Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer formally announced his retirement in a Jan. 27 letter to President Joe Biden after news reports the previous day indicated he planned to retire at the end of the current term.
SCOTUS
Panelists Discuss how Court’s Dobbs Ruling Could Impact Pro-Life Movement
Assuming the Supreme Court upholds Mississippi’s law banning most abortions after 15 weeks in its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Care, the future of the pro-life movement may depend on a move away from partisan politics, specifically a move away from an alignment with Republican politicians.
Court Leans Toward Allowing Flag With Cross to Fly at Boston City Hall
Supreme Court justices Jan. 18 seemed to side with a Christian group that was excluded from flying its flag with an image of a cross on it outside of Boston’s City Hall.
Court Blocks Vaccine Mandate for Businesses, Allows it for Health Workers
The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision Jan. 13 blocked a rule by the Biden administration that would have required employees at large businesses to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or wear masks and get tested each week for the coronavirus.
Chicago Cardinal Says Unborn Could Soon Get Legal Protection
There is hope that legal protections for unborn children “which we have advocated for decades will soon become a reality,” Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago told a pro-life rally.
Abortion, Religious Liberty, Vaccine Mandate Cases Top Busy 2021 For Court
This past year was busy for the nation’s high court, particularly with issues of interest to Catholics regarding abortion, religious liberty, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the death penalty.
Supreme Court Sends Texas Abortion Case to Federal Appeals Court
Less than a week after the Supreme Court ruled that the Texas abortion law could stay in place, the court sent back a lawsuit against the state’s abortion law to a federal appeals court, not to the District Court judge who had tried to block the law.
Divided Court Considers Role of Chaplains in the Execution Chamber
The Supreme Court’s consideration of spiritual advisers praying aloud with death-row inmates or placing hands on them in prayer during executions faced an uphill battle Nov. 9 as some of the justices questioned if this would open up other requests or could impose a safety risk.
Immigration Advocates Praise new Effort by DHS to End ‘Remain in Mexico’
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas submitted a lengthy document Oct. 29 that he hopes will lead to the eventual end of a policy designed to keep asylum-seekers to the U.S. on the Mexico side of the southern border until their cases are heard.
Supreme Court Likely to Reinstate Death Penalty for Boston Marathon Bomber
Just two days after this year’s Boston Marathon, the Supreme Court revisited the bombing at the 2013 race that killed three people and injured hundreds.