SCOTUS Watch

LGBTQ+ Rights

I reexamine the same sex marriage cases and a book defending them twenty years earlier. We don't live in a gay and lesbian utopia quite yet, but the situation is better than for trans people, who Republicans (with a few Democrats wanting to help) want to erase.  

Attacks on Courts

Justice Amy "not quite conservative enough for some" Barrett's sister was the target of a bomb threat. Barrett did get some love, including from Trump, who defended her bona fides. I'm sure she was reassured.

More seriously, there has been an uptick in threats to judges in recent times. We covered that last year to add context to Trump crossing the line (with impunity most of the time) when criticizing judges presiding over his cases. Now, it's Elon Musk's turn. 

The criticisms and threats (not the same thing) do not only come from one side. The threats to Kavanaugh and now Barrett's family show this. Nonetheless, there have been some notable conservative-leaning cases in recent memory. The matter is a concern for us all. 

Death Penalty 

March might not be quite as active of a month for the death penalty with two executions stayed. 

Alito dropped an order noting a request for a stay is moot now that the case was held up in Texas courts. The stay request involved DNA evidence. State courts flagged multiple problems. He was convicted three decades ago in connection to multiple murders.  

The second blockage is by an Obama appointee in the Fifth Circuit. So, that one might occur. 

Idaho has made the firing squad its primary execution method. Is the firing squad and nitrogen gas going to replace lethal injection in that respect?  

Coming Up

The Supreme Court will return to work next Friday with a non-public sitting (swearing in lawyers) and a conference. There are three executions scheduled. 

Meanwhile, since Congress wants to do nothing except to help enable him, the battle against Trump's illegality continues in the lower courts.