Supreme Court to Rule on Terrorism Act

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear cases regarding the legality of the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, a 2019 law aimed at facilitating lawsuits against Palestinian authorities for attacks on Americans abroad. The Court's decision follows appeals from the Biden administration and U.S. victims' families, challenging a lower court's ruling that deemed the law a violation of due process rights for the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The cases arise during heightened tensions due to the ongoing Gaza conflict, with arguments expected by June. Plaintiffs include families who previously secured a $655 million judgment against Palestinian organizations over a series of attacks in the early 2000s, although that ruling was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds by a lower court. The law stipulates that the PLO and Palestinian Authority consent to jurisdiction if they engage in specific activities or payments in the U.S. The Supreme Court's ruling may significantly impact the legal landscape surrounding terrorism-related lawsuits involving foreign entities.