SCOTUS decisions

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The Supreme Court’s term in review

The U.S. Supreme Court recently finished their 2021-22 term at the end of June. The ramifications of their recent decisions will soon be evident in American society. highlights presents the major decisions and their implications for the student body

BY SANTIAGO GIRALDO, CO-ONLINE EDITOR

WHEN THE SUPREME COURT FINALIZED ITS TERM at the end of June 2022, several notable cases had been decided. Highly debated issues, such as abortion, the second amendment, climate change and the separation of church and state were discussed throughout the summer. highlights has summarized the major cases and their effects.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

The ruling made on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the 50 and 20 year old precedents of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. These cases had previously reaffirmed a woman’s federal right to an abortion under the fourteenth amendment and their reversal has left reproductive rights in the hands of individual state governments. Instead of being a guaranteed right across the country, each state legislature is now able to decide for itself whether or not to restrict abortion access. The vote in favor of Dobbs was decided by a 6-3 vote where all the liberal justices dissented.

“Upholding past precedents no longer seems to hold any importance to the Court,” junior Charlee Trowbridge said.

New York State Rifle & Pistol Assoc. v. Bruen

Justice Thomas wrote the majority opinion for New York State Rifle & Pistol Assoc. V. Bruen, which decided that New York’s concealed carry law — requiring citizens to have a license for firearms small enough to be concealed — violated the 14th amendment. Thomas clarified that guns can be regulated in instances such as government buildings or schools, yet did not specify where else bans may be allowed.

“The Court made it easier to obtain a license to carry a firearm in New York’s public spaces,” New York State Attorney General Letitia James said on her official website, ag.ny.gov.

According to the Miami Herald, this ruling will facilitate the passing of ‘constitutional carry’ in Florida, allowing citizens to carry weapons without obtaining a permit. This case was the first Supreme Court case that dealt with the second amendment since 2010 and was a 6-3 decision with all the conservative justices in the affirmative.

West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency

The ruling for West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency decided that the EPA is no longer authorized to regulate and restrict carbon emissions without congressional approval. This limits the power of the EPA and according to the Department of Energy conflicts with President Joe Biden’s goal to run the nation’s power grid on clean energy by 2035. This ruling was again decided by the 6-3 conservative majority.

“People are extremely upset and feel unheard by this decision since it doesn’t account for the negative effects of carbon emissions,” sophomore Sameera Martinez said.

Carson v. Makin

Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion for Carson v. Makin, in which the court ruled the state of Maine’s town tuition program unconstitutional because it violates the first amendment. This struck down the provision restricting religious schools from receiving public grants extended to other schools, as reported by the Washington Post. The Court’s decision means that Maine is obligated to fund religious schools’ tuition, dismantling the veil between church and state in public education.

“The Supreme Court is representing a minority. The public should not be funding religious education,” senior Brendan Groff-Vazquez said.

What’s next?

For the Supreme Court’s 2023 term, which begins Oct. 3, the Court is poised to decide cases on issues such as affirmative action, which would particularly impact the Gables population. Affirmative action is a program used by universities that places value on an applicant’s race/ethnic background for the benefit of minority students. This is significant since the minority composition of Gables is 89%, according to GreatSchools.org.

Moreover, the court will be deciding on the independent state legislature theory, which could decide that states can run elections without following federal election guidelines, as reported by Politico. If this were to occur, it would subvert the democratic process and prevent state supreme courts from regulating state elections. The next term appears to brew just as much discussion in the near future than the last. h

by the numbers

highlights surveyed 217 students in August 2022 regarding the Supreme Court’s recent term

Compiled by Emily Kardjian/ highlights

83% of students feel recent decisions will personally impact them

81% of students believe the Court’s rulings reflect public opinion

62% of students agree with none of the recent rulings

44% of students believe Dobbs v. Jackson is the decision that will most impact Florida’s students

89% of students believe the structure and function of the Court should be altered