Courts & Law

Watch Scalia and Breyer Debate Competing Theories of Constitutional Interpretation

Bill Blum / Truthdig Mar 3, 2023 If you want to deepen your understanding of the differences between “originalism” and “living constitutionalism” as competing theories of constitutional law and interpretation, there’s no better place to begin than with the 2006 debate between the late conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and the recently retired liberal Justice Stephen Breyer. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Supreme Court’s Shock Decision Is an Indictment of Trump’s Racism

Marjorie Cohn / Truthdig Jun 30, 2019 The highest court in the land puts a halt to the Trump administration’s plans to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census---for now. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The Supreme Court’s Harrowing New Lurch Right

Bill Blum / Truthdig Jun 3, 2019 Roe v. Wade is in grave peril, but that’s not all. A pair of recent decisions along party lines threaten decades of liberal court rulings. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Supreme Court Signals More Openness to State Abortion Rules

MARK SHERMAN / The Associated Press May 28, 2019 The court upholds an Indiana law supported by abortion opponents that regulates the disposal of fetal remains. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Ginsburg’s Ribs and the Future of SCOTUS

Bill Blum / Truthdig Nov 19, 2018 Is packing the top court “necessary to save democracy”? Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s Supreme Court Pick, Will Drive U.S. Law Hard to the Right

Bill Blum / Truthdig Jul 9, 2018 The president has chosen a candidate who poses a great threat to progressive values and causes—and one who might shield him from Mueller. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

High Court Sides With Baker in Aspect of Wedding Cake Case

MARK SHERMAN / The Associated Press Jun 4, 2018 The court's limited decision in the Colorado case leaves for another day the larger issue of whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gay and lesbian people. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

High Court Says States Can OK Sports Betting

JESSICA GRESKO and WAYNE PARRY / The Associated Press May 14, 2018 Despite opposition from the major sports leagues and the administration, the Supreme Court strikes down a law barring betting on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Six Major Legal Battles of 2017 Will Persist in 2018

Bill Blum / Truthdig Dec 26, 2017 Every president influences U.S. law and legal institutions, but few have had the impact of Donald Trump. And he’s just getting started. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Justice Neil Gorsuch Has Landed, to the Delight of the American Right

Bill Blum / Truthdig Jul 3, 2017 We can appreciate the full import of Gorsuch’s position on the Supreme Court only by analyzing his written orders and decisions. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban on Offensive Trademarks

By Sam Hananel / Associated Press Jun 20, 2017 The ruling for an Asian-American band named the Slants is expected to help the Washington Redskins in their fight to keep the team name, which many find insulting. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The 2016 SCOTUS Awards: A Look Back at the Year That Was

Bill Blum / Truthdig Dec 20, 2016 It’s time for Truthdig’s annual—and only partially tongue-in-cheek—review of the highlights, lowlights, pratfalls and pitfalls of the Supreme Court over the past 12 months. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )