Are you a law enthusiast or just curious about the latest happenings in the Supreme Court? Look no further than Justice Journal’s recent review of some of the most important decisions handed down by the highest court in our land. From landmark rulings on voting rights to controversial opinions on religious freedom, we’ve got all the breaking news and insightful analysis you need to stay informed. So sit back, grab your favorite legal pad, and get ready for an engaging deep dive into the world of SCOTUS jurisprudence!

A Look at the Latest Supreme Court Decisions

On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which held that a state civil rights commission’s consideration of religious hostility as a potential reason for denying a business’s application for a license to discriminate did not violate the business owner’s First Amendment rights. In contrast, in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, the Court ruled 7-2 that a school district in Missouri was constitutionally required to provide financial support to a church that wanted to rebuild after it had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The Masterpiece Cakeshop decision has been widely seen as weakening protections against religious discrimination and could have far-reaching implications for the rights of LGBTQ individuals, women, and other groups who may be targeted based on their religious beliefs or practices. In contrast, the Trinity Lutheran Church decision is seen as providing broad protection for religious institutions from government interference with their operations.

Is Roe V. Wade Dead?

On January 22, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt which reaffirmed the constitutional right to an abortion and placed restrictions on states’ ability to place restriction on abortion access. This ruling reversed Roe V. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide. Justice Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, in which he stated that “the State has a legitimate interest in protecting unborn children from life outside of the womb.” The decision was met with mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle, with many people reaffirming their support for Roe V. Wade while others worry about what this will mean for women’s access to abortions going forward.

While Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt is a significant victory for reproductive rights advocates, it does not mark an end to conservatives’ efforts to restrict access to abortions. In October 2016, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed House Bill 2 into law, which placed numerous restrictions on abortion clinics in the state and made it difficult for women to obtain an abortion without first getting written permission from her doctor. HB 2 was challenged in court and overturned by a federal judge last year; however, Texas has appealed this ruling and is awaiting a decision from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. If HB 2 is upheld by the courts, it would effectively ban abortion in Texas and make it one of the most restrictive states in terms of reproductive rights.

While there is still

The Future of Same-Sex Marriage

Since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in Obergefell v. Hodges, there has been a great deal of discussion about what the future holds for this legal status. Numerous pundits have weighed in with their predictions, but what do the decisions themselves say? In this article, we will review four recent Supreme Court decisions and analyze their implications for same-sex marriage.

First up is Windsor v. United States, which concerned a challenge to Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as between one man and one woman. The plaintiffs in Windsor argued that DOMA violated their constitutional rights to equal protection and due process because it prevented them from receiving federal benefits guaranteed to married couples. The court ruled that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional, because it deprived same-sex couples of a fundamental right that was granted to all other couples by the Constitution. This decision firmly established the precedent that discrimination against same-sex couples is unconstitutional under the Constitution.

Next up is Hollingsworth v. Perry, which revolved around a proposed ballot initiative in California designed to ban same-sex marriage statewide. The initiative failed at the polls after a long campaign waged by anti-gay activists, but the question of whether states have the power to ban same-sex marriage remained open. The case ended up being decided by the Supreme Court on an 8-1 vote (with Justice Kennedy dissenting). In Hollingsworth v. Perry, the court held that

Transgender Rights in America

The United States Supreme Court has continued to uphold transgender rights in recent decisions. In Obergefell v. Hodges, the court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. This decision reaffirmed the rights of transgender individuals, who have long been marginalized and discriminated against.

In Gavin Grimm v. Board of Education of Virginia, the court overturned a school board’s policy that limited restroom access for transgender students. The policy prohibited students from using facilities corresponding with their gender identity unless they provided documentation that indicated a sex change had occurred. The court found that this policy violated the Grimm child’s rights to privacy and equal protection under the law.

In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the court upheld a bakery owner’s refusal to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple citing his religious beliefs. The commission had fined the bakery $135,000 for violating Colorado’s anti-discrimination statute. The baker argued that he should not be subject to punishment because his religious beliefs are based on traditional Christian values rather than discrimination against homosexuals. This decision is important because it affirms the right of businesses to refuse service based on personal beliefs unrelated to discrimination or hatred

Guns in America

In recent years, the US Supreme Court has been increasingly involved in gun policy. This is due in part to a series of decisions that have questioned the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

In 2008, the court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm for self-defense. In 2010, the court ruled in McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment does not protect an individual’s right to carry firearms outside of one’s home. These decisions have had a significant impact on gun policy and legal interpretation.

Since Heller, various states have enacted new laws regulating firearms, most notably California’s AB 1525 which requires background checks for all firearm sales and transfers within state borders. In response, some gun rights advocates have filed lawsuits challenging these laws as unconstitutional restrictions on an individual’s right to own firearms.

Looking ahead, it is unclear what direction the Supreme Court will take with regards to gun policy. It is possible that future decisions could overturn some or all of these recent rulings, but this remains to be seen.

The Future of the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is one of the most significant pieces of legislation in recent history. Passed in 2010, it was designed to improve health care for Americans by expanding Medicaid, creating state health insurance exchanges, and regulating the healthcare industry.

In late June 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would stop defending key provisions of the ACA in court. This effectively killed the law’s constitutional challenge, as lower courts had ruled against it on different grounds. While this development is a major setback for the ACA, there are still some ways it could be salvaged.

One way is a potential congressional effort to pass a new version of the ACA that would supersede the old one. Alternatively, Democrats could attempt to take control of both chambers of Congress in 2018 and try to push through a new version of the ACA using their parliamentary majority. In either case, it will likely be several years before we know whether or not the ACA will survive in its current form.

Conclusion

In summary, the recent Supreme Court decisions have important implications for individual rights and civil liberties. The court has upheld a woman’s right to choose abortion, affirmed same-sex marriage as a constitutional right, and strengthened the protections of the Affordable Care Act. These rulings will have far-reaching consequences, both in terms of how individuals live their lives and in terms of the laws that are enacted by Congress and state legislatures.