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Justice Ginsburg had taken two medications before boarding an overnight flight, a court spokeswoman said.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized overnight for what appeared to be an adverse reaction to medication, but was released Thursday, a court spokeswoman said in a statement.

Ginsburg, 76, was taken to the Washington Hospital Center at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday. She had taken a sleeping aid combined with cold medication immediately after boarding an overnight flight to London, England, the statement said.

"Prior to the plane taking off, the justice experienced extreme drowsiness, causing her to fall from her seat," the statement said. Paramedics were called and she was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

"Justice Ginsburg was evaluated at the hospital and she was found to be in stable health. Doctors attributed her symptoms to a reaction caused by the combination of a prescription sleeping aid and an over-the-counter cold medication," the statement said. "She was admitted overnight for observation and was released this morning."

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WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Supreme Court has postponed deciding whether the Obama administration can block public release of photos apparently depicting abuse of suspected terrorists and foreign soldiers in U.S. custody.

The Obama administration told the justices late last week of an apparent agreement with Congress on a law preventing disclosure of the material. That could render the legal issues moot.

President Barack Obama had initially favored the release, which had been opposed by the Bush administration, but changed his mind after intense urging against it by military leaders.

That led the American Civil Liberties Union, which had sought access to the photos under the Freedom of Information Act, to file a lawsuit seeking disclosure.

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A judge ruled that the Mojave Cross must be covered until a First Amendment issue can be resolved.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court offered conflicting concerns Wednesday over a cross, erected as a war memorial, that sits on national parkland in the Mojave Desert and whether it violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

Conservative members of the bench suggested that Congress acted properly when it tried to transfer land around the Mojave Memorial Cross to veterans groups, an effort to eliminate any Establishment Clause violation. A federal appeals panel had blocked that land swap.

"Isn't that a sensible interpretation" of a federal court injunction banning the display on government property, Justice Samuel Alito asked.

But Justice Stephen Breyer was adamant that the government had not acted in good faith. "You are violating this injunction" that ordered removal of the cross, he told the government's lawyer.

The swing vote - as he is in many hot-button issues - may be Justice Anthony Kennedy, who questioned attorneys on both sides but did not indicate how he was leaning.

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Selling depictions of animal cruelty like this amateur dogfighting video may be illegal under a 1999 statute.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court voiced deep free speech concerns Tuesday about a law designed to stop the sale and marketing of videos showing dog fights and other acts of animal cruelty.

The justices heard an hour of lively debate about the scope and intent of the decade-old statute that supporters say has done much to stop the spread of profiting from the torture and abuse of animals.

But media groups and the National Rifle Association were among those who say the law is overly broad.

"It's not up to the government to decide what are people's worst instincts," said Justice Antonin Scalia. "One can contemplate a lot of other areas, where government could say: You are appealing to people's worst instincts, and, therefore, movies cannot be made" showing dramatized depictions of animals being abused, for example.

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Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Chief Justice John Roberts attend Red Mass in 2005.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The beautifully ornate Catholic church in the nation's capital has seen its share of history and controversy.

In 1963, the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle was the site of John F. Kennedy's funeral. After the service, on the steps outside, the slain president's young son famously saluted his father's memory.

But the church is also the site of an annual Mass that has drawn criticism for what many see as an unhealthy mix of politics, the law and religion.

Washington's annual Red Mass, which celebrates the legal profession, will be held this year on Sunday, October 4 - the day before the Supreme Court begins its new term. Several justices traditionally attend, along with congressional leaders, diplomats, cabinet secretaries and other dignitaries.

Past presidents have also attended, though there is no word yet on whether President Obama will appear.

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Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Chief Justice John Roberts attend Red Mass in 2005.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The beautifully ornate Catholic church in the nation's capital has seen its share of history and controversy.

In 1963, the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle was the site of John F. Kennedy's funeral. After the service, on the steps outside, the slain president's young son famously saluted his father's memory.

But the church is also the site of an annual Mass that has drawn criticism for what many see as an unhealthy mix of politics, the law and religion.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) – Setting the stage for a dramatic battle over gun rights, the Supreme Court Wednesday accepted an appeal challenging the ability of state and local governments to enforce strict limits on handguns and other weapons.

The high court returned from its summer recess, meeting in private to consider thousands of pending appeals that have piled up the past three months. The Second Amendment case from Chicago was the most anticipated of the petitions, and oral arguments will be held sometime early next year. Nine other cases were also accepted for review.

At issue is whether the constitutional "right of the people to keep and bear arms" applies to local gun control ordinances, or only to federal restrictions. The basic question has remained unanswered for decades, and gives the conservative majority on the high court another chance to allow individuals expanded weapon ownership rights.

The appeal was filed by a community activist in Chicago who sought a handgun for protection from gangs.

The justices last year affirmed an individual right to possess handguns, tossing out restrictive laws in Washington, D.C.

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The Supreme Court will review a key provision of the 2001 Patriot Act.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court has agreed to review a civil liberties dispute over the government's power to criminalize "support" of a terrorist organization.

The justices on Wednesday accepted review of a key provision of the 2001 Patriot Act, and whether it threatens free speech rights of those who would assist non-violent activities of designated groups.

Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, federal prosecutors have pursued "material support" cases against at least 120 individuals or organizations, winning convictions in about half of those cases. Nearly every such domestic terrorism-related prosecution has included that charge as part of the indictment.

At issue is whether the congressional law allows prosecution of those with knowledge of "any service, training, expert advice or assistance" to a foreign terrorist organization, as designated by the U.S. government.

A federal appeals court in San Francisco, California, struck down several parts of the legislation, finding them too vague to satisfy the Constitution. The government then asked the high court to intervene and uphold the law.

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The Supreme Court, including its newest member Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, sat for a group photo Tuesday. The high court's new term begins next week. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

(CNN) - Justice Ginsburg was released from Washington Hospital Center this morning and plans to be at work at the Court this afternoon, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court said.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg became ill in her chambers on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Thursday after falling ill in her chambers, the court confirmed.

Ginsburg, 76, felt faint, light-headed and fatigued about 4:50 p.m., around an hour after receiving a treatment for iron deficiency, the court said in a statement.

She was monitored by an in-house physician, who performed blood tests and found her to be in stable health.

Her symptoms improved, though she was taken to the Washington Hospital Center as a precaution at about 7:45 p.m., according to the court statement.

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The campaign finance case before the court stems from a film critical of then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court heard new arguments Wednesday in a dramatic case that started with a movie attacking Hillary Clinton - but that could have far-reaching implications for U.S. elections.

"If you thought you knew everything about Hillary Clinton, wait till you see the movie," said an ad last year for "Hillary: The Movie," a scorching attack on the woman then running for president.

Citizens United, the conservative group behind the film, promoted it as featuring 40 interviews - a "cast to end all casts"– and promised that if "you want to hear about the Clinton scandals of the past and present, you have it here! 'Hillary: The Movie' is the first and last word in what the Clintons want America to forget!"

Few Americans ever saw the ad; a federal court ruled that it broke the law on campaign advertising.

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Justice Sonia Sotomayor was welcomed to the Supreme Court by her new colleagues in a brief special ceremony Tuesday in the ornate courtroom.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Justice Sonia Sotomayor was welcomed to the Supreme Court by her new colleagues in a brief special ceremony Tuesday in the ornate courtroom.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were among those who attended the investiture of the 111th justice, where the court accepted her commission to serve on the high court.

During the five-minute ceremony, a beaming Sotomayor formally joined the eight other justices on the bench. The court has returned early from its summer recess to hear arguments in an appeal Wednesday dealing with campaign finance reform. It will be the 55-year-old justice's first case.

Among those who attended were members of Congress and the Obama administration, including Attorney General Eric Holder, who formally introduced Sotomayor to those gathered.

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The campaign finance case before the court stems from a film critical of then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Money and politics are often equated as the fuel and engine of American democracy, but thanks to the Supreme Court, century-old government speed bumps on the campaign speech superhighway may soon be a thing of the past.

Those are the monumental stakes when the justices return early from its summer recess Wednesday to re-hear a case which could radically alter the election calculus for corporations, unions, advocacy groups, and individuals seeking a voice in the crowded national political debate.

The court will hold a rare special session, which also marks the debut of Justice Sonia Sotomayor. At issue is whether prior rulings limiting corporate spending on federal elections should be overturned. The justices could decide to erase the subtle but important distinction between corporate donors - which are subject to regulation - and individual donors, who largely are not.

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During a White House ceremony Wednesday, President Obama celebrated Justice Sotomayor's swearing-in to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Related video: 'No words can adequately express what I am feeling,' says Sotomayor

(Read Obama's and Sotomayor's remarks during Wednesday ceremony after the jump)
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WASHINGTON (CNN) – With Sonia Sotomayor soon to fulfill her long-held dream to sit on the Supreme Court, she will have the prestige of joining the highest court in the land, lifetime job security, and a public forum as the first Hispanic on that bench.

Her formal swear-in will be Saturday morning at the high court, with Chief Justice John Roberts administering the judicial oath.

The 55-year-old judge now has the opportunity to become a influential force among her new colleagues, a legal pioneer who could help shape the law and its effect on society in any number of ways. But such a legacy will not come easily and it certainly will not come quickly. The internal dynamics of a body built on tradition and stability have long discouraged swift and sweeping forces that are regularly felt in the other branches of government, and society at large.

After her Thursday confirmation by the Senate, Sotomayor will become the junior justice, someone with the least seniority but no less authority than her eight benchmates. She brings with her a bit of history, and is sure to be the focus of public attention and political scrutiny.

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A confirmation vote on Sotomayor's nomination is expected by Thursday.

NEW YORK (CNN) - Sen. Kit Bond has become seventh Republican senator to support Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court.

In a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, the Missouri lawmaker said the way to get more conservative justices on the Supreme Court is to "work to see we elect presidents who will nominate them." Bond said Sotomayor has "accomplishments and qualities" that make her a capable nominee.

"I do not believe that the Constitution tells me that I should refuse to support her merely because I disagree with her on some cases," Bond said. "I will support her, I'll be proud for her."

Bond is retiring from the Senate at the end of his term. A confirmation vote on Sotomayor's nomination is expected by Thursday.

With Republican senators' support, Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation by the full Senate is a virtual certainty.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor to become the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, setting up a final confirmation vote by the Senate.

The 13-6 committee vote was mostly on partisan lines, with one Republican joining the panel's Democrats in sending the nomination to the full Senate.

At least five Republican senators have announced their intention to support Sotomayor, making confirmation by the Democratic-controlled Senate a virtual certainty.

Sotomayor, 55, is President Obama's first nominee to the nation's highest court. She would be 111th person to sit on the Supreme Court, and the third female justice.

CNN Radio's Hill team reports on Sotomayor's Tuesday win:

The Judiciary Committee held a four-day confirmation hearing earlier this month that foreshadowed Tuesday's vote, with Democrats praising Sotomayor's 17-year record as a federal judge and her made-in-America story as a minority woman who rose to success through hard work and opportunity.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote Tuesday on Judge Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor faces her next hurdle Tuesday morning, as the Senate Judiciary Committee votes whether or not to confirm her.

At least nine Republicans have said they will vote against Sotomayor, 55, Obama's first nominee to the nation's highest court. Five mostly moderate GOP lawmakers announced their intention to back her.

Republicans are not expected to be able to block her approval by the Judiciary Committee or the full Senate, which will vote on her nomination if she gets the green light from the committee.

She will become the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice if she wins full Senate backing.

Obama's Democratic Party holds an 11-7 majority on the Judiciary Committee and a 58-40 edge in the full Senate, with two independents leaning towards the Democrats.

Two key Republicans on the committee announced their opposition to her on Friday, a sign the party's conservative base is uniting against Obama's choice.

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah - the former chairman of the committee - and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas - head of the party's Senate campaign committee –announced on the Senate floor their intention to vote against the federal appeals court judge.

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