It’s the First Amendment, Stupid: Supreme Court Holds That Free Speech Prevails in Challenge To Anti-Discrimination Law

A Politico headline said that a recent Supreme Court decision “limits LGBTQ protections” while an ABC News story told us that it was about whether “businesses can refuse to serve LGBTQ+ customers.” The decision today in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis wasn’t about that at all. In this 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court held that the government cannot force you to say something that violates your religious beliefs. Lorie Smith runs 303 Creative, a website and graphic design company.  She wanted to expand her business and start creating custom wedding…

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Former West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw dies at 84

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Warren McGraw, a former West Virginia Supreme Court justice who spent five decades in public service, has died at age 84, a Supreme Court spokeswoman said Thursday. Court spokeswoman Jennifer Bundy confirmed McGraw’s death but had no additional information. Blue Ridge Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Beckley said it was in charge of funeral arrangements, which were incomplete. McGraw, who died Wednesday, had retired as a county circuit judge in 2021, citing the physical impairments due to Parkinson’s disease. Mike Pushkin, the state Democratic Party…

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A Supreme Court Ruling That Could Tip the House

A decade’s worth of disappointment has conditioned Black Americans and Democrats to fear voting-rights rulings from the Supreme Court. In 2013, a 5–4 majority invalidated a core tenet of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Subsequent decisions have chipped away at the rest of the law, and in 2019, a majority of the justices declared that federal courts have no power to bar partisan gerrymandering. So this morning, when two conservatives joined the high court’s three liberals in reaffirming a central part of the Voting Rights Act, Democrats reacted as…

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Win for Website Designer at Supreme Court Would Be Win for Free Speech for All

Imagine you’re an artist who creates custom websites. A new client asks you to create one that will promote a pro-life rally and celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Unbeknownst to the client, you disagree with the June 24 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision and in fact are an abortion activist in your free time away from your business. Would you create the pro-life message as requested? One artist might conclude that, while they disagree with the message, they’re still comfortable…

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Statement of MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting on the Supreme Court ruling on New York State Rifle & Pistol Asso­ci­ation v. Bruen

“Let’s be clear: This ruling will only fuel the epidemic of gun violence in this country. It is a shameful and outrageous decision which will lead to more deaths and more violence. The conservative-packed Supreme Court, in concert with Republicans in Congress, is ensuring our schools, our grocery stores, and our churches will continue to be targets of violence and not the sanctuaries and safe places they should be.  “It is hard to imagine a Supreme Court that is more out of touch with the people of this nation than…

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Will Conservative Momentum at Supreme Court Continue This Term?

The Supreme Court begins hearing cases for its new term Monday, following its customary summer recess. If this term is anything like the last one, conservatives and constitutionalists will rejoice. In the most recent term, conservatives achieved secured massive wins on abortion (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization); gun rights (New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. Inc. v. Bruen); and religious liberty (Carson v. Makin and Kennedy v. Bremerton School District); plus another key win on rolling back the administrative state (West Virginia v. EPA). Now, with such grotesque…

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