The nine justices have had a busy year. Almost missed in the two big ones (Obamacare and Marriage Equality) were some other significant decisions issued on Monday:
1. They voted 5-4 to put on hold the Texas law that would have required all but nine abortion clinics in Texas to close. This law essentially requires that abortions be done only in facilities that have operating room facilities. A lower court upheld the law, and SCOTUS put a stay on implementing it while the case is on appeal to the highest court.
2. They upheld an Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission that was passed by voters in 2000 to counter gerrymandering. At issue was a clause in the Constitution that says that time, place, and manner of voting for Representatives and Senators shall be set by the Legislature. Since the commission was create by the voters rather than the legislature, opponents challenged its legality. The SCOTUS majority interpreted "Legislature" to include a vote by the people who elect the legislature.
Because this was a question of constitutional interpretation, this decision bodes well for future decisions involving voter rights.
It was not all positive. The court also decided against EPA restrictions on mercury emissions from power plants. And it upheld Oklahoma's use of the lethal injection drug that has caused multiple painful executions.
Ralph
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