SCOTUS UPHOLDS OHIO USE-IT-OR-LOSE-IT VOTER LAW | Justices Leave In Place MLB Decision | And The Tony Goes To…
June 11, 2018
USE IT OR LOSE IT
|The Supreme Court ruled this morning that Ohio’s practice of purging their voter registration rolls does not violate federal law. JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO wrote the majority opinion upholding the practice, in which he argues that Ohio meets the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act. JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER wrote the dissent for the court, and JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR wrote a dissent of her own in which she pointed to the effects of voter purging on minority communities. She wrote, “Today’s decision forces these communities and their allies to be even more proactive and vigilant in holding their states accountable and working to dismantle the obstacles they face in exercising the fundamental right to vote.”
SWING AND A MISS
|The justices decided today to leave in place a court decision dismissing a lawsuit filed against the Chicago Cubs by the owners of rooftop clubs adjacent to Wrigley Field. The owners had argued that a video-board in right-field blocks views of the park and violates terms of a revenue-sharing agreement. But a lower court judge said the board didn’t violate the agreement and SCOTUS just left that decision in place.
AND THE TONY GOES TO
|…Anyone who refers to the Supreme Court from the stage. Always. This year it’s ANDREW GARFIELD who takes the cake with his mention of the high court’s ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop. Winning his very first Tony award for his role in “Angels in America”, Garfield used his acceptance speech to thank the LGBT community and speak out against discrimination. “It is that spirit that says no to oppression, it is a spirit that says no to bigotry, no to shame, no to exclusion. It is a spirit that says we were all made perfectly and we all belong. So I dedicate this award to the countless LGBTQ who have fought and died to protect that spirit. To protect that message for the right to live and love as we are created to. We are all sacred. Let’s just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked!”
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
|Yesterday marked the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1993 ruling in which it said that people who commit “hate crimes” motivated by bigotry may be sentenced to extra punishment. On that day the court also ruled religious groups had a constitutional right to sacrifice animals in worship services. That’s ruff.
OTHER NEWS
Supreme Court Tie Favors Indian Tribes In Washington State
The Associated Press“The Supreme Court is leaving in place a court order that forces Washington state to restore salmon habitat by removing barriers that block fish migration. The justices divided 4-4 Monday in the long-running dispute that pits the state against Indian tribes and the federal government.”
Colorado Baker's Case Not A License To Discriminate
The Seattle Times“Because the Arlene’s Flowers case lacks the issues that marred the proceedings in Colorado, it offers the U.S. Supreme Court the opportunity to rule on the larger question: Whether business owners can decline to serve customers based on a religious opposition to same-sex marriage. Rather than kick the case back to a lower court for reconsideration, the Supreme Court should accept the case and rule that businesses cannot discriminate.”
Was It A False Confession In 'Making A Murderer'? The Supreme Court May Decide
The New York Times“On Thursday, the Supreme Court will consider whether to hear Mr. Dassey’s appeal. The court has long said that ‘the greatest care must be taken’ in making sure that confessions obtained from juveniles are voluntary. Mr. Dassey’s case could allow the justices to assess whether that command was taken seriously by courts in Wisconsin, which refused to suppress his confession.”