First up, a #WaterRights case, #Texas v #NewMexico & #Colorado. Justice #KetanjiBrownJackson has the opinion. There’s a divided ruling with Justices #ClarenceThomas, Samuel A. #Alito Jr. & #AmyConeyBarrett joining a #dissent by Justice Neil M. #Gorsuch.

#SCOTUS #law

The third case decision announced this morning is also NOT one of the high-profile cases that we have been closely tracking. It involves the federal #criminal #sentencing statute — #Erlinger v. U.S.

Justice Neil M. #Gorsuch has the opinion. An interesting combination in #dissent: Justices Brett M. #Kavanaugh, Samuel A. #Alito Jr. & #KetanjiBrownJackson.

#SCOTUS #law

Interestingly, in her #dissent in the #immigration case, Department of #State v. Munoz, Justice Sonia #Sotomayor says #SCOTUS’ decision will most heavily burden #SameSex couples. She cites #Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 case that established a fundamental right to same-sex #marriage.

#law

The fourth ruling announced this morning is Smith v. #Arizona, on the right of #criminal defendants to #CrossExamine #witnesses. All of these cases are important, of course. But none so far are the biggest cases of the term. Justice Elena #Kagan has the opinion, w/a unanimous-ish court agreeing w/the final judgment. There are many concurrences, which are written by justices who agree w/the outcome of the decision but disagree on certain aspects.

#SCOTUS #law

Decision on the #gun rights case:

U.S. v. #Rahimi

#SCOTUS upholds the federal statute.
8-1 #ClarenceThomas dissented

This is a #2A case, about whether individuals who are guilty of #DomesticAbuse can have access to #guns.

When an individual has been found to be a threat that individual may be temporarily disarmed.

Guns may be taken from people who are under #DomesticViolence #RestrainingOrders.

This was the FINAL opinion of the day.

#law #Bruen

Note on #Rahimi:

#ClarenceThomas wrote the majority in NYSRPA v. #Bruen & was the sole dissent in today’s decision.

Bruen’s ruled a #NewYork #law was unconstitutional & that carrying a gun in public was a constitutional right guaranteed by #2A.

#SCOTUS said states are allowed to enforce "#ShallIssue" permitting, where #ConcealedCarry applicants must satisfy criteria, like #BackgroundChecks, but "#MayIssue" systems using "arbitrary" evaluations by local authorities are unconstitutional.

#law

After #Bruen, multiple lawsuits involving #GunRegulations were filed.

In his #Rahimi dissent, #ClarenceThomas writes:

“…if the #SecondAmendment right was historically understood to allow an ofcl to disarm anyone he deemed 'dangerous,' it may follow that modern Congresses can do the same...

“…Yet, historical context compels the opposite conclusion. The Second Amendment stems from English resistance against 'dangerous' person laws.”

#SCOTUS #law #2A