SC Cases

Question 1

Trump v Hawaii (2018)

Answer 1

• upholding executive
• argument over Muslim ban
• ruled 5-4 in Trump’s favour
• Roberts joined conservatives
• very significant as SC ruled the executive order was constitutional as the countries were on Congress’s national security risks list
• RBG wrote dissent, saying “complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US” was masqueraded by ‘national security concerns’

Question 2

US v Texas (2023)

Answer 2

• upholding executive
• Texas sued feds for liberal guidance to enforcing immigration laws, feeling it violated federal statutes requiring increased arrests of illegal immigrants
• ruled 8-1 in favour of US, saying the Department of Homeland Security was a separate entity to the states so couldn’t be challenged by them

Question 3

US v Texas (2016)

Answer 3

• striking down the executive
• Texas + 25 states challenged DAPA, saying Obama couldn’t carry it out with Congressional approval
• ruled 4-4, due to death of Scalia, felt like order violated constitution
• judgement amounted to 9 words
• “seldom have the hopes of so many been crushed with so few words”

Question 4

Dobbs v Jackson (2022)

Answer 4

• overturned Roe v Wade (1973)
• made abortion rights up to the states
• conservative SC overturned liberal court’s precedent
• 13 states had trigger laws which were immediately enacted
• in 2 months after ruling, number of legal abortions decreased by 10,000

Question 5

Obergefell v Hodges (2015)

Answer 5

• concerned whether state’s ban on same-sex Margaux violated 14 amendment
• preceded by US v Windsor (2013) which ruled Defence of Marriage Act (1996) unconstitutional
• ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples had the right to marry
• showcased loose constructionist viewpoint of Kennedy, who felt ‘life, liberty’ stretched to intimate choices

Question 6

Burwell v Hobby Lobby (2014)

Answer 6

• 5-4 decision that ACA violated Religious Freedom Restoration Act (1993) as it required family-owned corporations pay for health insurance coverage for contraception
• Hobby Lobby claimed some contraceptives went against their religious beliefs
• their victory hurt the Obama administration

Question 7

Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado (2018)

Answer 7

• bakery refused to make a cake for a gay marriage
• accused of breaching First Amendment rights
• SC ruled 7-2 in bakery’s favour
• RBG + Sotomayor dissented

Question 8

Bostock v Clayton County (2020)

Answer 8

• Bostock was fired from his job after expressing interest in a gay softball league at work
• Civil Rights Act (1964) protects employees against gender discrimination
• can be seen as breach of 1st and 14th amendments
• 6-3 in favour of Bostock

Question 9

NY Rifle Association v Bruen (2022)

Answer 9

• NY implemented law requiring ‘proper clause’ for applicants for a pistol concealed carry license
• NYRA argued it violated 2nd amendment rights
• court ruled 6-3 in favour of NYRA
• court struck down the law