Jun 29 2006
Blog posts about the Supreme Court in reverse chronological order
June 2006
29 June 2006Court to Bush: Gitmo Trials Illegal
The Supreme Court, in a major setback for the Bush Administration, ruled (5-3) that military trials set up at Guantanamo Bay violate both US law and the Geneva Conventions.
28 June 2006
Court To Texas: Parts of Voting Map Are Flawed
In yet-another 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court rules that a controversial redistricting map ushered through the Texas legislature by former US Rep. Tom DeLay is politically gerrymandered, based on the equal protection clause.
April 2006
3 April 2006Supreme Court Rules Against Padilla
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court today ruled against Jose Padilla, refusing to hear his appeal of an ruling that the Administration can hold a US citizen in a military prison indefinitely and without charge. Those dissenting were Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David H. Souter and Stephen G. Breyer. Padilla was moved to a civilian prison in November.
February 2006
17 FebruarySupreme Court Hears Guantanamo Bay Case
On Friday, the Supreme Court turns its attention to the case of Salim Ahmed Hamdan, charged with being the driver for Osama bin Laden. He denies participating in terrorist attacks but admits to being bin Laden's driver. He has as questioned the legality of his detention and his trial by the first special military tribunal at Guantanamo.
January 2006
31 January 2006Divided Senate Confirms Alito Nomination; Roberts Conducts Private Swearing In Ceremony
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court today by a vote of 58-42; only four Democrats voted for the confirmation and only one Republican voted against, making this the secondmost polarizing vote in modern history.
30 January 2006
Senate Democrats to Filibuster Alito Nomination?
Democratic activists and some senators (notably, Massachusetts Senators Kennedy and Kerry) are trying to round up the 41 votes needed to filibuster the nomination of Samuel Alito to the US Supreme Court.
17 January 2006
Supreme Court Upholds Oregon Right-to-Die Law
In a 6-3 decision today, the Supreme Court upheld Oregon's physician-assisted suicide -- the only law of its kind in the nation.
11 January 2006
Alito Record Overwhelmingly Conservative; Tempers Flare on Day 3 of Hearings
A Knight Ridder analysis of 331 of Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito's rulings on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals "suggests he's likely to be more reliably conservative than Sandra Day O'Connor, the justice he would replace," based upon "his record in matters that routinely come before the Supreme Court." The article was only one bone of contention in the third day of hearings, which was marked by the tearful departure of Alito's wife while her husband was being questioned by Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC). Hearings are expected to conclude on Thursday.
10 January 2006
Alito: No "Blank Check" for the President
Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito told the US Senate Judiciary Committee today that he believes in judicial precedent and the right to privacy and, when questioned, agreed with retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor that "a state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation’s citizens." But which is the true Alito - today's nominee (based on his response to questions) or yesterday's judge (based on his written opinions)?
9 January 2006
Alito Hearings Begin Monday