Category Archives: Behind the Decision

Workplace Harassment Cases – Behind the Decision

Case:

Vance v. Ball State University
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar

The Supreme Court decided two cases on workplace harassment in the 2012 Term: Vance v. Ball State University and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar. Professor Laurie Leader of Chicago-Kent College of Law explains these Title VII cases and what their decisions mean.

The Voting Rights Act – Behind the Decision

Case:

Shelby County v. Holder

In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court found that Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. But the Voting Rights Act isn’t gone. Professor Carolyn Shapiro (Chicago-Kent College of Law) explains the decision and what it means for the future of voting rights law.

DOMA in the Supreme Court – Behind the Decision

Case:

United States v. Windsor

The Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act this Term by declaring it unconstitutional. This historic decision has many important implications for the future. Get the facts on where same-sex marriage now stands from Chicago-Kent Professor Katharine Baker, who submitted an amicus brief on behalf of family law professors to the case.

Prop 8 – Behind the Decision

Case:

Hollingsworth v. Perry

The Supreme Court decided the proponents of Proposition 8 did not have legal standing to challenge the California Supreme Court’s ruling that it was unconstitutional. How did the Court decide? Professor Joan Steinman of IIT Chicago-Kent explains.

Affirmative Action in Fisher – Behind the Decision

Case:

Fisher v. University of Texas

The Supreme Court’s decision in Fisher v. University of Texas didn’t make any sweeping declarations on affirmative action. In a 7-1 decision (with Justice Kagan recusing herself), the Court sent the case back to the lower courts. Distinguished Professor Sheldon H. Nahmod, who has argued on civil rights in the Supreme Court, explains what the decision means.

Myriad Genetics – Behind the Decision

Case:

Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics

In the most recent Term, the Supreme Court held in a 9-0 decision that human genes could not be patented. Chicago-Kent Professor of Law David Schwartz explains the decision and why it was made.

Maryland v. King – DNA Searches of Arrestees

Case:

Maryland v. King

Prof. Richard Kling discusses the Court’s recent decision on the taking of DNA from arrestees.

Parsing the Healthcare Decision

Case:

The Affordable Care Act Cases

Professors Carolyn Shapiro and Sheldon Nahmod weigh in on the meaning and impact of the Court’s complicated ruling in the Affordable Care Act cases.

The Healthcare Judgment

Case:

The Affordable Care Act Cases

Below, Prof. Sheldon Nahmod summarizes today’s complicated decision. Prof. Nahmod has also posted some additional thoughts on the opinion on his blog, NahmodLaw. Additionally, Oyez has posted its plain-English summary of the Court’s ruling.

Follow-up: Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders

Case:

Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington

Prof. Carolyn Shapiro of the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law reviews the Supreme Court’s decision.