The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear several significant cases, impacting both civil rights and telecommunications. In a 7-2 ruling in the case of Lackey v. Stinnie, the Court determined that parties who secure non-final judgments do not qualify for attorney fees, which could hinder civil rights litigation. This decision was made against the backdrop of a Virginia law that has since been repealed. Additionally, the Court rejected a plea to regulate internet prices, affirming the free market stance, and turned down appeals regarding fee-shifting in patent and copyright cases. Notably, the Court also dismissed a challenge from Dish Network regarding attorney fees after a patent infringement case and declined to review the extraterritorial application of the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, which had previously resulted in a $407 million victory for Motorola over a Chinese competitor. These rulings reflect the Court's current judicial philosophy and may have broad implications for future legal proceedings.