Courts & Law

The 2015 SCOTUS Awards: A Look Back at the Highs, Lows and Yearly Shenanigans of the Supreme Court

Bill Blum / Truthdig Dec 29, 2015 Justice Antonin Scalia earned his stripes as the court’s loosest cannon for his remarks on Obamacare and same-sex marriage, while Justice Clarence Thomas was honored for making it through his ninth year without asking a single question during oral arguments. Dig deeper ( 12 Min. Read )

The Supreme Court on Affirmative Action: 5 Possible Outcomes

Bill Blum / Truthdig Dec 11, 2015 If onetime University of Texas aspirant Abigail Fisher prevails on all of her claims, the last tepid vestiges of race-conscious affirmative action will end at public colleges and universities throughout the land. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Supreme Court Preview: The Pope Casts a Long Shadow Over the New Term

Bill Blum / Truthdig Sep 29, 2015 Francis' full-throated opposition to the death penalty puts him at the opposite end of the moral universe from Scalia, Thomas and Alito. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Is Antonin Scalia Off His Rocker or Just a Sore Loser?

Bill Blum / Truthdig Jul 13, 2015 Either way, the sun appears to have set on the Supreme Court justice’s once-promising career. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

SCOTUS Wraps Up: 5 Takeaways From the Supreme Court’s Current Term

Bill Blum / Truthdig Jun 29, 2015 The end of the U.S. Supreme Court’s term has brought some big surprises for sure, but should either end of the political/social spectrum get excited about what the major decisions might mean? Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Same-Sex Marriage: Will SCOTUS Make It Official?

Bill Blum / Truthdig Apr 29, 2015 The once-unthinkable is about to happen. Get ready. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

The Prison State of America

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Dec 29, 2014 The incarcerated poor have become the nation’s most exploited workers. They are the prototype drones for the corporate totalitarian state. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

The Questions John Roberts Has Never Answered

Bill Blum / Truthdig Nov 12, 2014 It’s a good time to review the promises Chief Justice John Roberts made at his September 2005 Senate confirmation hearing and re-examine the key questions he was never forced to answer. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Happy Independence Day From the Supreme Court: Unions and Women Lose, Koch Brothers Win

Bill Blum / Truthdig Jul 1, 2014 The court's latest decisions handed long-sought political victories to some of the most extreme elements of the American right. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Is Scalia Too Bigoted to Serve on the Next Gay Marriage Case?

Bill Blum / Truthdig May 23, 2014 In a string of judicial opinions and public appearances dating back at least to the mid-1990s, Antonin Scalia has demonstrated that he cannot evaluate questions of gay rights with the temperament and open-mindedness expected of a judge. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Impeach Clarence Thomas?

Bill Blum / Truthdig May 13, 2014 While the Constitution allows even Supreme Court justices to be impeached, it has happened only once in our nation's history. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Unsurprising Affirmative Action Decision Is Bad News for Gay Marriage

Bill Blum / Truthdig Apr 23, 2014 The current Supreme Court has consistently decided for states' rights and majority rule, which could be a problem as same-sex marriage cases work their way through the judiciary. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )