The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to a Massachusetts school district’s gender-identity policy, effectively allowing a lower court’s ruling to stand. This decision stems from a lawsuit filed by parents who objected to school officials supporting their child’s preferred name and pronouns without parental consent. The parents’ argument hinged on the idea that these actions constituted “medical treatment” and thus violated their rights as parents to be informed and involved in their child’s education and well-being.
Essentially, the core of this case revolved around the parents’ assertion that a public school district in Massachusetts was overstepping its bounds by respecting a student’s gender identity.… Continue reading
In a recent speech, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas declared progressivism an existential threat to the foundational principles of the Declaration of Independence, asserting that it undermines the notion of God-given rights in favor of government-derived ones. He drew historical parallels to the original Progressive Movement, criticizing figures like Woodrow Wilson and linking progressivism to ideologies responsible for mass atrocities. Thomas argued that progressivism and the Declaration cannot coexist, implying a fundamental conflict that endangers the nation’s form of government.
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Internal memos reveal that the Supreme Court’s use of the “shadow docket” to bypass traditional procedures for issuing rulings originated with a swift decision against the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. This 2016 ruling, made with minimal explanation and without full judicial review, has since become a routine method for the Court to decide high-stakes matters. Liberal justices have expressed concern over this shift, noting its lack of transparency and the increasing use of the shadow docket to shape public policy.
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Justice Clarence Thomas delivered a speech at the University of Texas at Austin that began as a celebration of the Declaration of Independence but quickly became a critique of progressivism. Thomas asserted that progressivism was intertwined with 20th-century atrocities, including those committed by Stalin, Hitler, and Mao, as well as racial segregation and eugenics. This address, analyzed by Slate’s Amicus podcast co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern, was characterized by its grievance-filled narrative and a solipsistic focus on Thomas himself. The analysis highlights the irony of Thomas thanking his billionaire benefactor, Harlan Crow, in a speech that decried corruption and self-dealing.
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The Supreme Court has ruled that lawsuits over coastal land loss in Louisiana, accusing oil and gas companies of environmental degradation, must be heard in federal court. This decision offers a procedural victory to companies like Chevron, who argued that the work in question was tied to wartime efforts to bolster the U.S. aviation fuel supply. While environmental advocates view this as a setback, they remain committed to holding the industry accountable for the significant land loss impacting Louisiana’s coastline.
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Magic performers Penn & Teller have filed a U.S. Supreme Court brief in support of death row inmate Charles Don Flores. The brief highlights that key evidence used to convict Flores was tainted by a police officer’s use of “investigative hypnosis” on a witness. This discredited technique, which falsely purports memory to be a recording device, led the witness to identify Flores despite initial descriptions not matching him. Penn Jillette, an expert in misdirection, argues that such questionable practices mirror his own stagecraft and should invalidate the evidence.
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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has publicly voiced strong criticism of progressivism, deeming it an existential threat to the foundational principles of the United States. Speaking at the University of Texas at Austin Law School, Thomas asserted that a spirit of “cynicism, rejection, hostility and animus” toward America pervades the nation, placing blame on “intellectuals” and higher education institutions for diminishing founding values. He argued that progressivism seeks to replace the Declaration of Independence’s premise of God-given rights with the notion that rights originate from government, fostering subservience incompatible with constitutional ideals. Thomas also expressed concern over Washington officials who he believes lack commitment to core tenets such as free enterprise and the Constitution’s original meaning, often masking their failures as pragmatic institutionalism. He concluded with a call for Americans to emulate the courage of the Declaration’s signers to secure the nation’s future.
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Amid speculation about potential Supreme Court vacancies, Donald Trump has suggested that senior conservative justices should step aside due to their age to allow for the appointment of new individuals with similar ideological leanings. Trump indicated he has a list of potential nominees, stating he is prepared to fill any vacancies that may arise. This perspective draws a parallel to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s refusal to retire, which Trump argued ultimately benefited him by allowing his appointments. The article highlights the significant impact of Trump’s previous Supreme Court appointments on American law.
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Democratic-backed candidate Chris Taylor secured victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, solidifying the liberal majority on the bench. This win, the fourth consecutive for liberal candidates since 2020, ensures their control until at least 2030. Taylor’s campaign prominently featured abortion rights, a key issue as the court prepares to rule on critical matters including congressional redistricting and union rights.
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In a significant development, the Supreme Court has issued an order that is anticipated to result in the dismissal of Steve Bannon’s criminal conviction for defying a congressional subpoena. This action by the justices overturns a prior appellate ruling and allows a trial judge to consider dropping Bannon’s indictment and conviction in the interest of justice. While largely symbolic, as Bannon has already served a prison sentence, this move follows a shift in the Justice Department’s stance after the Trump administration resumed its role. A similar order was also issued in the case of former Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who had been convicted of bribery and extortion.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker