Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including President Biden said the U.S. will take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees; Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing drew to a close; Uber teamed up with New York City medallion taxis to let riders flag traditional cabs with their phones instead of a wave, and more.

National

American Bar Association heralds Jackson nomination to high court

Finding no evidence in the judge’s record to support accusations by Republicans that she is soft on crime, representatives of the American Bar Association commended Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s lofty qualifications as her Supreme Court confirmation hearing drew to a close Thursday.

Representatives of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary are sworn in during a Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday, March 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Fleet of asylum officers tapped to crack yearslong immigration backlog

U.S. officials announced a new rule on Thursday aimed at screening the immigration claims of people who would otherwise face expedited removal but have asserted that they will be persecuted or tortured if returned to their homelands.

College official who faced censure loses high court appeal

A member of a school board who was censured after his feud with colleagues led to multiple costly lawsuits does not have a First Amendment case, the Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision Thursday.

(Image by MiamiAccidentLawyer from Pixabay via Courthouse News)

Justices rule for inmate seeking touch of pastor during execution

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled 8-1 in favor of a death row inmate who argues his spiritual adviser should be able to touch him and pray out loud while he is executed.

(Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay via Courthouse News)

Regional

Uber lands deal to list all NYC taxis on ride-hail app

Recently hindered by driver shortages and a spike in pandemic food-delivery orders, Uber has teamed up with its former rivals, the New York City medallion taxis, to let riders flag traditional cabs with their phones instead of a wave.

(Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay via Courthouse News)

Judge lets Heard counterclaim move forward in Depp defamation case

With less than three weeks left before trial, attorneys for actor Johnny Depp failed to convince a Virginia judge to toss claims by actress Amber Heard that Depp conspired to damage her reputation.

Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard arrive for the London premiere of their film “The Rum Diary” in November 2011. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)

Wisconsin justices OK use of subpoena to get suppressed blood test results in DUI case

A majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court concluded Thursday it was permissible for prosecutors to subpoena a hospital for blood test results in a drunken driving case after separate test results obtained by police the same night were suppressed in court because the officer who took the driver’s blood did so without a warrant.

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices and attorneys participate in a hearing over the use of subpoenas to acquire previously suppressed evidence on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. (Image via Courthouse News)

International

US to take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, step up sanctions on Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the United States will take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and provide Europe with $1 billion to help it deal with the millions of people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

President Joe Biden arrives for a meeting of G7 leaders at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, March 24, 2022. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)