Overruled

Chief Justice John Roberts joined the liberal wing of the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Obama-era legal protections for immigrants who illegally entered the United States as children. President Donald Trump’s administration argued that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was illegal and the courts had no authority to review its decision to end it. The program provides legal shelter for about 650,000 immigrants. The court’s decision, however, may not stand indefinitely. The justices ruled the administration did not follow the right steps when it tried to end DACA. Ken Cuccinelli, acting head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the agency is planning to try to end the program again. It’s unclear if the Trump administration could complete the process before the presidential election in November.

Imposed

Twenty-three years after the Chinese government pledged to give Hong Kong 50 years of autonomy, the mainland has stripped the former British colony of its freedoms by passing a contentious law that would quash dissent. Rather than going through the Hong Kong legislature, Beijing took matters into its own hands after last year’s widespread anti-government protests. The Chinese government first endorsed the law, which criminalizes subversive and secessionist activities, at its annual congress in May.

Upheld

Demanding hospitals publish the costs of basic medical procedures in a user-friendly manner does not violate the First Amendment, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols upheld a new federal requirement that hospitals and insurance companies must make public the negotiated prices of common healthcare services. The American Hospital Association, an industry trade group, plans to appeal the decision. Melinda Hatton, attorney for the hospital association, argued requiring price disclosure imposes undue burdens on hospitals already stretched by the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Health and Human Services Department argued transparency would encourage competition among hospitals and help consumers make informed decisions.

Died

Comedy legend Carl Reiner, the creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show, died at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 29 at age 98. Reiner won five Emmys for writing and producing The Dick Van Dyke Show, which ran from 1961 to 1966 and garnered 15 total Emmys. He also acted in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and the latest Oceans Eleven movies. His directorial credits included Oh, God! starring George Burns and All of Me with Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. He was married to his wife, Estelle, for 64 years until her death in 2008. They had three children: actor-director Rob, playwright-poet Annie, and actor-director Lucas.