The Supreme Court's decisions from the 2024-25 term reveal a more nuanced picture than a simple division into ideological camps. Judicial philosophy, rather than partisan politics, appears to be the primary motivator behind the court's decisions. The article provides five key takeaways from the court's recent rulings.
5 months ago
Contrary to common media portrayals of a hopelessly divided and politicized Supreme Court, a closer examination of its 2024-25 term reveals a more nuanced picture 1. The court's decisions are primarily driven by judicial philosophy rather than partisan politics 1. While six justices are often characterized as conservative and three as progressive, their individual understandings of judicial beliefs lead to varied outcomes, preventing predictable lockstep voting 1.
The court's six conservative members, including five Catholics (Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett), largely adhere to originalism and textualism, interpreting the Constitution and federal laws based on their original intent and text 1. Conversely, the three progressive justices (Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson) tend to view the Constitution as a "living document," open to reinterpretation to reflect contemporary developments 1.
Despite these philosophical divides, internal fissures were more apparent among the progressive minority during this term 1. Justice Elena Kagan, often considered the leading liberal, was in the majority for 70% of non-unanimous outcomes, a higher rate than some conservative justices 1. Justice Sonia Sotomayor also demonstrated a willingness to break with progressive orthodoxy, joining an 8-1 majority decision that upheld the lawfulness of federal workforce cuts 1. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, appointed by President Joe Biden, is seen by many as the court's most ideological member, frequently dissenting and using strong rhetoric against her conservative colleagues 1.
A significant aspect of the term was the high rate of unanimous decisions, accounting for 42% of the Supreme Court's outcomes 1. A notable example of this unity was the 9-0 decision in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission 1. Authored by Justice Sotomayor, the ruling unanimously defended Catholic Charities Bureau against Wisconsin's refusal to designate it as a "religious entity," deeming the state's stance a "paradigmatic form of denominational discrimination" that violated the Establishment Clause 1. This decision underscored the court's commitment to religious freedom protections 1.
Another landmark ruling was the 6-3 decision in Trump v. Casa, which sharply restricted the ability of lower-court judges to issue nationwide injunctions against federal laws 1. Authored by Justice Barrett, this decision asserted that there is no historical precedent in U.S. law for such sweeping national injunctions 1. It is crucial to note that this ruling did not address the validity of birthright citizenship, the underlying issue in the Trump v. Casa case, but focused solely on the scope of judicial injunctions 1. Justice Barrett notably criticized Justice Jackson's "inflammatory rhetoric" in her dissent on this case, accusing her of embracing an "imperial Judiciary" while decrying an "imperial Executive" 1.
What is the Church's teaching on just governance?
The Catholic Church teaches that just governance is rooted in the dignity of the human person and aims to achieve the common good . This involves upholding human rights, fostering solidarity, and ensuring that all members of society can flourish .
Just governance requires public authorities to constantly look to the human being and their basic requirements . This includes addressing issues such as reducing inequalities, expanding educational opportunities, fostering sustainable growth, and protecting the environment . When these values are neglected, social and political violence can increase, and the gap between rich and poor can widen . Therefore, vigilance in safeguarding rights and protecting welfare is crucial .
The Church encourages projects like "ethical finance," "microcredit," and "fair and equitable trade" as ways to foster justice and solidarity for the good of all . The family, based on marriage, is considered the essential cell of the social body, and public leaders have a sacred duty to work for its good, including safeguarding the mission of parents and defending human dignity from conception .