Thanks to Donald Trump’s efforts, the Supreme Court of the United States is currently dominated by conservatives. Six justices are considered conservative-leaning as opposed to three liberal justices. But while this might seem like a recipe for disagreements, the SCOTUS judges have been on the same page in recent cases.
Are Liberal Justices Jumping on the Conservative Bandwagon?
The Supreme Court recently entered a period in which it needs to make rulings on several major issues. It kicked things off with decisions in cases: Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, Smith & Wesson v. Mexico, and Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin. The justices were unanimous on all three occasions, and surprisingly, delivered verdicts that could be viewed as conservative-leaning. Additionally, the liberal justices – Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson – wrote opinions for each case.
In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, it was ruled that cases of “reverse discrimination,” where a majority group claims discrimination from a minority group, don’t require proof of “background circumstances.” The decision in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico was that U.S. firearm manufacturers can’t be sued by other countries for misuse of their products. Finally, the Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin ruling determined that religious organizations can be exempt from unemployment taxes even if they don’t engage in “distinctively religious” projects.
Liberal Justices Are Playing the Long Game
Siding with their conservative colleagues shows that liberal justices are playing the long game. It is the only viable strategy considering the circumstances they find themselves in. With the potential of being overruled on other significant issues, winning some favors could pay off later on.
Additionally, Kagan, Sotomayor, and Brown Jackson emphasized that each ruling adheres to the letter of the law. By doing so, they are solidifying an environment in which the political ideology is pushed aside in favor of making legally sound decisions.
True Tests Are Yet to Come
The Supreme Court is yet to make rulings in several other major cases. Some of them could have significant consequences, such as the decision on Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship. Only after that will we know whether the strategy was successful and if it was a strategy at all.
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