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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As Supreme Court Debates, 2016 Presidential Hopefuls Define Marriage Views
The national debate over same-sex marriage has landed back in the Supreme Court, but few major presidential candidates routinely put the issue on the front burner. “[T]he progressive left is seeking to force their view of marriage upon all Americans.”–@tedcruz Among more than a dozen possible Republican hopefuls, only three spoke out forcefully in recent days…Ken McIntyre -
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Ryan T. Anderson’s Instant Analysis of Supreme Court’s Same-Sex Marriage Case
The Daily Signal caught up with The Heritage Foundation’s Ryan T. Anderson moments after Supreme Court justices concluded oral arguments on same-sex marriage. Anderson, Heritage’s William E. Simon senior research fellow in American principles and public policy, spent the morning in the courtroom and shared his take with us on the debate and Justice Anthony Kennedy’s questions.Paul Runko -
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The Key Supreme Court Briefs Supporting State Man-Woman Marriage Laws
The briefs are in—over 150 in all—and today the Supreme Court will hear the arguments in the cases on states’ freedom to make marriage policy. Here are highlights of points made in the amicus briefs supporting man-woman marriage laws that the Court should consider: More than 50 million Americans voted to retain the man-woman definition of marriage—61…Paul Runko -
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Why Today’s Supreme Court Case on Same-Sex Marriage Matters
Today the U.S. Supreme Court will meet for more than two hours to hear oral arguments about same-sex marriage. So why does this matter? Sarah Torre, a policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, explains what you need to know about the case. >>> Don’t Silence the 50 Million Who Voted for One Man-One Woman MarriagePaul Runko -
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Marriage Debate Marches Into Nation’s Capital Ahead of Supreme Court Case
As the debate over same-sex marriage heats up across the country, advocates for traditional marriage gathered in the nation’s capitol to make their voices heard. With the U.S. Supreme Court taking on the issue in a landmark gay marriage case in the coming weeks, The Daily Signal asked attendees of the 2015 March for Marriage—and some protesting the…Kelsey Bolar -
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Regardless of How the Supreme Court Scrutinizes Man–Woman Marriage Laws, They Are Constitutional
The amicus brief filed on behalf of Governor C. L. Otter of Idaho in the same-sex marriage case before the Supreme Court is remarkable for two reasons. First, aside from Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and the governors who are named parties (and thus had no choice), he is the only sitting governor with the chutzpah…Gene Schaerr -
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Cartoon: The Supreme Court and Gay Marriage
Ryan T. Anderson, the William E. Simon senior research fellow in American Principles and Public Policy at The Heritage Foundation, wrote about the same-sex marriage case earlier this week: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about gay marriage. Here’s what you need to know. 1. There simply is nothing in the U.S….Glenn Foden -
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What You Need to Know About Gay Marriage and the Supreme Court
One week from today, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about gay marriage. Here’s what you need to know. 1. There simply is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that requires all 50 states to redefine marriage. Whatever people may think about marriage as a policy matter, everyone should be able to recognize the Constitution…Ryan T. Anderson -
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Should Buying Bath Salts Land You in Jail? Four Cases the Supreme Court Will Hear in April
The Supreme Court justices will be hard at work churning out decisions through the end of June, but April brings to a close oral arguments for the 2014-2015 term. Over the next two weeks, the justices will hear oral arguments in seven cases, including cases involving criminal law, overregulation, same-sex marriage and the death penalty….Tiffany Bates -
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Can EPA Ignore Costs of This Very Expensive Regulation? Supreme Court to Decide.
In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency published its final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that regulate the emissions of hazardous air pollutants from power plants. There was one “slight” problem. By EPA’s own estimates, the economic costs would be $9.6 billion annually, making this one of the costliest rules ever issued by the EPA. This…Daren Bakst -
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Should Dentists Be Regulators of Teeth Whitening Providers? What the Supreme Court Ruled.
Should someone need a license to whiten your teeth? In February, the Supreme Court sided with the Federal Trade Commission in its antitrust lawsuit against the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners. The Board, which regulates the practice of the dental industry in North Carolina, was sued by the Commission after sending cease-and-desist letters to…David Allen -
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Memo to Supreme Court: Nothing in the Constitution Requires States to Redefine Marriage
Next month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about the constitutional status of state laws defining marriage as the exclusive union of husband and wife. The overarching question before the Supreme Court is not whether an exclusively male–female marriage policy is the best, but only whether it is allowed by the U.S. Constitution….Gene Schaerr -
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What You Need to Know About Marriage and the Supreme Court
Does the Constitution require the government to recognize same-sex marriages? With the Supreme Court set to hear arguments this term on cases about same-sex marriage, it’s a pressing question. In February, Ryan T. Anderson, the William E. Simon fellow at The Heritage Foundation, spoke to students and faculty at The Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio…Caitlin Thomas -
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The Supreme Court Heard King v. Burwell. Here’s What the Justices Asked About and Commented On.
Today the Supreme Court heard oral argument in King v. Burwell, an important case dealing with the Obama administration’s attempt to hand out tax credits not authorized by the text of the law. This is the third appearance of Obamacare before the Supreme Court and the justices were so intrigued by the case that Chief…Andrew Kloster -
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Did Abercrombie Discriminate Against an Applicant Because of Her Religion? Supreme Court Justices Hear Case
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, an anti-discrimination case involving a Muslim teenager who applied to be a model at the clothing store. Samantha Elauf was not offered a job and filed a complaint with the Commission, alleging that Abercrombie refused to hire…Elizabeth Slattery -
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Does Fair Housing Act Only Prevent Intentional Discrimination? Supreme Court to Hear Arguments
On Jan. 21, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case involving the Obama administration’s favorite dubious legal theory, “disparate impact.” Then again, maybe it won’t — because the administration or some of its more radical allies in the civil-rights movement might snatch the case out of the court’s hands by engineering…Hans von Spakovsky -
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Will the Supreme Court Protect a Farmer’s Right to Grow and Sell Raisins?
On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case brought by California raisin farmers who were fined by the government for selling their crop on the open market, instead of limiting their sales by delivering some of their raisins to a government-approved middleman. This case illustrates the absurdity of a government program that…Alden Abbott -
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Is the Next Roe v. Wade Coming? Supreme Court to Hear Marriage Case
Today the Supreme Court of the United States announced that it would rule on the constitutional status of state marriage laws. It granted certiorari and consolidated four cases coming out of Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. The Supreme Court should uphold these laws and respect the constitutional authority of citizens and their elected officials to…Ryan T. Anderson -
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How a Silly Dispute Over Signs Made It All the Way to the Supreme Court
A small church relies on temporary signs to invite and direct worshipers to its services. However practical, the pastor's goal ran up against a town's strict limitations on the size of signs, the number that can be posted and for how long. The town officials of Gilbert, Ariz., however, don't impose those same restrictions on…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Establishes that Police, But Not the Rest of Us, Can Get the Law Wrong—And Not Face Charges
If a police officer’s erroneous understanding of the law leads to him pulling someone over, does he violate the Fourth Amendment, which established “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures”? On Monday, the Supreme Court said no, it’s not a violation. In…Paul J. Larkin