KQED's Forum Supreme Court Rulings This Term Impact Immigrants, Transgender Youth, EPA Regulations
Jun 26, 2025
Melissa Murray, a law professor at NYU and co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, and Rory Little, an emeritus professor of law at UC Law San Francisco, delve into pivotal Supreme Court rulings this term. They discuss the implications of allowing states to ban gender transition care for youth and making workplace discrimination claims easier for majority groups. The impact of recent rulings on immigrants and environmental regulations is also examined, raising important questions about civil rights and the judiciary's role in democracy.
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SCOTUS Limits Medicaid Lawsuit Rights
- The Supreme Court ruled that patients and Planned Parenthood cannot sue to block South Carolina from cutting Medicaid funding.
- This sets a precedent limiting private enforcement of rights under federal public benefit statutes.
Ruling Could Broaden State Exclusions
- The ruling against Planned Parenthood's funding lawsuit may embolden states to exclude it from Medicaid programs.
- It also signals limits on private civil rights enforcement against state actions nationwide.
Modern Limits Echo 19th Century Law
- The Court's decision is part of a broader pattern to curtail civil rights enforcement.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson likened it to restrictive 19th-century rulings limiting civil protections.