US Supreme Court: Three Unanimous Victories for Justice

The Supreme Court issued three unanimous 9-0 decisions on January 20, 2026: **Berk v. Choy (No. 24-440)**: The Court held that Delaware's affidavit of merit requirement does not apply in federal court, protecting plaintiffs' access to justice. Justice Barrett authored the decision, explaining that such state laws conflict with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8 and 12, which govern pleading standards and do not mandate plaintiffs to provide evidence at the pleadings stage. **Coney Island Auto Parts v. Burton (No. 24-808)**: Justice Alito authored this decision clarifying that the "reasonable time" requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(c)(1) applies to all Rule 60(b) motions seeking relief from a judgment, even when alleging voidness due to lack of proper service. **Ellingburg v. United States (No. 23-3129)**: Justice Kavanaugh authored this decision holding that restitution under the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act constitutes criminal punishment and cannot be applied retroactively, protecting defendants from Ex Post Facto violations. These decisions demonstrate the Court's commitment to protecting access to justice and constitutional rights.