Category Archives: Supreme & Other Courts

An Overdue Blow at the Roots of White Minority Rule in The Deep, Deep South

The Guardian —

2-1 ruling on policy that revoked voting rights for certain people with felony convictions is surprise victory from conservative court

A federal appeals court on August 4  struck down Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era policy of permanently revoking voting rights from certain people with felony convictions, ruling that it is unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.

The 2-1 panel ruling is a surprise victory from the conservative fifth circuit court of appeals just over a month after the US supreme court refused to hear a challenge to the discriminatory law.

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Quote of the Week: What to Think About When We’re Not Thinking About the Weather

From: A Federal Judge Asks: Does the Supreme Court Realize How Bad It Smells?

New York Times — July 14, 2023

I joined the federal bench in 1984, some years before any of the justices currently on the Supreme Court. Throughout my career, I have been bound and guided by a written code of conduct, backed by a committee of colleagues I can call on for advice. In fact, I checked with a member of that committee before writing this essay.

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Supreme Book Sales & Megadonors: What Some Justices Do On Their Summer Vacations

AP News: Book sales, a lure for money and more takeaways from the AP investigation into Supreme Court ethics

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a monthslong inquiry, which included reviewing tens of thousands of pages of documents from more than 100 public records requests, The Associated Press has examined what happens behind the scenes when Supreme Court justices travel to colleges and universities for lectures and other events.

The AP learned the identities of donors and politicians invited to events with justices, details about the perks that have accompanied the school visits and information about how school trips have helped advance books sales.

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Surveying the Damage: Counting the Cost of a Corrupted Court

 

This image is a fantasy: the Court is far from “done” — just taking a summer break. And I’m not even sure that “You can COME OUT now” is safe advice anymore. . . .

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