Advisory Opinions SCOTUS 2025 Term Debrief
47 snips
Jul 3, 2025 In this conversation, David Lat, a legal blogger and writer, Amy Howe, a Supreme Court journalist, and Zachary Shemtob, a legal expert, dive deep into the recent Supreme Court term. They explore what led to its surprisingly mellow tone, key rulings, and unexpected cert petition denials. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson emerges as a significant figure, showcasing her liberal stance and questioning style. The group also delves into Justice Clarence Thomas's evolving influence and discusses the implications of a recent TikTok ruling, making sense of a complex legal landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Emergency vs. Merits Docket Dynamics
- The term was divided between a relatively calm merits docket and a much more hyperactive emergency docket.
- The Trump administration frequently sought and succeeded in emergency relief, which shaped this term's focus.
Surprising Cert Denials
- The court surprised some observers by not taking cases on race-neutral school admissions or the "there are only two genders" t-shirt in schools.
- The lack of a substantial disruption analysis case left a notable gap in school speech First Amendment jurisprudence.
Gorsuch's Silent Stance on Scrametti
- Justice Gorsuch's silence during the Scrametti oral argument was notable.
- He avoided involvement on transgender issues, voting with the center and not authoring or joining opinions in that case.