The Supreme Court Pours Salt in the Wound

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | June 28, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | June 28, 2024 |

The final day of decisions of this Supreme Court term has been a doozy. There is no good news here, although some may wrongly take some solace in the fact that the Supreme Court — ruled now by a radical right supermajority — has taken more power for itself to the detriment of the President, whether that be Trump, Biden, or anyone else. In the Chevron case, SCOTUS has completely upended administrative law in this country, depriving the President the ability to interpret ambiguities in the law and leaving it, instead, to the Supreme Court.

It’s hard to overstate what a huge deal this is. Here is what Justice Kagan wrote in her dissent:

“In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issue — no matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden — involving the meaning of regulatory law. As if it did not have enough on its plate, the majority turns itself into the country’s administrative czar. It defends that move as one (suddenly) required by the (nearly 80-year-old) Administrative Procedure Act. But the Act makes no such demand. Today’s decision is not one Congress directed. It is entirely the majority’s choice.”

The SCOTUS defanged the Administrative state, from the FDA to the EPA to the Department of Education. This is what conservatives wanted when they installed Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Meanwhile, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court also ruled that it is not an Eighth Amendment violation to remove homeless encampments. This has been a huge issue in cities all over the country (including my own), because no one knows what to do about these encampments on public land. SCOTUS is saying: Clear ‘em. Fine the homeless folks and put them in jail. Fuck ‘em all.

Today, the Supreme Court also decided to make it more difficult to charge January 6th defendants with obstruction. It was a 6-3 decision. The liberals were in the minority. The decision could upend hundreds of cases being brought against the Capital rioters.

Meanwhile, the big case — the Presidential immunity case — has been pushed until Monday because SCOTUS clearly wants to delay the case as long as possible for Trump.