American lawyer and Supreme Court associate justice (appointed 2010)
The US Supreme Court has rejected President Trump’s 2025 executive order and upheld the long‑standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to nearly everyone born on US soil. Chief Justice John Roberts has written the 6–3 majority opinion and one justice has issued a lengthy dissent.
The Supreme Court has upheld the Federal Reserve’s independence by ruling that a Fed governor cannot be fired without cause, while allowing presidents to remove heads of most other independent agencies for any reason. The decision preserves monetary policy insulation but expands presidential power over other agencies, in a split ruling that also carves out a Fed-specific exception.
The US Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors likely violates the First Amendment, citing free speech protections. The decision questions the legality of similar laws in over 20 states, emphasizing the importance of free medical and speech rights in therapy practices.
New York City has released a revised 375-page racial equity plan, which aims to address longstanding inequalities. The administration has toned down references to diversity, equity, and inclusion to avoid federal challenges. The plan highlights the displacement of approximately 200,000 Black residents between 2000 and 2020. The DOJ is reviewing the proposal for legality.
Recent memos show the US Supreme Court has been increasingly using secretive, expedited procedures to make major decisions, bypassing traditional deliberation. This shift began in 2016 with the blocking of Obama's climate policy and has since impacted numerous cases, raising concerns about transparency and judicial independence.
The Supreme Court has issued a closely watched ruling on Louisiana's district map, delivering a 6-3 decision that preserves some protections under the Voting Rights Act while labeling the map an unconstitutional gerrymander. The ruling signals tensions over how race can be used in redistricting and may influence political maps ahead of upcoming elections.
The Supreme Court has kept the core protections of the Voting Rights Act intact while ruling that Louisiana’s map-drawing to favor a Black-majority district was unconstitutional, signaling a shift in how race can be used in redistricting and prompting immediate map reviews in several states.
The Supreme Court, in an unsigned 6-3 decision, has upheld Pedro Hernandez’s murder conviction for Etan Patz, reversing a lower court that had granted him a new trial. The ruling clarifies the limits of federal review over state court decisions and preserves a decades-long effort by Manhattan prosecutors. Patz disappeared in 1979, becoming a national symbol in the search for missing children.
The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that prosecuting a marijuana user for illegal gun possession violates the Second Amendment. The decision narrows, but does not erase, the government’s power to restrict firearms for drug users, and cites a trend toward more permissive cannabis policy. The ruling centers on Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas resident charged in 2023 after FBI agents found drugs in his home.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Helms-Burton does not shield Cuban state agencies from certain lawsuits, allowing Americans to sue entities profiting from confiscated Cuban assets. ExxonMobil is seeking compensation for properties confiscated after the Cuban revolution. The decision could impact U.S.-Cuba relations as the Trump administration applies pressure on Havana.
The Supreme Court has ruled that American courts are not the proper venue for Falun Gong plaintiffs' lawsuits regarding Cisco’s alleged China-linked activities, under ATS and TVPA. The decision narrows the reach of U.S. courts over foreign-government conduct and could shield companies from certain international-law claims.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that Hawaii’s private-property gun-in-venue permit requirement imposes a new burden on the Second Amendment. Private property owners may still prohibit guns, but the court has shifted the default away from a blanket access rule. The decision aligns with Bruen-era tests and signals ongoing shifts in how states regulate guns in public.
The Supreme Court has allowed the current administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians, directly affecting about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians, with broader implications for nearly 1.3 million TPS holders from 17 countries. The decision is seen as a major milestone in immigration policy and signals potential deportations for those losing status.
The Supreme Court has upheld Mississippi’s policy to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days later. The ruling preserves state flexibility on ballot receipt timing and shields thousands of ballots, including those from military voters, from being discarded. Justices Barrett writes for the majority; Alito dissents.
The Supreme Court has ruled that geofence warrants—used to identify suspects by collecting location data from people in a crime scene area—are subject to Fourth Amendment protections. The justices have affirmed that location data collected by third parties still warrants a warrant, focusing on privacy expectations in the digital age. The decision sends the case back to lower courts for further analysis.
The US Supreme Court has upheld Idaho and West Virginia laws that bar transgender girls from girls' sports, ruling those bans survive Title IX and equal-protection challenges. The decision preserves similar statutes in roughly two dozen states, hands conservative groups a legal lever, and shifts the next fights to state courts, school boards and athletic bodies.
The Supreme Court has ruled that children born on US soil to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment, maintaining birthright citizenship. The decision blocks President Trump’s bid to end automatic citizenship by executive order, with Chief Justice Roberts writing for the court and joined by a cross-ideological majority.
The Supreme Court has ruled that coordinated party spending with campaigns violates the First Amendment, overturning a decades-old cap on party expenditure. The decision is 6-3 in favor of the NRSC, with the majority citing free speech as the justification. The ruling is likely to shift fundraising dynamics ahead of the midterms, as parties can coordinate more with candidates and may attract bigger donations.