SCOTUS 2021 : Major Decisions and Developments of the US Supreme Court

Each year, the Supreme Court of the United States announces new rulings with deep consequences for our lives. This fourth volume in Palgrave's SCOTUS series describes, explains, and contextualizes the landmark cases of the US Supreme Court in the term ending 2021. With a close look at cases involving key issues and debates in American politics and society, SCOTUS 2021 tackles the Court's rulings on voting rights, Obamacare, LGBT rights, climate change, college sports, property rights, separation of powers, parole for youth offenders, immigration, religious liberty, free speech, and more. Written by notable scholars in political science and law, the chapters in SCOTUS 2021 present the details of each ruling, its meaning for constitutional debate, and its impact on public policy or partisan politics. Finally, SCOTUS 2021 offers an analysis of the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Morgan Marietta is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA Contents Notes on Contributors 1 Introduction: The 2020–2021 Term at the Supreme Court Summaries and Table The First Amendment (Fulton, Tandon, Tanzin, Mahanoy, and Uzuegbunam) Elections (Brnovich) Obamacare (California v. Texas) Climate, Criminal Defense, Property Rights, and the Separation of Powers Facts (Brnovich, Alston, Jones, and the Pandemic Cases) Standing (Obamacare, Uzuegbunam) The Direction of the Court 2 BP v. City of Baltimore on the Fight for Jurisdiction Over Climate Litigation The Majority Relies on the Word “Order” The Dissent Highlights Defendants’ Real Aim—Federal Question Removal Going Forward 3 Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee on Voting Rights Political Context Case Background Oral Argument and the Standard of Review The Court’s Decision The Dissent Conclusion 4 California v. Texas on the Final Installment of the Obamacare Trilogy Justice Breyer’s Majority Opinion Justice Alito’s Dissent Justice Thomas’ Concurrence Conclusion 5 Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid on Union Organizing and Property Rights Under the Fifth Amendment Chief Justice Roberts’ Majority Opinion Justice Kavanaugh’s Concurrence Justice Breyer’s Dissent So What? 6 Collins v. Yellen and US v. Arthrex on the Separation of Powers U.S. v. Arthrex Collins v. Yellen Implications 7 Fulton v. City of Philadelphia on Religious Liberty and LGBT Equality The Parties and Their Claims Generally Applicable and Neutral Laws Do Not Violate Religious Liberty The Supreme Court’s Recent Religious Liberty Cases Religious Liberty Requires a Generally Applicable and Neutral Rule Will Religious Liberty Exempt Businesses from Non-Discrimination Laws? 8 Jones v. Mississippi on Life Without Parole for Youth Offenders Youth, Punishment, and the Eighth Amendment The Jones Case The Opinion The Dissent 9 Mahanoy v. B.L. on Off Campus Student Speech The Legal Context The Facts of the Case The Opinions in Mahanoy Implications 10 NCAA v. Alston on College Sports The Disputed Facts of College Sports The Lawsuit The Ruling The Ramifications 11 Pereida v. Wilkinson on the Immigration Consequences of Ambiguous Convictions The Pereida Case Oral Argument The Decision Implications 12 Tandon v. Newsom, South Bay Pentecostal, Diocese of Brooklyn, and Calvary Chapel on Religious Liberty and the Pandemic South Bay Pentecostal v. Newsom (“South Bay I”) Calvary Chapel v. Sisolak Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo South Bay Pentecostal Church v. Newsom (“South Bay II”) Tandon v. Newsom 13 Tanzin v. Tanvir on RFRA and Damages Against Federal Officials for Violations of Religious Liberty The Opinion of the Court Caveats Conclusion 14 Torres v. Madrid on Use of Force Under the Fourth Amendment What Is a Fourth Amendment Seizure? The Court’s Opinions The Fourth Amendment and Police Accountability 15 Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski on Nominal Damages and the Right to Assert Rights Pushing Open the Courthouse Door? 16 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court Legacy Becoming Justice Ginsburg Justice Ginsburg on the Bench Race Women’s Rights Voting Defendants’ Rights The First Amendment Conclusion Index