Gorsuch, hero to LGBTQ rights in 2020, villain now “Any such misperception would be harmful to this institution and our country,” he added, perhaps hoping that the court would never have to erect barricades again. He said that “reasonable minds” including the three liberals, on the bench could disagree with his opinion, but he cautioned that “plainly heartfelt disagreement” should not be mistaken as “disparagement.” In his opinion blocking the student debt program, Roberts insisted he is concerned about criticisms of the court. Or, that’s how he sees it.īut others see a court that has taken a hard right turn since former President Donald Trump’s nominees joined the bench in the cases this term, as well as major cases having to do with the environment, abortion rights and the Second Amendment last term. For Roberts, judges are like umpires, calling them how they see them. It’s been his mantra since his confirmation hearing. ![]() Roberts – who cares deeply about the institution of the court – is committed to destroying any kind of narrative suggesting that the court splits along ideological lines in every case that grabs the public’s attention. The other two were major conservative victories, as Roberts would gut affirmative action programs in higher education and strike down President Joe Biden’s student debt forgiveness program. Two cases concerned voting rights, and Roberts knew the ultimate outcome would delight liberals. What the audience did not know that night, is that the chief’s fatigue was likely because he was toiling away at four opinions he was writing that would impact how Americans live their lives. John Roberts steals the narrative in voting rights cases, affirmative action and student loansĪccepting an award last month in Washington, DC, Roberts appeared pale and weary – delivering a speech that was less lively than usual and confessing that the hardest decision he’d made in his tenure was allowing security officials to erect barricades around the court to ward off protesters after the court rolled back Roe v. There were even unexpected liberal wins in the area of voting rights.īut as Roberts steered his court through political attacks, Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas fought allegations of ethics improprieties, the liberal minority sought to pick off conservative votes, and the junior most justice found her voice, one constant remained: The court’s arc continued to bend right, and it could remain in that position for decades. As is always the case, the term featured unusual alliances at times and a handful of unanimous opinions. ![]() The question after this term: What is normal?Ī confident, conservative majority is hitting its stride, overturning precedent at times and shifting the law to the right in many areas that govern how Americans live their lives. “I think the more normal, the better,” Roberts quipped. Last fall, just when the Supreme Court was gearing up to start a new term, Chief Justice John Roberts told an audience in Colorado that he was looking forward to a return to normal where the public would be able to attend oral arguments in person after a Covid-induced break and metal barricades, erected to ward off protesters in the wake of the reversal of Roe v.
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