Scotusblog

The article discusses the historical origins of the phrase 'born free and equal' in the Declaration of Independence and its adoption in state constitutions like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It highlights how six states in 1791 included similar language, while noting contradictions such as Virginia's clause protecting slavery.

The Supreme Court's summer recess between July and September causes a backlog of cert petitions, which are addressed in a late-September conference. The article suggests the court could adopt year-round operations to improve efficiency, referencing historical practices and proposals for unilateral reform.

Supreme Court justices have earned over $13 million collectively from book deals, raising ethical concerns due to limited scrutiny compared to other income sources like gifts or travel. Ethics rules permit writing income as part of outside earnings, but critics argue book revenue deserves greater oversight.

The article examines how predictable Supreme Court decisions are based on oral arguments, analyzing 56 cases from October 2025 to April 2026. It uses examples like Louisiana v. Callais, Trump v. Barbara, and Chatrie v. United States to show varying degrees of predictability, concluding that while oral arguments provide meaningful insights, they are not fully reliable predictors of outcomes.

SCOTUSblog and Johns Hopkins University are hosting The SCOTUSblog Summit: 2026 Term Preview on Sept. 16 at the Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. The event includes a live podcast recording, a keynote address, and a panel featuring executives from Boeing, TD Bank, and ExxonMobil. The program will also be available to watch on YouTube.

Tom Goldstein, a Supreme Court litigator and SCOTUSblog founder, was sentenced to six years in prison for tax evasion and mortgage fraud, involving over $25 million in concealed income and $9.5 million in unpaid taxes. His case included 12 counts, with testimony from Tobey Maguire, and revealed his high-stakes poker gambling lifestyle.

A Supreme Court litigator was sentenced to six years in prison for tax evasion and mortgage fraud, with prosecutors alleging he concealed over $25 million in income and spent millions on poker gambling. The case included testimony from Tobey Maguire and resulted in a conviction on 12 of 16 counts, including tax evasion and fraud.

The article analyzes the distinct questioning styles of the nine Supreme Court justices based on data from 58 oral arguments in October Term 2025, which generated 5,095 questions. It highlights Chief Justice John Roberts' focus on 'limiting principles' to assess the long-term implications of legal arguments, exemplified by his questioning in Chatrie v. United States regarding geofence warrants.

SCOTUSblog highlights memorable live blog comments from the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Supreme Court terms, including reader questions about clerks and tariffs. The article discusses recurring topics like the 'box count' and '#WaitingForAmy' during opinion announcements.

Texas had the most cases argued before the Supreme Court during the 2025-26 term, with five cases involving Texans, while the next closest states had two. The cases focused on federal laws or precedents applicable beyond Texas, and appeals from the 5th Circuit, which frequently faces reversals by the Supreme Court, may contribute to Texas's prominence.

The Supreme Court's visibility through books and public statements contrasts with its opaque practices. Major decisions often emerge at the term's end, possibly due to complexity or tradition, while 'relisted' cases are reconsidered repeatedly, tracked by Relist Watch. The court's customs, like Justice Brennan's ferry schedule influencing term dates, remain enigmatic.

Cecillia Wang, national legal director of the ACLU, discussed her Supreme Court argument in Trump v. Barbara, challenging an executive order to end birthright citizenship, at SCOTUSblog’s term-in-review event. The discussion also covered the ACLU’s recent cases, including a controversial gun rights case and a voting rights loss.

The article proposes evaluating the importance of U.S. Supreme Court cases by analyzing the number of amicus curiae briefs filed and refining this metric by considering the citation history of filers in past court opinions. It critiques the bias of raw brief counts toward civil rights cases and suggests weighting filers' reputations based on how often the court has cited them previously.

The Supreme Court concludes its term, with increased ideological division in decisions noted by SCOTUSblog. The article highlights the gradual pace of constitutional law changes and the media's focus on the Court's impact on American citizens.

The article commemorates Chief Justice John Marshall's death in 1835 and highlights upcoming Supreme Court cases on gun regulations, LGBT rights, voting restrictions, and tech-related issues. It also notes a bipartisan coalition challenging tech age verification laws and conservative efforts to expand trans athlete bans following a recent Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling striking down President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. The decision is among major rulings from the court’s term, which focused on significant political issues. The discussion was highlighted by Supreme Court analyst Amy Howe on SCOTUSblog.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued two major rulings expanding presidential power and supporting President Trump's attempt to reshape the federal government. The decision was discussed by Amna Nawaz and Supreme Court analyst Amy Howe.

The Supreme Court ruled to end deportation protections for many Haitians and Syrians, dismissed Monsanto's liability in Roundup lawsuits, and struck down a Hawaii gun law. The decisions were discussed with Supreme Court analyst Amy Howe.

SCOTUSblog announces new merchandise and a term-in-review event featuring ACLU's Cecillia Wang and Johns Hopkins professor Martha S. Jones. The Supreme Court may release opinions, and the article discusses topics including originalism, a Texas death penalty case involving hypnotized witness testimony, and U.S. tariff refunds.

The article discusses the appropriateness of making jokes, taking selfies, or using profanity in the presence of the U.S. Supreme Court, exploring the balance between judicial decorum and personal expression. It references the court's rules and societal shifts in behavior norms.

A new book, 'Last Branch Standing,' argues that the Supreme Court's ideological split is not a 6-3 conservative majority but rather a 3-3-3 composition. SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur discusses her analysis on 'The Takeout' podcast.