- Case: Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc.

- Authored by: Justice Kavanaugh

- Joined by: Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Sotomyaor, Justice Kagan, Justice Barrett, and Justice Jackson.

- Holding: Task Force members are inferior officers whose appointment by the Secretary of HHS is consistent with the Appointments Clause.

- Dissent: Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Alito, and Justice Gorsuch.

- Link to opinion: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-316_869d.pdf

- Case: FCC v. Consumers' Research

- Authored by: Justice Kagan

- Joined by: Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kavanaugh, Justice Barrett, and Justice Jackson.

- Holding: The universal-service contribution scheme does not violate the nondelegation doctrine.

- Dissent: Justice Gorsuch, joined by Justice Thomas, and Justice Alito.

- Link to opinion: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-354_0861.pdf

- Case: Mahmoud v. Taylor

- Authored by: Justice Alito

- Joined by: Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Thomas, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh, and Justice Barrett.

- Holding: Parents challenging the Board’s introduction of the “LGBTQ+-inclusive” storybooks, along with its decision to withhold opt outs, are ennoscriptd to a preliminary injunction.

- Dissent: Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justice Kagan, and Justice Jackson.

- Link to opinion: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-297_4f14.pdf

- Case: Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton

- Authored by: Justice Thomas

- Joined by: Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Alito, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh, and Justice Barrett.

- Holding: H. B. 1181 triggers, and survives, review under intermediate scrutiny because it only incidentally burdens the protected speech of
adults.

- Dissent: Justice Kagan, joined by Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagan.

- Link to opinion: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-1122_3e04.pdf

That is all for the term, for those wondering "where is the Louisiana redistricting case?", well that is being rescheduled (aka re-argued) for next term. There is no known reason at this time why, but that is what is happening.

Thank you all so much for joining us for opinions for the 2024-2025 term, but this isn't a goodbye. We will be here all summer long (granted we will still try to enjoy the summer too) but we will be here for the emergency docket, which we assume will be packed again. Until those days of work to come, we wish you all a happy summer and early happy fourth of July. P.S. We will send the "leftover" order list when it is available.

ICYMI: The Supreme Court released an order list this morning. The justices will hear a case about transgender women playing in biological women’s sports.

Link: https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/070325zr_bqmd.pdf

JUST IN: Supreme Court, in a 7-2 vote, allows the Trump administration to continue sending deportees to third countries temporarily. Justice Sotomayor and Jackson dissented. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a1153_2co3.pdf

JUST IN: Supreme Court, in what appears to be an 8-1 order, allows the Trump administration to continuing massive federal layoffs, including workforce cuts, putting a lower court order on hold pending appeal. Justice Sotomayor concurred in the order, Justice Jackson filed a dissenting opinion. Here is a link to the order, concurrence and dissent: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a1174_h3ci.pdf#page=3

BREAKING: Supreme Court, in a 6-3 order, allows the Trump administration to temporarily move forward with dismantling the Department of Education. Justice Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson dissented. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a1203_pol1.pdf

BREAKING: Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to fire three democrats from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Justice Kavanaugh concurred. Justice Kagan dissented, joined by Justice Sotomayor and Jackson. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a11_2cp3.pdf

JUST IN: SCOTUS stays Eighth Circuit Court ruling that limits enforcement of section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Justice Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch publicly dissented.

Is this thing on? 🎤

Don’t worry, we’re still here, we are just enjoying the concept of the Court’s “summer recess”.

Things to keep in mind, as we move closer to the long conference (defined as the conference once a year where the justices review piled up petitions from over the summer), we won’t be seeing much activity from the Court, aside from the occasional emergency orders. The long conference is scheduled for September 29, a week from the first day of oral arguments.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer and we’ll see you this fall, or tomorrow, who knows, we are always on call, thanks to the infamous shadow docket.

ATTENTION: The October and November argument sitting schedules have been published. If there are any cases you are looking forward to, take a look and see if they are scheduled for either month, and try to reserve a spot in the gallery.

October Calendar: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_calendars/MonthlyArgumentCalOctober2025.pdf

November Calendar: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_calendars/MonthlyArgumentCalNovember2025.pdf

JUST IN: Supreme Court allows Mississippi to enforce a new law which requires age verification on social media platforms, including parental consent requirements for minors. Justice Kavanaugh concurred. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a97_5h25.pdf

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules 5-4 allowing the Trump administration to freeze over $700 million in NIH “diversity, equity, and inclusion” funding. Chief Justice Roberts joined Justice Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson against the order. Justice Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh would have granted the full application. Justice Barrett concurred in the partial granting of the application.

Link: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a103_kh7p.pdf

As the summer season ends and the fall season begins, the Supreme Court’s 25-26 term is just around the corner. As is the case every term, we will be here every step of the way, stay tuned!


In the meantime, the courtroom lectures are once again open for the month. You may not be in school anymore, but there’s never a dull moment to learn something new, so how about learning Supreme Court history? Here is a link to the schedule of the lectures, choose the time that feels right for you and head on over.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/courtroomlectures.aspx#Calendar

BREAKING: Supreme Court allows the Trump administration, for now, to continue I.C.E. Operations in Los Angeles. Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kagan and Justice Jackson dissented. Justice Kavanaugh Concurred.

Link: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a169_5h25.pdf

JUST IN: Supreme Court will hear a case this fall about President Trump’s use of tariffs, including whether the IEEPA authorizes the President to impose tariffs without congressional approval.

As we have said in the past, we are not a political entity and never will be, we report on Supreme Court issues only. However, as was apparent last summer, we must reiterate one thing, violence is NEVER the answer, no matter what. We pray for those involved in the incident today.

NEW: Supreme Court in what appears to be a 6-3 decision has voted to allow, for now, transgender students to use the boys bathroom. Justice Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissented.