Scotus
The Supreme Court Has Overturned Roe V. Wade, Ending The Constitutional Right To Abortion
For pregnant people with low incomes, who are disproportionately people of color, abortion care may now be out of reach as states in the South and Midwest move to outlaw the procedure.
The Supreme Court Has Declined To Review The Bill Cosby Decision That Freed Him From Prison
Cosby was released last June after Pennsylvania's Supreme Court overturned his rape conviction, ruling that his constitutional rights had been violated during the prosecution.
Breaking Down Supreme Court Pick Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Biggest Cases
Jackson’s docket over the years featured fights over Trump-era policies and investigations and high-profile criminal prosecutions.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Will Be The First Black Woman To Be Nominated For The US Supreme Court
Jackson is the first Black woman selected for the high court.
A 6-Week Abortion Ban Is Taking Effect In Texas And Upending Decades Of Protections For Abortion Rights
The law, which bans abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy and empowers private citizens to sue to enforce it, went into effect Wednesday in a monumental shift on abortion rights.
The Supreme Court Will Keep The Federal Eviction Moratorium In Place While Legal Fights Go Forward
The moratorium, which has protected renters during the coronavirus pandemic, is currently set to expire at the end of July.
Trump Wanted The Justice Department To Copy Texas's Failed Election Case But Add More Conspiracy Theories
House Democrats released documents on Tuesday about efforts by Trump and White House officials to get the Justice Department to wade into postelection fights.
The Supreme Court Says New York Can Get Eight Years Of Trump's Tax Returns
In a one-line order, the justices refused to pause a lower court decision that cleared the way for prosecutors to enforce a grand jury subpoena.
Trump Won't Face Legal Consequences For Holding Onto His DC Hotel And Other Business Interests While President
The Supreme Court dismissed cases accusing Trump of violating the US Constitution by refusing to divest from his businesses because he's no longer in office.
The Supreme Court Refused To Interfere In The Election Before Biden Is Sworn In
The justices denied requests by Trump and his supporters to take up a group of failed election challenges before Inauguration Day.
The Supreme Court Rejected Texas’s Last-Ditch Legal Challenge To Biden’s Win
The justices found that Texas lacked standing to sue other states that President-elect Joe Biden won.
Listen: Stacey Abrams Is Taking Sides In This "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" Debate
“I love how much Stacey Abrams is just a nerd. We stan a nerd!”
Listen: Theories, Rumors, And Forbidden Questions About “The Mandalorian” Season 2
“What does baby Yoda taste like? A cursed thought.”
The Supreme Court Gave Republicans A Win In Wisconsin, Ruling That Ballots That Arrive After Election Day Won’t Count
The court voted 5–3 to leave in place Wisconsin’s Election Day deadline for absentee ballots to come in. Democrats argued that would disenfranchise potentially tens of thousands of voters.
Republicans Have Succeeded In Putting Amy Coney Barrett On The Supreme Court
Barrett deepens the court’s conservative wing to 6–3. She was sworn in Monday night at the White House.
Listen: Hocus Pocus 2 Is Happening. Don't Worry The Sanderson Sisters Are In!
“I think I have brought this up on the show before, but Sarah Jessica Parker as one of the Sanderson sisters was one of my first crushes.”
Republicans Moved Amy Coney Barrett One Step Closer To The Supreme Court After Democrats Boycotted The Vote
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Barrett’s nomination. The final vote on her confirmation is expected Monday.
The Supreme Court Will Let Pennsylvania Count Ballots Received After Election Day, Rejecting A Republican Challenge
Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. joined with the court's more liberal wing in rejecting a challenge by Republicans to a longer absentee voting timeline.
Amy Coney Barrett And The Cult Of Conservative White Womanhood
White Christian mothers have historically succeeded in carrying out the work of white supremacist patriarchy by dressing it in a prettier, more feminine package.
Listen: Trump Is Making White House Reporting Dangerous For Journalists
“It’s incredibly scary that the president’s doctor will not explicitly say that he tested negative.”
The Supreme Court Warned Against Changing Voting Rules Near Election Day And Then Did It Anyway
The justices reinstated South Carolina’s requirement that absentee voters have a witness sign their ballot. Sen. Lindsey Graham is in a close reelection race there.
What Happens If A Presidential Candidate Dies Near The Election? The Supreme Court Predicted “Turmoil” And Had No Answers.
In a July decision, the justices didn’t resolve what would happen if a nominee died or became incapacitated before the Electoral College votes.
There Are 2 Trillion Reasons You Need To Listen To This True Crime Podcast
“There is an alternative justice system for these megacorporations, and we hope these stories shine some light on the way this works.”
Republicans Are Moving Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Nomination Faster Than Any Supreme Court Nominee Since 1975
Republicans have scheduled a hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett for Oct. 12, just over two weeks after Trump announced her nomination.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Death Increases The Likelihood That Obamacare Is Repealed Next Year
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether Obamacare is unconstitutional in November when three Trump appointees could hold the balance of power.
Here's How The Supreme Court Will Function With Eight Justices Leading Up To The Election
The justices have already ruled on emergency requests this year related to how states handle voting during the pandemic.
Trump’s New List Of Supreme Court Nominees Includes A Judge Who Served In His White House And Three Republican Senators
Trump is hoping to repeat his 2016 strategy of using the courts to motivate his base and win over skeptics. Democrats are still figuring out how to make courts a priority for liberal voters.
A Judge Once Again Ruled That New York Prosecutors Can Get Trump's Tax Returns
A federal judge in New York rejected Trump's latest challenge to a grand jury subpoena after the US Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court.
Podcast: How Trump Won By Losing At The Supreme Court
“He has tried to keep his tax returns secret, and they will remain secret for the time being. So in that sense, it’s a win for him.”
Listen: The Reality Behind The George Soros Conspiracy Theories
"Soros is almost better known for his conspiracy theories than he is for what his actual influence has been, even though that influence has been tremendous.”
The Supreme Court Ruled Prosecutors In New York Can Get Trump’s Tax Returns
The court also ruled Thursday that House Democrats cannot get Trump's financial records for now, sending the case back to the lower courts.
Podcast: It’s Impossible To Have A Kid And A Job In This Pandemic
“Am I supposed to choose my livelihood and paying my bills and our mortgage, or am I supposed to choose whether my kid needs to take sixth grade this year?”
Tan And Bobby From “Queer Eye” Share How They’re Thinking About Pride This Year
“Our community should be finishing out Pride Month by marching right alongside with Black Lives Matter — because if it wasn’t for people of color, if it wasn’t for Black trans women starting the fight for equality, starting that riot at Stonewall, we wouldn't be marching in a parade.”
A Historic LGBTQ Supreme Court Case and The Man Who Started It All
"When I read those words, 'an employer that terminates based on sexual orientation and gender identity' — I tell you, I looked at my partner and I said, 'We did this!'"
He Won A Landmark Supreme Court Case That Changes LGBTQ History, But He Lost Nearly Everything To Make It Happen
"I don't regret one decision," said Gerald Bostock, the lead plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court ruling banning workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual identity.
Justices Won't Review Legal Protections For Police Officers. Justice Thomas Feels Differently.
Court justices, with Thomas dissenting, announced they would not hear a group of cases challenging qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields cops.
The Supreme Court Refused To Hear The Trump Administration's Challenge To California's Sanctuary Law
The Trump administration had asked the Supreme Court to review a lower court's opinion upholding the law, which limited local police cooperation with federal immigration agents.
Nixon And Clinton Lost When They Went To The Supreme Court To Shield Their Records. Trump Is Hoping For A Different Result.
The US Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday about whether Congress and state prosecutors have the power to demand Trump’s tax returns and other financial records.
Someone Apparently Used The Toilet During A Supreme Court Hearing
Giving new meaning to the Supreme Court "vacating" a ruling.
It’s Been A Decade Since The Supreme Court Ruled On Gun Rights. Kavanaugh And Other Conservative Justices Say It’s Time.
The US Supreme Court on Monday decided not to hear a challenge to a New York City gun law, but four of the court’s conservative justices want the court to take up the Second Amendment again.
Brett Kavanaugh Asked Just One Question During His First Big LGBTQ Case On The Supreme Court
The justices will decide if a federal law against “sex” discrimination in the workplace applies to employees fired for being LGBTQ.
The Supreme Court Will Allow Trump To Enforce His Virtual Ban On Asylum At The Southern Border
Hundreds of thousands of Central Americans and others were expected to be affected by the restrictions.
All 83 Ethics Complaints Against Justice Brett Kavanaugh Have Been Dismissed For Good
Now the only way Kavanaugh could be investigated is if Congress decided to do something about it — and so far, lawmakers haven't.
The Supreme Court Will Let Trump Pay For The Border Wall With Billions In Military Funds
A majority of the justices ruled the administration had shown at this stage of the case that it was likely to win.
The Supreme Court Will Review Trump’s Decision To End DACA
Trump announced in 2017 he’d wind down the program, which has provided temporary protection against deportation for more than 700,000 young, undocumented immigrants.
The Supreme Court Said Federal Courts Can’t Decide Partisan Gerrymandering Cases
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the 5–4 majority, and argued that while “excessive partisanship” in drawing voter maps can lead “to results that reasonably seem unjust,” it’s not up to the courts to fix it.
Justice Clarence Thomas Had Some Things To Say About Abortion And Eugenics
The US Supreme Court didn't rule on Indiana's prohibition on abortions due to race, sex, or disability — the law is still on hold now — but Thomas made clear he'd support it.
The Supreme Court Will Decide If The Trump Administration Can Ask If You’re A Citizen On The 2020 Census
The Trump administration argues the question will help enforce voting rights. The challengers argue the Census Bureau’s own experts concluded the question would hurt the accuracy of the count.
The Supreme Court Will Decide Whether Employers Can Discriminate Against LGBT Employees
The court will look at whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prevents discrimination “on the basis of sex,” applies to LGBT individuals.
Progressive Groups Ask Congress To Investigate Brett Kavanaugh
More than two dozen groups signed a letter to the House of Representatives urging an investigation into what they characterized as Justice Brett Kavanaugh's "sham confirmation process."
The US Supreme Court Is Letting The Trump Administration's Bump Stock Ban Take Effect
A majority of justices on the Supreme Court denied a request to delay the ban while the challengers continue to appeal it.
The Supreme Court Has Limited How Much Private Property States Can Seize
The Eighth Amendment bars the federal government from imposing excessive fines. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court held that the limit also applies to states and cities.
The Supreme Court Is Allowing Trump To Implement His Transgender Military Ban
It was a 5–4 decision.
The Supreme Court Will, Again, Consider If Redistricting Decisions Can Be So Partisan That They’re Illegal
Even if “partisan gerrymandering” can be addressed by courts, the Supreme Court would also need to decide how courts determine how much partisanship is too much — something the justices have been unwilling to address in the past.
Challengers To Trump's Transgender Military Ban Push Back At The Supreme Court
Trump's efforts to ban transgender military service have been blocked by lower courts. Challengers asked the Supreme Court on Friday to keep it that way.
A Timeline Of Trump's Immigration Policies And Events
A lot has happened in two years. Here's a summary.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Been Treated For Lung Cancer
"Post-surgery, there was no evidence of any remaining disease," according to a statement from the court.
Lawyers Challenge Matthew Whitaker’s Appointment As Acting Attorney General At The Supreme Court
“Because Whitaker’s appointment does not satisfy the Appointments Clause, it is unlawful, and he cannot serve as Acting Attorney General,” the lawyers wrote.
The Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments Over What Evidence Can Be Used In The Census Citizenship Question Case
If the Justice Department is successful in its arguments, those challenging the actions of other agencies could face limits on how they can make their case.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh Got A Rousing Standing Ovation At This Year's Federalist Society Convention
Kavanaugh wasn’t on the lineup to speak at the Federalist Society’s annual convention, but was recognized at the kick-off dinner.
The Trump Administration, Again, Asks The Supreme Court To Hear A DACA Case
The last time the administration asked the court to consider DACA's legality, the court told the Justice Department it wanted to hear from the appeals court first.
The Ethics Complaints Against Justice Brett Kavanaugh Haven't Gone Away
Ethics experts speculated any complaints would be dismissed after Kavanaugh was confirmed to the US Supreme Court, but for now they're just being transferred to another judicial circuit.
People Drank Beer And Documented It To Celebrate Kavanaugh's Confirmation
"Having a beer for Brett!"
It's Official: Brett Kavanaugh Is Now A Justice On The US Supreme Court
Kavanaugh was confirmed Saturday in a historically tight vote, and has now been sworn in to replace retired justice Anthony Kennedy.
Merrick Garland Has Recused Himself From The Ethics Complaints Against Brett Kavanaugh
Multiple ethics complaints have been filed against Kavanaugh, including about his heated Senate testimony last week.
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Said He Isn't Supporting Kavanaugh Anymore
Stevens, 98, said Brett Kavanaugh’s “performance in the hearings” changed his mind, and he urged senators to pay attention to that criticism “for the good of the court.”
Now That Trump Has Agreed To Expand The Kavanaugh Probe, Democrats Have Some Suggestions
The list includes everyone at a July 1, 1982, gathering Brett Kavanaugh had noted on his calendar, as well as classmates from Yale.
Brett Kavanaugh’s Comments In That Hearing Raise Ethics Questions That Will Likely Follow Him Whether Or Not He's Confirmed
The Supreme Court nominee’s attacks on Democrats and liberal groups present potential recusal issues, and Kavanaugh is facing at least two ethics complaints in his home court.
Trump Has Ordered An FBI Investigation Of The Sexual Assault Allegations Against Brett Kavanaugh
Republicans agreed to a one-week investigation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after Christine Blasey Ford accused him of sexual assault.
Two Men Told Senate Staffers They Had “The Encounter” With Christine Blasey Ford, Not Brett Kavanaugh
The Senate Judiciary Committee did not name the two men who told staff they believed they were involved in the incident alleged by Ford.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Delivered An Emotional Speech On The Kavanaugh Accusations
“For anyone who has ever wondered why so many survivors of sexual assault don’t come forward, obviously there’s trauma, but there’s also the fear of this very kind of retaliation and scorn.”
The Woman Who Accused Brett Kavanaugh Of Assault Still Wants To Testify, Her Lawyers Say
Lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford told Senate Judiciary Committee staff that it's "not possible" for Ford to testify Monday, but wanted to set up a call to talk about possible "conditions" for Ford's testimony at a later date.
Republicans Say The Timing Of The Kavanaugh Letter Is "Disturbing." But Here's What Actually Happened.
The letter’s release was much more complicated than a simple political ploy.
The Woman Accusing Brett Kavanaugh Of Sexual Assault Wants The FBI To Investigate Before She Testifies In Congress
Christine Blasey Ford's lawyers said that while she "wants to cooperate" with the Senate Judiciary Committee, an FBI investigation "should be the first step" before a hearing currently scheduled for Monday.
There Will Be A Public Hearing With Brett Kavanaugh And The Woman Who Accused Him Of Assault
The announcement of the hearing comes just a day after Christine Blasey Ford came forward publicly with allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school.
Senate Democrats Are Suing The National Archives To Get Brett Kavanaugh's Records
Democrats have complained about the lack of access to documents from Kavanaugh's tenure in the White House under former president George W. Bush.
News Podcast: Kavanaugh's Hearings And France's Anti-Vaxxers
News podcast about the Supreme Court nomination hearings, measles outbreaks in Europe, and fake news this week.
Kamala Harris And Brett Kavanaugh Had A Very Weird Exchange At His Confirmation Hearing About The Mueller Investigation
The California Democrat questioned if Kavanaugh had ever discussed Robert Mueller or the investigation with anyone who worked at the law firm founded by Trump’s lawyer.
Republicans Are Fighting To Keep Brett Kavanaugh's Documents From Holding Up His Supreme Court Nomination
The executive privilege talk is just the latest step Republicans have taken to push forward President Donald Trump's nominee swiftly.
Here's Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Senate Questionnaire
Kavanaugh has been on Trump's shortlist since November. He said his contact with the White House started the day Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement.
Black Civil Rights Leaders Promise An Organized Campaign Against Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination
Democrats face a very difficult task in blocking any nomination to the Supreme Court.
National Civil Rights Groups Are Holding An “Emergency” SCOTUS Briefing
The agenda is so far unknown.
Trump’s SCOTUS Pick Is Drawing Heat On Both Sides Of The Abortion Debate Over The Case Of An Undocumented Teen
Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s dissent in the case of an undocumented teenager trying to get an abortion is either the first step to overturning Roe v. Wade or doesn't go far enough, depending on whom you ask.
Here’s Where Trump’s New Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Stands On Abortion, Executive Power, And Guns
Kavanaugh has written hundreds of opinions in more than a decade on the DC Circuit.
The Court May Become More Conservative, But Justice Breyer Still Is Pressing For It To End The Death Penalty
While the nation focuses on whether the Supreme Court will take a conservative turn following Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement, Breyer is maintaining his effort to scale back or end the death penalty.
Justice Anthony Kennedy Is Retiring From The Supreme Court
Kennedy's retirement is effective July 31, giving President Donald Trump a legacy-shaping opportunity to nominate his replacement — a decision that could affect the country for decades.
The Supreme Court Rules That Police Generally Need A Warrant To Get Cell-Site Records
The 5–4 decision — in which Chief Justice John Roberts joined his four more liberal colleagues in the majority — is a victory for privacy advocates.
Supreme Court Sides With Defendant In Motorcycle Search Case — But Two Conservatives Push Back
The court's majority said the search was illegal, but Justice Samuel Alito disagreed while Justice Clarence Thomas questioned whether Supreme Court limitations on illegally obtained evidence even apply to the states.
The Supreme Court Finally Heard Arguments Over Trump's Travel Ban
The high court is expected to issue a decision by the end of June.
Rod Rosenstein Has His Day In Court
A low-profile case about criminal sentences gave the deputy attorney general a chance to spend an hour at the Supreme Court — and away from the news cycle.
The Supreme Court Won’t Hear An Anti-Abortion Activist's Case Over The Release Of Secretly Recorded Videos
SCOTUS declined to take up the case of David Daleiden — the man behind the secretly recorded anti–Planned Parenthood videos.
The Supreme Court Just Sided With Criminal Defendants In Two Cases
Justices rejected a higher standard set by a court for inmates seeking funds to challenge their conviction and a lower standard sought by the government for convicting people of obstructing IRS investigations.
Death Penalty Opponents See Some Good News In The Supreme Court's Decision Not To Hear A Case
Four justices made clear their view that the death penalty — at least as it exists in Arizona — merits further review.
The Supreme Court Will Hear A Case Challenging Trump's Third Travel Ban Attempt
The case is to be argued in April, with a decision expected by June.
The Trump Administration Has Stopped Fighting The Jan. 1 Deadline For Accepting Trans Military Recruits
The Justice Department announced Friday night that it will not be asking the Supreme Court to stop the Jan. 1 deadline for allowing transgender military recruits. The department also dropped several appeals over Trump's transgender military service policy, choosing instead to keep the challenges in district courts for now.
Appeals Court Rules That Trump's Third Attempt At His Travel Ban Still Violates Federal Law
The decision, however, will remain on hold pending any review from the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Rules The Trump Administration Doesn't Need To Turn Over DACA Documents At This Time
Challengers of the Trump administration's decision to end DACA are seeking internal government documents in an ongoing court challenge. The Supreme Court, however, ruled that they'll need to wait for now.
Supreme Court Allows Trump's Third Try At A Travel Ban To Go Into Effect
The justices allowed the latest, partial travel ban to go into effect. They added, though, that "we expect that the Court of Appeals" in both cases pending against the ban "will render [their] decision with appropriate dispatch."
The Justice Department Goes To The Supreme Court To Keep DACA Documents Secret
DOJ is challenging lower court orders that it says would force the Trump administration to turn over "deliberative and other privileged materials, including White House documents covered by executive privilege."
The Supreme Court Has Canceled Arguments On The Now-Expired Travel Ban
The justices have asked lawyers to file briefs about the legal significance of the new travel restrictions signed by President Trump on Sunday.