MEANWHILE, AT #SCOTUS! An occasional series on the stuff I ~thought~ I'd be covering ...
-
-
It's a move that had a notable result, as I wrote in January: https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/the-supreme-court-will-lean-conservative-again?utm_term=.xh0ZJb1oRK#.bb4eBGlOk6 …pic.twitter.com/CWUzFmMrxh
-
That's become even more clear as we've started getting decisions out of this term. Roberts & Kennedy are yet to part ways on a decision yet!
-
The move has left Thomas and/or Alito alone a few times already this term.
-
More importantly, it's placed Chief Justice Roberts with the liberals in what might have been expected to be closer cases.
-
But, by being in the majority, the Chief has been able to assign the majority opinion, and in doing so, narrow it.
-
That is most obvious this term in Buck, which the Chief assigned to ... himself to write. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-8049_f2ah.pdf …pic.twitter.com/bAncaxOe4q
-
And the other being Bethune-Hill, which the Chief assigned to Kennedy. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-680_c07d.pdf …pic.twitter.com/wy5tE2ZmUP
-
It's not clear to me yet what the Chief's long game is here, and whether this balancing changes once (assuming things) Gorsuch is on board.
-
But, in the short term, it definitely has the effect of keeping the Chief from allowing too much say go to Kennedy, which is notable.
-
It also has the effect of reinforcing the stability of the institution — which the Chief cares greatly about. (Maybe even more now?)
-
My main question, though, is: What changes if/when Gorsuch is on board?
-
Does the Chief try to keep the center holding with Kennedy? Or does he try and bring Kennedy with him to a 5-justice conservative majority?
- 7 more replies
New conversation -
-
-
Even more imperative to cross our fingers and hope Trump doesn't lure Kennedy into retirement.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.