SCOTUS Strikes Down Animal Cruelty Law

Staff / Truthdig Apr 21, 2010 Pointing to the First Amendment, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday nixed a federal law from 1999 that made the creation, possession or sale of depictions of animal cruelty illegal, despite the Obama administration's request that the top court consider the animal rights angle in its decision. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Supreme Court’s Audio Anxiety

Ruth Marcus / Truthdig Apr 16, 2010 In the age of Twitter and video-chats, the court apparently still finds that allowing the public to hear audio of its proceedings would be overly intrusive. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Chief Whiner

Ruth Marcus / Truthdig Mar 12, 2010 The chief justice is a big crybaby. To listen to John Roberts, you'd think that mobs of pitchfork-waving Democrats had accosted a handful of trembling justices. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

SCOTUS Considering Change in National Gun Ownership Laws

Staff / Truthdig Mar 3, 2010 The U.S. Supreme Court may be ready to change the scope of the Second Amendment, as five of the top court's justices (guess which ones?) have signaled their opinions about American citizens' rights to bear arms and appear ready to take steps that could override some local and state gun rules, with Chicago as a potential starting point. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Supreme Fuck-Up

Mr. Fish / Truthdig Jan 28, 2010 Dig deeper

A Supreme Victory for Special Interests

John Dean / Truthdig Jan 22, 2010 The conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court, none of whom has been elected to anything, ever, has given a monumental victory to special interests. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

SCOTUS Deals Big Blow to Campaign Finance Reform

Staff / Truthdig Jan 22, 2010 On Thursday, Chief Justice John Roberts explained the U.S. Supreme Court's campaign finance ruling, which eliminated restrictions on corporate funding for political candidates and causes, by basing it on the First Amendment, stating that the American government doesn't have the right to "prohibit political speech, even if the speaker is a corporation or union." (continued) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

It Could Be the End of Our Democracy as We Know It

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Sep 7, 2009 Radical is too small a word to describe the extent to which the Supreme Court will turn our political system upside down if it decides to let corporations directly fund campaigns. The Supreme Court could turn our political system upside down by letting corporations into campaigns. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

What Lies Ahead for Justice Sotomayor?

BLANK Aug 9, 2009 Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has made history after successfully navigating the grueling confirmation process by finally being sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts at a ceremony at the court's headquarters Saturday. However, the partisan politics that played out during the grilling phase are just a taste of things to come, according to The Christian Science Monitor's Brad Knickerbocker.The partisan politics that played out during Justice Sonia Sotomayor's grilling phase represent just a taste of things to come. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama’s Court Votes May Return to Haunt Him

Ruth Marcus / Truthdig Jul 15, 2009 Republican senators are asking themselves why they should give President Obama more leeway to name justices to his liking than then-Sen. Obama was willing to accord President Bush when he voted against both Bush nominees. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Confirmation Remarks Worth Revisiting

Staff / Truthdig Jul 14, 2009 Supreme Court confirmation hearings are as much about politicians grabbing a little face time as they are about probing a nominee's legal philosophy Amid all the posturing and finger-wagging Monday, Sen Sheldon Whitehouse spoke rather eloquently about what the court has become, and what it should be: "  A place where the comfortable can be afflicted and the afflicted find some comfort  ". Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Supreme Court Surprises With Civil Rights Decision

Staff / Truthdig Jun 23, 2009 The Supreme Court has spared the 1965 Voting Rights Act, agreeing by an 8-1 margin to leave a ruling on its more controversial parts for another day -- and perhaps another court. The near-unanimous narrow decision came as a surprise, with justices apparently retreating from earlier divisions that led some court watchers to predict the legislation's demise. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )