Last week, President Donald Trump declared his intent to use an executive order to limit the right of birthright citizenship. The principle that anyone born on American soil is a citizen of the United States is based in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1868. The Amendment opens with the declaration, … Continue reading Birthright Citizenship, the President, and the Supreme Court
Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced this week that “some time ago,” her doctors diagnosed her with “the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.” For this reason, she explained, she is “no longer able to participate in public life.” Justice O’Connor retired from the Court in 2005 to care for her husband … Continue reading Justice O’Connor’s Second Retirement
In an event without precedent in the history of Supreme Court confirmation hearings, nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh gave a televised interview to refute sexual assault allegations dating back to his high school years. (Video here; transcript here.) He appeared on Fox News Monday night, seated alongside his wife, Ashley Estes Kavanaugh. The substance of Kavanaugh’s … Continue reading Kavanaugh Fights Back
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh broke precedent during his confirmation hearings by declining to take a stance on cameras in the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh acknowledged that many recent nominees have suggested during confirmation hearings that they would support video coverage of the oral arguments at the Court, but then promptly reversed themselves upon taking a … Continue reading The Latest on Cameras in the Supreme Court
It’s been just over 24 hours since President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Here’s a summary of initial reactions. His credentials and experience have been praised. “On paper,” writes Richard Wolf in USA Today, “Kavanaugh may be the most qualified Supreme Court nominee in generations. Akhil Reed Amar, … Continue reading Early Takes on the Kavanaugh Nomination
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens made headlines recently with his comments calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment. In his March 27th op-ed in the New York Times, the 97-year-old ex-justice dismissed the amendment a “relic of the 18th century.” He noted that for most of the amendment’s history, it was understood … Continue reading Repeal the Second Amendment?
Rumors have been swirling (again) of Justice Kennedy’s possible retirement. He has been on the Court since 1988, which makes him the longest serving Justice on the Court. And, at 81 years-old, he is the second oldest member of the Court; only Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (who turns 85 tomorrow) is older. Earlier this month, … Continue reading Supreme Court News Roundup—March 14, 2018
Here’s a roundup of some of the most interesting recent stories about the Supreme Court. In the New York Times, Adam Liptak discusses the constitutional implications of aging death row populations. “The Court, which has barred the execution of juvenile offenders and the intellectually disabled, is now turning its attention to old people,” he writes. … Continue reading Supreme Court News Roundup—March 8, 2018
The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to take the unusual step of reviewing a federal judge’s order temporarily blocking President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). As Ariane de Vogue of CNN explains, the Supreme Court disfavors bypassing lower courts for direct review in these situations. Typically, the … Continue reading DACA & SCOTUS
In case you missed them the first time around, here is a roundup of some of the most interesting recent stories about the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Halts Alabama Execution On January 25, the Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for Vernon Madison, a death row inmate in Alabama. In 1994, a jury recommended … Continue reading Supreme Court News Roundup