SCOTUS Watch

The Supreme Court recently filled up some argument slots with some interesting if not too controversial cases (the off school speech case is of some 1A importance) and had a low drama week. The big moment was the swearing-in with Roberts and Sotomayor doing the honors. Six showed up, the three oldest (including Breyer, who usually consistently comes to ceremonial events) kept away for reasons of Big V. On that front, a note was dropped on the website that February orals will as expected be by telephone. And, earlier, it was referenced officially that at least some (including Roberts) justices were being vaccinated.

The Monday orders were not notable (usual comment on inside stuff that should be explained) and the other order popped up (again!) late on Friday involved a solo dissent by Sotomayor in a sympathetic immigration appeal. The death penalty issue had a temporarily break since the Texas courts stayed an execution scheduled 1/21. There are scheduled state executions for now in February and we await Biden action on the federal front.

On that general subject of immigration, among the already epic executive actions by the new Biden Administration is the push to replace "alien" with "noncitizen" in immigration laws. Yes. (Also, I see Dawn Johnsen, whose blockage in the Obama years was horrible, is being signed on in some role in the OLC.) It is not as blatant as "illegal alien," but the term is offensive. It is especially so when applied to a long time resident.