Supreme Court Examples

Question 1

Trump V Hawaii 2018

Answer 1

• Ruling on whether or not Trump’s permanent extension of his travel ban through Presidential Proclamation 9645 was lawful
• State of Hawaii filed a legal challenge, Supreme Court upheld Trump’s order in a 5-4 ideologically split decision (with his nomination Gorsuch siding with him)

Question 2

Obergefell V Hodges 2015

Answer 2

• 5-4 ruling (with only one conservative Kennedy in the majority) establishing gay marriage to be constitutionally protected
• Requires all 50 states to perform and recognise gay marriages where only 36 had done so before (SHIFT IN FEDERAL POWER)

Question 3

Dobbs V Jackson 2022

Answer 3

• 6-3 ideologically split ruling overturning constitutional right to abortion established Roe V Wade
• Made abortion a matter for states to legislate on, as of 2023 abortion is greatly restricted in 17 states e.g. Alabama - illegal unless to preserve life, no exception for rape or incest