On June 30, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued rulings on a series of high-profile cases that focused on birthright citizenship, transgender athletes, and campaign finance.
The landmark decisions addressed constitutional rights, state authority, campaign finance, and the separation of powers. These rulings are expected to shape public policy, government authority, and potential future litigation for years to come.
To help viewers understand the legal significance of these decisions, WGRZ 2 News invited Buffalo attorney Barry Covert to join anchor Claudine Ewing for an in-studio discussion analyzing some of the Court’s most significant rulings.
During the interview, Barry Covert explained not only what the Supreme Court decided, but why these decisions matter and how they may affect individuals, governments, schools, and elections across the country.
The following is information on the cases Barry Covert provided legal analysis on for WGRZ, involving birthright citizenship, transgender athletes, and campaign finance. Click the video at the bottom of this post to watch the full segment that was broadcasted on WGRZ.
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The New York State DMV Updates Point System and Increases Penalties for Driving Offenses
On February 16, 2026, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles implemented a new point system, which will result in steeper penalties for traffic violations.
The DMV’s new point system:
- increases the number of points assessed to a driver’s license for various traffic violations;
- introduces points as a penalty for traffic violations that previous carried none;
- lowers the total number of accumulated points that will lead to a license suspension hearing; and
- extends the period of time that points can be accumulated, leading to the suspension of a driver’s license.
Attorney Barry Covert recently spoke with WGRF-FM 97 Rock’s morning show hosts, Shredd and Ragan, to discuss details on the New York State DMV’s new penalties for driving offenses.
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The Buffalo News Reports on $2.1 Million Settlement Obtained for Victim of Car Crash
The Buffalo News recently published a report on a $2.1 million settlement that attorney Melissa Wischerath obtained on behalf of her client, who was the victim of a car crash.
A car driven by the victim in this matter was struck by a pickup truck, which had been stolen by a group of teenagers. The teenagers were attempting to flee from an Amherst Police Officer, who was pursuing the stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed.
As reported by The Buffalo News, a lawsuit was filed against the Town of Amherst and asserted that the officer’s high-speed chase was reckless and in violation of the town’s police pursuit policy. The article notes that the Amherst Police Department’s policy states “that duty to avoid damage or injury to innocent third parties is superior to that of pursuit or emergency response.”
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