May 2026 Archive

District Map Fights Before the 2026 Midterms

Justices validate arbitration exemption for “last-mile” drivers

The Supreme Court’s common sense problem

Jury duty for a justice

Plus, the court released four opinions on Thursday in cases on shortening prison sentences, jury selection, and last-mile drivers.

Justice Barrett targeted in “swatting” incident

Supreme Court sides with death row inmate in challenge to racial discrimination in jury selection

How often do courts actually cite emergency docket orders?

Opinions for Thursday, May 28

On Thursday, the court released its opinions in Fernandez v. United States, Rutherford v. United States, Pitchford v. Cain, and Flowers Foods v. Brock.

Alabama redistricting dispute returns to the Supreme Court

Plus, we will be live blogging this morning as the court releases one or more opinions in argued cases.

Alabama urges Supreme Court to allow for use of congressional map struck by lower court as racially discriminatory

New York Times v. Sullivan, service, and sentence credits

Criminal law update: some defense-friendly rulings and a big case that wasn’t

The Roberts court’s record on the First Amendment

More redistricting drama

Plus, Amy answers a question about recusal decisions.

Court sides with Trump administration in dispute over immigration judges, declines to hear Florida suit against other states over immigrant driver’s licenses

How Callais broke the Voting Rights Act and weaponized the equal protection clause: part 1

SCOTUS Through the Decades | Interview: Nina Totenberg

The Supreme Court’s drug test

Unending oral arguments

Plus, a history of Supreme Court leaks.

The Supreme Court and social media

Justices agree that actuaries can use up-to-date assumptions in assessing costs of leaving a multi-employer pension plan

A history of Supreme Court leaks

"Shadow docket" reform?

Plus, the court addressed a Cuban confiscation case, a death-row IQ dispute, and ERISA provisions.

Court rules against cruise lines in Cuban confiscation case

Court sidesteps death-row IQ dispute

Court puts off deciding whether to consider $5 million verdict against Trump – yet again

More opinions on the way

Plus, how much does oral argument tell us about the court’s eventual ruling?

All the Things Wrong with Trump’s Billion-Dollar Fund

Opinions for Thursday, May 21

On Thursday, the court released its opinions in M&K Employee Solutions v. Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund and Havana Docks Corporation v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, and dismissed Hamm v. Smith as improvidently granted.

Daubert dust-up and AEDPA angst

In immigration cases, the court doesn’t just settle disagreements

What oral argument reveals about Supreme Court unanimity and division

Justice Jackson criticizes the court

Plus, in the latest edition of Ask Amy, Amy explores how common it is for a justice to have argued a case before the Supreme Court before becoming a justice.

Rethinking a Supreme Court principle used to undermine the Voting Rights Act

A docket in the shadow of bigger problems

Let’s Sue the Government

Court to hear sex discrimination case case next term

Plus, the court has sent two more Voting Rights Act cases back to lower courts for further consideration.

Court agrees to hear case on ability of employees to bring certain suits for sex discrimination, turns down child pornography reporting suit against X

Strange judicial bedfellows

Justices decline to reinstate Virginia map

Plus, Justice Samuel Alito has pushed back against calls to recuse himself from a major climate change battle.

Justices validate authority of federal courts to confirm arbitration awards – at least in cases already in federal court

Court denies Virginia’s request to reinstate congressional map that would benefit Democrats

Justice Clarence Thomas reflects on shared values and his “deeper” friendships on a past court

Court rules freight brokers can face negligent hiring suits under state law

When (if ever) it’s appropriate to make jokes, take selfies, or curse before the court

Abortion pill to remain available by mail

Plus, the court released two unanimous opinions on Thursday morning.

Republican legislators urge justices to leave Virginia Supreme Court’s redistricting ruling in place

Supreme Court allows for access to abortion pill by mail for now

The fact of the matter

Opinions for Thursday, May 14

On Thursday, the court released its opinions in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II and Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties.