Recent Decisions
Rivas-Villegas v. Cortesluna (October 18, 2021)
Union City, California officer Rivas-Villegas responded to a 911 call reporting that a woman and her children were barricaded in a room for fear that Cortesluna, the woman’s boyfriend, was going to hurt them. After confirming that the family had no means of escape, Rivas-Villegas and other officers...
City of Tahlequah v. Bond (October 18, 2021)
Rollice’s ex-wife called 911. Rollice was in her garage, intoxicated, and would not leave. Three officers responded to the call and spoke with Rollice through the garage’s doorway. Rollice began fidgeting with something in his hands; he appeared nervous. Rollice refused a request for a pat-down. Pol...
Dunn v. Reeves (July 2, 2021)
Supreme Court reverses an Eleventh Circuit grant of habeas relief for a 1996 murder; the Alabama court did not unreasonably apply a categorical rule in evaluating the defendant's claim of ineffective assistance.
Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta (July 1, 2021)
California's requirement that charities disclose the names and addresses of major donors is facially invalid as burdening donors’ First Amendment rights and not narrowly tailored to an important government interest.
Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (July 1, 2021)
Supreme Court upholds Arizona voting rules that discount the votes of those who vote at the wrong precinct and that make it a crime for any person other than a postal worker, an elections official, or a voter’s caregiver, family member, or household member to knowingly collect an early ballot.
Latest Supreme Court News
In Two Rulings, Supreme Court Bolsters Legal Shield for Police
The New York Times,
The unsigned decisions, without noted dissents, indicated that the court continued to support the widely criticized doctrine of qualified immunity.
Justice Department Asks Supreme Court to Block Texas Abortion Law
The New York Times,
Saying the law is “plainly unconstitutional,” the department also asked the court to add the case to its docket in its current term.
Supreme Court Weighs Boston Marathon Bomber's Death Sentence
The New York Times,
The Biden administration has pursued the case against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in spite of its own moratorium on capital punishment.
Biden Panel Wary of Expanding Supreme Court, but Open to Term Limits
The New York Times,
Preliminary draft materials suggested that adding justices might be seen as a “partisan maneuver,” but said that an 18-year tenure merits “serious consideration.”
Supreme Court Poised to Put Boston Marathon Bomber Back on Death Row
Justia's Verdict,
Texas Law professor Jeffrey Abramson explains why the U.S. Supreme Court should not reinstate the death penalty for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, though a majority seemed poised to do just that when it heard oral arguments earlier this week. Professor Abramson argues that even this pro-death-penalty Supreme Court should see that when grievous mistakes are made at trial, as they were in Tsarnaev’s case, the defendant deserves a new death sentence hearing.
Press Release Regarding Justice Kavanaugh
Supreme Court of the United States,
Justice Kavanaugh will participate in next week’s oral arguments remotely from his home after testing positive for Covid-19 this week. All of the other Justices, including Justice Kennedy, tested negative in advance of today’s investiture. Per current Court testing protocols, all of the Justices are regularly tested.
Current Supreme Court Justices
Chief Justice of the United States
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Photos of the justices courtesy of the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
