Supreme Court buzz: new rulings test voting rights and redistricting; Kagan still on the bench as the Court weighs majority-minority districts. Born 1960, Obama appointee, 4th woman on Court.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to expedite cases challenging the Trump administration's efforts to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants from Haiti, Syria, and other countries. Lower courts delayed these terminations, but the court's decision could allow the administration to proceed with deportations affecting hundreds of thousands.
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.