As the Supreme Court completes the final leg of the 2022 Term here is what we know and what we can expect as the justices grapple with cases surrounding several topics important to many Americans. This morning CNN released an article delving into these topics.
(1) Here are the decisions released so far this month with the vote split and majority authors in parentheses
Gallardo – 7-2 (Thomas)
Southwest – 8-0 (Thomas)
Siegel – 9-0 (Sotomayor)
Egbert – 6-3 (Thomas)
Kemp- 8-1 (Thomas)
Garland v. Gonzalez- 6-3 (Alito)
Johnson – 8-1 (Sotomayor)
Denezpi – 6-3 (Barrett)
ZF Automotive – 9-0 (Barrett)
Viking Cruise 8-1 (Alito)
Golan – 9-0 (Sotomayor)
Ysleta del Sur- 5-4 (Gorsuch)
American Hospital- 9-0 (Kavanaugh)
George- 6-3 (Barrett)
Arizona v. SF (DIG)
(2) A lesser known norm is that the justices typically write at least one majority opinion for each oral argument sitting (October through April). Below are argued cases undecided by oral argument sitting and justices without authorship for sitting. This means the justices listed by sitting are most likely ones to author majority opinions in the undecided cases.
November
NY Rifle
Justices: Thomas, Barrett
December
Becerra
Dobbs (presumtively Alito)
US v. Taylor
Carson
Justices: Breyer, Alito (?), Kagan, Gorsuch
January
Concepcion
Justices: Gorsuch, Kavanaugh
February
WV v. EPA
Marietta Hospital
Ruan
Justices: Roberts, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh
March
Berger
Torres
Justices: Roberts, Breyer, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh
April
US v. Washington Shoop
Vega
Nance
Kennedy
Biden v. TX
OK v. Castro-Huerta
Justices: Roberts, Breyer, Alito, Kagan, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh
(3) Finally here is the total number of majority opinions each justice has authored so far this term. We can expect these numbers to even out by justice as the term comes to a close:
Roberts: 4
Thomas: 6
Breyer: 3
Alito: 4
Sotomayor: 6
Kagan: 4
Gorsuch: 4
Kavanaugh: 3
Barrett: 7
As of 6/21/22:
My guesses are:
Nov:
NY Rifle: Thomas or Barrett
Dec:
We know Alito has Dobbs (whether it remains a majority opinion or becomes a plurality opinion), meaning EHF v. Becerra is likely Breyer or Kagan
Jan:
Concepcion is likely Gorsuch or Kavanaugh. Likely Gorsuch if they rule for the criminal defendant & Kavanaugh if they rule against.
Feb:
Roberts, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, Alito have not yet written. Meaning things are looking pretty good for WV v. EPA.
I don’t have time to make the rest of my guesses rn, I’ll make them tonight.
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