Bloomberg News Supreme Court reporter. I’m from St. Louis, so Biden pronounced my state wrong.
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Oct 28, 2022 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
Apologies, but I'm going to go on a late-Friday rant about lack of precision in discussing the Supreme Court's shadow/emergency docket. I'm frequently seeing people misdescribe what the court is being asked to do when applications are filed. 1/x
The majority of emergency applications don't ask the court to "hear" or take up" an appeal. They seek to stop something from happening -- or let it happen -- while litigation goes forward. The court is not being asked to rule on the merits. 2/x
Sep 14, 2022 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
NEW: 5-4 Supreme Court rejects Yeshiva University, clearing the way for recognition of LGBTQ group. Majority says Yeshiva can try again on its religious-rights claim after case has gone through NY courts. Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, Barrett dissent.
Jun 27, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
BREAKING: Supreme Court rules for high school football coach who lost his job after repeatedly praying on 50-yard line after games. Vote is 6-3.
Second opinion is Concepcion. Court sides with defendant on reducing crack sentences under First Step Act. Unusual majority with Thomas, Gorsuch joining liberals. More coming.
Apr 28, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Roberts' authorship of this opinion suggests (but does not guarantee) that he is NOT writing the abortion decision. Otherwise, he would have two majority opinions from the December sitting and some other justice would have none.
Mind you, that kind of thing seems to be happening w/ the November sitting, where Gorsuch has already written two opinions (incl Texas abortion) and neither Thomas nor Barrett has issued one.
Sep 13, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Amy Coney Barrett argues Supreme Court isn't driven by politics, after being introduced by Mitch McConnell at at event celebrating the anniversary of the McConnell Center. courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
“My goal today is to convince you that this court is not comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks.”
Aug 30, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
NEW - Abortion providers make emergency request to Supreme Court, asking them to block Texas's 6-week ban before it takes effect Wednesday.
Abortion-rights advocates say the measure would bar care for at least 85% of patients and would force many clinics to close. Law lets private citizens sue to enforce.
5th Circuit effectively blocked pre-enforcement challenge.
Aug 27, 2021 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
BREAKING: Supreme Court lifts Biden administration's moratorium on evictions, ending protections for millions of people who have fallen behind on rent payments during pandemic. Court's three liberals dissent.
Majority says challengers "virtually certain" to win on their argument that CDC lacked authority to issue moratorium. supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf…
Jun 7, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
NEW: Supreme Court rejects challenge to the FDA's regulation of electronic cigarette, turns away appeal that sought to revitalize nondelegation doctrine. Court also refuses to consider whether women must join men in registering for military draft.
The court also turned away a challenge to the 1984 ruling that lets public-sector unions serve as the exclusive bargaining agent for workers. And the court agreed to hear a clash over the state secrets doctrine and its use in surveillance cases.
Jan 13, 2021 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins has resigned, per @AP. Hawkins' name was conspicuously absent last month when Texas AG Paxton asked Supreme Court to overturn election results in four other states. dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/01/13/tex…
Since then, Paxton has spoken at the Trump rally that preceded the raid on the Capitol, and he was one of 3 state AGs who didn't sign a letter condemning the Capitol riot. Paxton also has multiple criminal allegations hanging over his head.
Nov 4, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Supreme Court asks Democrats to respond by Thursday at 5 to Trump bid to challenge late-arriving Pennsylvania ballots. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
These are just the ballots (tens of thousands, maybe) that arrive after Election Day but before Friday. Trump asking court to let him intervene in (take over) pending GOP challenges to those ballots. Supreme Court previously refused to block extension or expedite case.
Sep 19, 2020 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
Statements about Justice Ginsburg from her colleagues. First Roberts:
Thomas:
Sep 17, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Not a bad time to re-listen to Al Gore's concession speech the day after the 2000 Bush v. Gore ruling. The Supreme Court had arguably left tiny lane for Gore to try to fight on, but he saw the writing on the wall and opted to exit graciously. c-span.org/video/?161263-…
"Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. ...While I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome. ... And tonight for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession."
Jun 29, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
BREAKING: Supreme Court puts Trump administration on track to resume federal executions as soon as July 13, rejecting an appeal and stay application by inmates who challenged the lethal injection protocol the government plans to use.
Scotus also turns away legal attack on Trump’s border wall, refusing to question law that let his administration waive more than 40 federal statutes to start construction.
Jun 19, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
One thing I've learned this Supreme Court term: Be really, really careful about presuming how Roberts will vote based on his questions at argument. In the two LGBT cases, every one of his questions went to the workers' lawyers. But he voted with them in the end. 1/4
Likewise with DACA. I was one of many Scotus reporters who produced an argument story saying the court seemed inclined to let Trump cancel it, based in part what Roberts said and asked at argument. We were wrong. 2/4
Apr 7, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
BREAKING: 5th Circuit says Texas can enforce its near-total ban on abortion during coronavirus outbreak.
2-1 decision says ban is warranted to prevent depletion of personal protection equipment. "In the unprecedented circumstances now facing our society, even a minor delay in fully implementing the state’s emergency measures could have major ramifications."
Mar 11, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
No word yet from Supreme Court on next argument sitting, set to start March 23. DC Health Dept recommending canceling mass gatherings of 1,000+ people. SCOTUS courtroom can squeeze in a bit more than 500, counting the seats in the so-called hallway.
We've asked, but so far the court hasn't said anything about contingency planning. One option would seem to be holding arguments in a largely empty courtroom. Not clear how that would work for, say, press coverage.
Feb 25, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Sotomayor dissented from 5-4 vote to let administration, in Illinois, reject green card applicants deemed likely to need public assistance. Said court is far quicker to give stays to administration than to death-row inmates.
Sotomayor: "I fear that this disparity in treatment erodes the fair and balanced decisionmaking process that this Court must strive to protect."
Jan 31, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
NEW: Supreme Court sets arguments for March 31 on subpoenas by House & NY prosecutor for Trump's financial information.
This is per the dockets. Full calendar isn't out yet. Google-Oracle set for March 24.
Jan 10, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Supreme Court could grant a bunch of new cases this afternoon. The justices have multiple religious rights cases to choose from, including Philly's exclusion of Catholic Social Services from foster-care program because of its refusal to place kids with gay parents. (1/6)
The court could also decide whether states can do anything about faithless electors -- those people who defy the will of their state's voters in the Electoral College. (There were an arguable record 10 such faithless electors in 2016.) (2/6)
Jan 9, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Among the things awaiting the Supreme Court as it returns from the holiday break: Calls to clear up confusion about what types of medical tests can be patented, per @sudecker1. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…@sudecker1 And the court could hear the Trump administration’s challenge to a California immigrant-sanctuary law that restricts local police from helping federal authorities round up and deport people. (5/6)
Dec 19, 2019 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
On Obamacare conference call, Calif AG Becerra says that while his state is ready to seek immediate Supreme Court review of yesterday's ruling, he'll need to consult with other states that are involved.
Becerra on the likelihood of going straight to Scotus: "I think most of us believe that we have to address this uncertainty as quickly as possible. … I can speak for California that we believe it's imperative to act swiftly."
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