A Few SCOTUS Tidbits

Missouri Loses 

Missouri v. New York involves an asinine attempt to use original jurisdiction (disputes between states) to obtain a "stay of New York’s gag order and impending sentence against Donald J. Trump during the 2024 Presidential election season so Missourians can participate in the election free from New York’s exercise of coercive power limiting the ability of Trump to campaign."

The Supreme Court decided today:

Missouri’s motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied, and its motion for preliminary relief or a stay is dismissed as moot. Justice Thomas and Justice Alito would grant the motion for leave to file the bill of complaint but would not grant other relief. 

Thomas and Alito likewise would have granted an asinine original jurisdiction complaint during the 2020 elections. They stated a principle that the Court had a duty to hear such a dispute. 

The Court could reject it on the merits. I'm not sure why the motion is "moot" since a limited gag order is still in place as is the impending sentence. But, as usual, they have not deemed it warranted to explain.

Court Reform

Neil has a book coming out so is doing some interviews. Nothing too newsworthy so far. 

One tidbit is that Congress should be careful when considering court reform. Okay. I grant "Oh shut up, you asshole" is a reasonable reply here. Still, who cares? So, the reform should be carefully handled.

As it should be. Judicial independence is a positive good. Term limits and so forth won't rob us of it. 

There is still more news about Justice Thomas not disclosing his trips properly. Binding ethics reform will not harm the independence of the judiciary.

If done correctly, if anything, it will help promote judicial integrity. This will help people trust the courts to be independent without worrying that they are corrupt. 

D.C. Trump Case 

The D.C. Trump case is back in the district court after the Supreme Court finalized sending it back down, and the appeals court did so as well.

The district court now has to go through the complicated process of determining what can still be prosecuted. And, then, it will likely be appealed again. So, basically, more delay.  

If the Supreme Court handled this matter properly, the trial could have been completed by now.