A Whole New Ballgame: How Trump’s First Time Judges are Unlike Anything We’ve Seen Before

The President is transforming the federal courts in a flurry unlike anything we’ve seen in the past. Since he began his tenure in office, President Trump made revamping the courts a top priority.  Even before elected he made this one of his most prominent campaign pledges. This started with his promise to fill Justice Scalia’s seat on the Supreme Court at the commencement of his presidency and has continued at a rapid pace ever since.

365 Days of Trump and the Supreme Court

How better to wrap up the calendar year than by examining the President’s take on his relationship with the Supreme Court – especially since the Court was one of President Trump’s favorite topics of discussion this past year. The context of these references ranged from from specificity to generalities and from praise to criticism.  Many of the…

What’s at Stake in a Supreme Court Ruling in the Trump Immigration Battle?

The Supreme Court’s role as a co-equal branch of the federal government may soon be put to the test.  While various issues relating to President Trump’s decisions are percolating in lower courts, one that has received much attention recently is his Executive Order on Immigration.  Yesterday the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments regarding the temporary…

The Supreme Court and the Next Generation of Executive Power Cases

Over the past several months an entirely new class of executive power-related concerns have percolated through the national media and have begun burgeoning in federal courts.  Prior to the election of President-Elect Trump, few knew about the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution and how it could be violated.  Just this morning Trump’s comments on Twitter…

The Great Supreme Court Debate

One of, if not the main duty of the Supreme Court is safeguarding Constitutional guarantees.  Is the Court, however, the most important political branch of the government as well? For those who followed the Third Presidential Debate one could surely surmise such was and is the case.  From a rule of law perspective, the Court’s…

The Justices’ Surprising Support (Or Lack Thereof) for the U.S.

Since it’s election season it seems like as good of a time as any to gauge the Justices’ support for the government.  The Justices and especially Justice Ginsburg have been by no means silent about the current presidential candidates.  Furthermore, the Supreme Court is more relevant in this election than possibly in any prior presidential election. …

Justice Ginsburg: Political and Efficient All Wrapped Up in One

Once on the Supreme Court the Justices have a few essential obligations. Add to this life-tenure and lots of free time while the Court is in recess and the job sounds pretty enviable. The Justices still must hear oral arguments, meet and vote to decide cases, and grant new cases for the Court to hear…

The Next Justice – In The Candidates’ Own Words

AP Photos / Charlie Neibergall / Matt Rourke The Supreme Court. A Major Election Concern? In this presidential election season the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Scalia has become a hot-button issue central to every campaign.  Take Hillary Clinton’s comment during April 14’s Democratic Debate (which I will return to later): “You know, there…