Supreme Court News
In-depth reporting and commentary on the Court’s rulings and their influence on law, politics, and society.
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- Opinion
What to Expect When the Supreme Court Returns
Monday, Oct. 1, marks the start of a new Supreme Court term. With conservative victories in numerous cases (NIFLA, the so-called “travel ban,” Masterpiece Cakeshop, Janus, and more), the previous term is summed up best by then-candidate Donald Trump: “We’re going to win so much, you’re going to be so sick and tired of winning.”…Elizabeth Slattery -
- Opinion
3 Reasons Why We Should Get Rid of Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings
I think it’s time to seriously consider getting rid of these hearings for Supreme Court nominees. The Constitution doesn’t require a hearing. All it says is that the Senate must give advise and consent. You can do that with a simple up-or-down vote. And let’s be real: Do we really think one senator’s vote is…Genevieve Wood -
- News
How a DC Internship Transformed This Future State Supreme Court Justice’s Life
Clint Bolick entered college pursuing a career in teaching and politics. But then a summer internship with The Fund for American Studies placed him in Sen. Orrin Hatch’s office and changed his life forever. It was the summer before his senior year at Drew University, a liberal arts school on the outskirts of New York…Kayla Sarin -
- Opinion
Right Side of History: The 7 Biggest Supreme Court Political Controversies
“The Right Side of History” is a podcast dedicated to exploring current events through a historical lens and busting left-wing myths about figures and events of America’s past. On this week’s episode, hosts Jarrett Stepman and Fred Lucas discuss the top political controversies in Supreme Court history. The Supreme Court hasn’t just been controversial because of…Jarrett Stepman -
- News
Liberal Group Behind Resistance to Supreme Court Pick Hides Its Funding
A left-leaning advocacy group that plans to spend millions opposing Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court has obscured funding sources through an opaque organizational structure. Conservative advocacy groups dramatically outpaced liberal efforts on judicial confirmations in recent years, dominating the fundraising and communications space around Supreme Court nominations. But some Democratic operatives have formed…Kevin Daley -
- Opinion
Why the Supreme Court Should Be More Like the Last Super Bowl
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement, leading to President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, has thrown progressives, the Democratic Party, and the news media into an out-and-out tizzy. The online magazine Slate declared, “Anthony Kennedy Just Destroyed His Legacy as a Gay Rights Hero.” The New York Times’ editorial board said…Walter E. Williams -
- Opinion
We Hear You: The President Gets to Fill Another Supreme Court Vacancy
Editor's note: Our audience paid close attention to the news that Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement gave President Donald Trump a second opportunity to appoint a conservative to the Supreme Court. He did so 12 days later. Here's a sampling of the early response. Send your own views to [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Everyone is…Ken McIntyre -
- News
Justice Elena Kagan’s Scholarly Connection With Brett Kavanaugh
A surprise shoutout from President Donald Trump’s conservative Supreme Court nominee to one of the high court’s liberal justices proved to be a rare note of civility amid the partisan rancor from the left surrounding the pick. If the Senate confirms D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the court, he already will be on familiar…Ken McIntyre -
- Opinion
There They Go Again: The Left Uses Old Scare Tactics Against Supreme Court Nominee
President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, is now making the rounds in the Senate in advance of his confirmation hearings. Kavanaugh is the kind of jurist that our system of government was designed for: fair, impartial, and faithful to the Constitution. Many far-left groups, and therefore, many Senate Democrats, will…Thomas Jipping -
- Opinion
Chuck Schumer’s Brazen Fable About Nominees and Supreme Court Precedents
Hours before President Trump announced his nomination of D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., outlined his demands for the nominee. He would, Schumer said Monday on the Senate floor, demand from Kavanaugh “an affirmative statement of support” for certain Supreme Court precedents and positions on particular legal…Thomas Jipping -
- News
Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz Dismisses Liberal Hysteria Over Trump’s SCOTUS Pick
Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz defended President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday and rebuked liberals for their vocal opposition. “He went to Yale law school and he taught at Harvard. What can be wrong with that,” Dershowitz said. “He has a lot of support from centrist academics. He is regarded…Nick Givas -
- News
Trump’s Supreme Court List Down to Final Three
President Donald Trump has narrowed down his list of potential Supreme Court nominations to three candidates. With days remaining until Trump makes an expected selection announcement, his choice to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy is down to three federal appeals judges: Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Raymond Kethledge, reported The Associated Press. The candidate interview process has…Molly Prince -
- Opinion
Canada’s Supreme Court Relegates Religious Beliefs to Second-Tier Status. America, Be Warned.
Canada’s Supreme Court recently ruled 7-2 against Trinity Western University, prioritizing sexual orientation over the free exercise of religion. This ruling should serve as a warning flag to U.S. citizens. Canada was only nine years ahead of the United States in redefining marriage. If the U.S. does not change direction, we could follow in Canada’s…Emilie Kao -
- Opinion
Democrats Are Using Shallow Arguments to Hold Up the Next Supreme Court Nominee. Here’s Why They Won’t Work.
Three signs suggest that Democrats already believe they won’t have the votes to defeat President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy. First, Democrats no longer have the filibuster to prevent confirmation votes. They abolished filibusters for all but Supreme Court nominations in 2013 and Republicans took Supreme Court nominations off the filibuster table…Thomas Jipping -
- Opinion
Meet the 6 Stellar Judges Leading the Pack on Trump’s Supreme Court Short List
President Donald Trump is expected to announce July 9 his nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. In 2016, Trump put together a list of potential Supreme Court picks during his campaign for president and has amended it twice—bringing the current total to 25 highly qualified conservative individuals. I will be making…Elizabeth Slattery -
- Opinion
In Janus v. AFSCME, Supreme Court Throws Out Bad Precedent on ‘Compelled Speech’
On the last day of its 2017-18 term, the Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME on Wednesday strengthened the First Amendment right to free speech and showed how the court should analyze whether to overrule one of its previous decisions. In the labor context, a “bargaining unit” is a group of employees with clear…Thomas Jipping -
- News
Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Union Fees for Government Employees
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that nonunion government workers can't be forced to pay dues or other fees to support a union, further diminishing the power of organized labor and setting up what right-to-work proponents called the “hard work” of protecting free speech rights for the nation's government employees. Right-to-work advocates also expressed concern…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Usurps Power of Congress, Regulates Interstate Commerce
Thursday’s Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. threatens to upend online commerce, drive thousands of small entrepreneurs out of business, and hike prices for hundreds of millions of consumers. Under prior law, states could not force remote retailers to collect and remit sales taxes on their behalf unless the business had a…Joel Griffith -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Botches Wayfair Ruling, Putting Small Online Businesses at Risk of New Taxes
Small online businesses and consumers around the country will suffer the most from the Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. It’s now up to Congress to protect internet retailers from taxes imposed by states other than their own. The court essentially ruled that all 50 states and the tens of thousands…Adam Michel -
- Opinion
What We Need in Our Federal Judges
The level of conflict over President Donald Trump’s judicial nominations exceeds anything in recent memory. That conflict will only escalate should a new vacancy occur on the Supreme Court—a possibility that has been floated in recent months. In one important way, the process of appointing federal judges is similar to any hiring process: It must…Thomas Jipping