The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that individuals who secure early victories in civil rights lawsuits are not automatically entitled to recover legal fees. This decision, which came in a 7-2 vote, has raised concerns among both conservative and liberal advocacy groups, who argue it could discourage people from pursuing civil rights claims in court.
The case involved Virginia drivers who had challenged a law that suspended licenses for unpaid court debts, arguing it was unconstitutional. They won an initial court order blocking the law’s enforcement, but before a final ruling could be issued, Virginia repealed the measure, effectively ending the case.
