On a U.S. Supreme Court dominated by an ambitious conservative wing, Chief Justice John Roberts has become a man on an island.
The 67-year-old chief justice, appointed in 2005 by Republican President George W. Bush, is a conservative trying to chart an incremental course for a court that would rather take giant leaps.
On abortion, Roberts “wasn’t able to control the direction of the court,” said David Gans, a civil rights lawyer at the progressive Constitutional Accountability Center. “There is huge daylight between his position and the majority’s position.” “Both the court’s opinion and the dissent display a relentless freedom from doubt on the legal issue that I cannot share,” Roberts wrote. “I am not sure, for example, that a ban on terminating a pregnancy from the moment of conception must be treated the same under the Constitution as a ban after fifteen weeks.”Roberts’s waning influence has coincided with dramatic changes in the composition of the court.
The conservative justices have also exercised their influence by increasingly granting emergency requests, which critics have called the “shadow docket.” Liberal advocates adopted the term to criticize high court decisions that happen without full-scale briefing and arguments. Before the court’s composition changed, Roberts could more easily exert his influence. In 2012, he sided with liberal justices to become the deciding vote in upholding the Affordable Care Act, a signature accomplishment for then-President Barack Obama.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Roe vs. Wade falls: A comprehensive guide to L.A. Times coverageHere's everything you need to know about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Roe vs. Wade.
Read more »
Opinion: Texans, brace for surveillance and criminal charges after abortion rulingTwo experts assess ways women may be vulnerable now that Supreme Court has overturned Roe...
Read more »
Police declare unlawful assembly in downtown L.A. as abortion rights protests wind downIn video provided to The Times, dozens of protesters chant at 8th and Olive streets as police in riot gear push through the intersection. A firework is launched into the crowd, and some people scatter.
Read more »
Clarence Thomas says Supreme Court should reconsider rulings on gay marriage, contraceptionThe conservative Supreme Court justice made the remarks in a concurring opinion after the court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday.
Read more »
Women of color most affected by abortion reversalWith the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, wealth could now largely determine who can get an abortion.
Read more »
Watch: Ask a Reporter conversations on the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. WadeBeyond Roe vs. Wade: The Times hosted a series of conversations from the newsroom about the Supreme Court decision. Watch them now.
Read more »