Supreme Court rulings

The Supreme Court refused Monday October 17, 5005 to allow the Bush administration to pursue a $280 billion penalty against tobacco companies on claims they misled the public about the dangers of smoking. In a major victory for cigarette makers, the Supreme Court refused to let the Bush administration pursue a $280 billion penalty against tobacco companies. The administration claimed the companies misled the public about the dangers of smoking. The decision, a major victory for cigarette makers, was not unexpected because the government's case is still pending and the federal judge who presided over the nine-month trial has not yet decided whether tobacco companies are guilty of wrongdoing. The Supreme Court declined, without comment, to intervene.

In another decision on the same Monday in an abortion case of relatively narrow scope, the Court cleared the way for a Missouri prison inmate to terminate her pregnancy. The high court let stand a ruling that the Missouri Department of Corrections must provide transportation for the woman to have the procedure done. However, the court made no made sweeping rendering on the constitutionality of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.