Supreme Court Notebook

Supreme Court won't take up lead paint issue from California

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision that required paint companies to fund the removal of lead paint from California homes.

The Supreme Court on Monday said it wouldn't take up the issue.

Courts previously ruled in favor of 10 California cities and counties that argued ConAgra, NL Industries and Sherwin-Williams knowingly endangered public health by advertising and selling lead paint.

A Santa Clara County judge found lead paint to be a public nuisance and required the companies to pay $1.15 billion for abatement. A California state court of appeal last November upheld the finding of public nuisance but said the companies only have to pay for abatement in homes built before 1951.

The companies had called the previous rulings unprecedented and noted lead paint was lawful at the time.

he law also requires abortion providers to dispose of aborted fetuses in the same way as human remains. That section also was blocked.

Supreme Court asked to review abortion law signed by Pence

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments over a law that bars women from having an abortion based on gender, race or disability.

The law was signed in 2016 when Vice President Mike Pence was Indiana governor. But federal courts have blocked it, saying it violates a woman's right to end her pregnancy.

Attorney General Curtis Hill on Friday asked the Supreme Court to take the case. He acknowledged a right to abortion but says it's "not a right to decide which child to bear."

Ken Falk of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana says Indiana's petition is an attempt to infringe on the right to abortion.

Published: Tue, Oct 16, 2018