for certain actions within his official powers. They also requested a postponement of Trump’s sentencing, scheduled for September 18.Judge Alvin Hellerstein dismissed the attempt, noting that no new facts emerged since he first rejected the bid last year. He reaffirmed that Trump’s reimbursement to Michael Cohen, who arranged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, were not official presidential acts.“Nothing in the Supreme Court’s opinion affects my previous conclusion that the hush money payments were private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority,” Hellerstein stated in his decision. He emphasized that “private schemes with private actors, unconnected to any statutory or constitutional authority or function of the executive, are considered unofficial acts.”Trump also argued that the case should be moved due to alleged bias from Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial. However, Hellerstein

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