Kavanaugh Asserts Constitutional Right to Steak

US Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett “I Like Beer” Kavanaugh was eating at Morton’s steakhouse in DC on July 6th when womens’ rights activists found out, and protested in front of the pricey eatery. Mr. Kavanaugh had to sneak out the back without dessert. Sad, but there’s always Grubhub.

Morton’s angrily responded that “Politics … should not trample the freedom … of the right to … eat dinner.” Protesters reponded by flooding Morton’s with fake reservations by phone and on Open Table.

There were other reactions. “Sounds like he just wanted some privacy to make his own dining decisions,” Chasten Buttigieg tweeted, alluding to Kavanaugh’s vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, the decision that guaranteed abortion access on the basis of Americans’ right to privacy. And after Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked if “These justices … have no right to privacy?”, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted “Pretty sure they overturned that right 2 weeks ago Doocy.”

More:

“Brett Kavanaugh is the latest target of protests at D.C. restaurants,” Emily Heil and Tim Carman, Washington Post

“‘Let him eat cake’: AOC reacts to Kavanaugh being forced out of restaurant by abortion rights protesters,” Axios

“Sorry, but the Constitution contains no right to eat dinner,” Washington Post

“Group offers up to $250 for SCOTUS justices sightings after Kavanaugh protest,” Axios

“Protests of Public Officials in Restaurants Aren’t Going Away,” Jessica Sidman, Washingtonian

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Supreme Court Requires Blood Sacrifice

The Supreme Court of the United States thinks you should be able to carry a concealed handgun in public just because you think it’s cool and want to feel like a big shot. For over a century, New York had required gun owners to have a reason to carry a concealed weapon. Police issued concealed carry permits to business owners who carry bags of cash to a bank’s night deposit facility, those who had a demonstrable proper cause to be concerned for their personal safety, and so on. Now any dumb schmuck who hasn’t been caught committing a crime — yet — will be enabled to do so, with deadly consequences, thanks to six SCOTUS conservative ideologues. That doesn’t sound like a “well-regulated militia” to us.

What can you expect?

• More gunshot deaths, murders and suicides.
• More civilians killed by police, who will be more likely to assume that anyone they come into contact with is armed with a concealed deadly weapon.

More:

“Supreme Court strikes down New York’s concealed carry gun law,” Oriana Gonzalez, Axios

“U.S. Supreme Court expands gun rights, strikes down New York law,” Andrew Chung and Lawrence Hurley, Reuters

“Supreme Court strikes N.Y. law, finds right to carry guns outside home,” Robert Barnes and Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post

“SCOTUS Strikes Down New York Gun Control Law, Expanding Gun Rights In Wake Of Mass Shootings,” Kate Riga, Talking Points Memo 

 

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The Supreme Court Leaks All the Time

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts is shocked – shocked! — that a draft of the impending ruling on a Mississippi abortion case has been leaked to the press. Conservatives are calling the leak an act of treasonous insurrection, a subject they certainly know lots about.

Fact is, the leak is by no means unprecendented. Even the Roe decision, which this court seems bent on negating, was leaked. Warren Burger, then Chief Justice, demanded to know who had leaked the information and threatened to give all the Court’s clerks lie-detector tests:

“Clerks, justices, and other people with access to information have leaked about Bush v. Gore, the Affordable Healthcare Act, and—now—the overturning of Roe, just as in the 19th century, the court leaked information about its ruling in the Pennsylvania v. Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company case. …. Despite all the Court’s august solemnity, full-time reporters covering it are able to break news about it and its inner workings—including, at times, in highly-detailed behind-the-scenes books—because people up to and including the justices leak.”

— “The Supreme Court Leaks All the Time,” Matthew Gault, Vice [links added]

Related:

“Newsmax Host Suggests Ketanji Brown Jackson, Who Isn’t On Supreme Court Yet, Leaked Draft,”
Elise Foley, HuffPost

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‘Rona Religion: Supreme Court Upholds Human Sacrifice

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, in the dark of night, the Supreme Court decided that during the Coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 260,000 Americans, places of worship are free to pack the house in sabbath superspreading events. The deciding vote was by Trump appointee and cult member Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who must have a fondness for the traditional Requiem Mass. You may recall that the president’s Rose Garden “reveal party” for Mrs. Barrett’s SCOTUS nomination was itself a superspreading event.

More:

“Supreme Court’s conservatives reject COVID restrictions on New York houses of worship,” David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times

“Justices lift New York’s COVID-related attendance limits on worship services,” Amy Howe, SCOTUS Blog

“Supreme Court backs religious groups on New York coronavirus restrictions,” Rebecca Falconer, Axios

“Major shift at Supreme Court on Covid-19 orders,” Josh Gerstein, Politico

“In Covid-19 regulations case, Sotomayor dissent claps back at Supreme Court majority,” Raul A. Reyes, NBC News

Updates:

“Pastor of California Megachurch That Defied Lockdown Order Dies of COVID-19,” Rachel Olding, Daily Beast

“Supreme Court sides with California church protesting coronavirus restrictions,” Robert Barnes, Washington Post

“Brooklyn diocese cheers ruling barring Cuomo’s houses of worship limits,” Lia Eustachewich, New York Post

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Supreme Court, September 24, 2020

Ruth Bader Ginsburg rests at the Supreme Court Portico.

 

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Brett Kavanaugh’s High School Reunion

Mark Judge and “Squi” didn’t show up, but Justice Brett Kavanaugh hung out at Georgetown Prep’s Reunion last weekend, attending Friday’s Stag Night and the Homecoming game on Saturday. There was plenty of beer, but not for the judge:

“At one point during the football game, Justice Kavanaugh prepared to pose for a picture with former classmates. First, though, he instructed everyone to put down their beers, according to a person who witnessed the exchange (Justice Kavanaugh didn’t appear to be drinking.). “

— “Back at Georgetown Prep, Kavanaugh Is Hailed as a Hero,” Kate Kelly, New York Times

More:

“Justice Brett Goes To High School Reunion, Class Praised For Its ‘Loyalty,’” Elie Mystal, Above the Law

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Fraternity Pledge Inducted Into the Supreme Court

Judicial Temperament Tantrum

The shouting is over. Brett Kavanaugh (of Georgetown Prep, Yale legacy admissions, Delta Kappa Epsilon member, and the Federalist Society) was secretly sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. If you’re keeping score at home, Mr. Kavanaugh is the first justice nominated by a president who lost the popular vote and confirmed by senators representing less than half of the country while a majority of Americans opposed his nomination. God Save the Republic.

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Showtime!

It’s spectacle showtime for charlatan-in-chief Donald Trump, who’ll select his prime-time pick for America’s next top model Supreme Court justice tonight at 9PM Eastern. Suspense mounts! Which conservative ideologue will win? Who will go home with a consolation prize?

More:

“How Trump turned the US Supreme Court into prime time television,” Ephrat Livni, Quartz

“Trump pushing for another reality-show reveal of Supreme Court pick,” Andrew Restuccia, Politico

“A ‘Supreme’ show: Trump savors big reveal for court choice,” BY Catherine Lucey and Zeke Miller, AP via Charlotte Observer

“Trump’s New Pageant: SCOTUS Pick Will Have To Look ‘All-American,’ Jibe With Trump,” Nicole LaFond, TPM Livewire

“Trump Is Picking His Supreme Court Nominee Like He’s Casting the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition,” Bess Levin, Vanity Fair

“The Supreme Court Show,” Ross Douthat, New York Times

“The most interesting late development in Trump’s Supreme Court derby,” Aaron Blake, Washington Post

Inside Baseball:

“The Five Frontrunners,” Adam Feldman, Empirical SCOTUS

“Trump’s 2018 Supreme Court Shortlist and Their Views on Administrative Law,” Chris Walker, Notice & Comment

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Trump Narrows Supreme Court Picks Down to Three

Drama! Suspense mounts on the reality-TV show known as the Trump presidency as we near the prime time Monday night announcement of Mr. Trump’s nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Whatshisname. The president has narrowed the list prepared by the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society to three possible nominees, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Raymond Kethledge. While Republicans argue about which one is the most stalwart conservative ideologue, Mr. Trump makes personnel decisions based on a candidate’s looks. That’s certainly worked out well for him so far!

More:

“Trump pushing for another reality-show reveal of Supreme Court pick,” Andrew Restuccia, Politico

“Trump’s New Pageant: SCOTUS Pick Will Have To Look ‘All-American,’ Jibe With Trump,” Nicole LaFond, TPM Livewire

“Trump Is Picking His Supreme Court Nominee Like He’s Casting the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition,” Bess Levin, Vanity Fair

“The Supreme Court Show,” Ross Douthat, New York Times

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Supreme Court on Muslim Ban: So What?

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the 3rd version of the Trump ban on travel from 5 Muslim counties without Trump business ties. North Korea and Venezuela were added to this version for camouflage, and the ruse seems to have worked. Now that Mr. Trump is besties with Kim Jong-un, we expect NK to drop off the list any day.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts held that President Trump’s tweeted and blustered statements about the ban’s anti-Muslim intent were not indications of the measure’s anti-Muslim intent. Justice Sonia Sotomayor disagrees, as does common sense.

More:

“The anti-Muslim travel ban is constitutional, say Supreme Court conservatives,” Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post

“’Motivated by Anti-Muslim Animus’: Must-Reads From Justice Sotomayor’s Dissent on Trump’s Travel Ban,” San Spinelli, Mother Jones

“The Supreme Court’s Green Light to Discriminate,” Adam Serwer, The Atlantic

“John Roberts just validated religious discrimination,” Dana Milbank, Washington Post

“The surprisingly low standard the Supreme Court used to review Trump’s travel ban,” Ana Campoy, Quartz

“An awful, constitutional travel ban: The Supreme Court says a terrible Trump policy is within his authority to implement,” NY Daily News

“The Supreme Court upheld Trump’s travel ban by pretending Trump isn’t the president,” Dara Lind, Vox

“A Failure of Judicial Independence,” Garrett Epps, The Atlantic

“The travel ban decision echoes some of the worst Supreme Court decisions in history,” Aziz Huq, Vox

“A Decision That Will Live in Infamy,” Noah Feldman, Bloomberg

“Move over, Dred Scott,” David D. Cole, Washington Post

“Supreme Court Confirms That We Are A Bigoted Nation,” Elie Mystal, Above The Law

“Bigoted and Feckless, the Travel Ban Is Pure Trump,” New York Times editorial

“Opinion analysis: Divided court upholds Trump travel ban,” Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog [long]

Related:

“The US Supreme Court finally overruled the case that justified Japanese internment,” Ephrat Livni, Quartz

“One Really Good Thing in the Supreme Court’s Travel-Ban Ruling: Korematsu Is Gone,” Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker

“Travel-ban ruling could embolden Trump in remaking the U.S. immigration system,” David Nakamura, Washington Post

“The Supreme Court’s travel ban decision is a reminder: midterm elections matter,” Ezra Klein, Vox

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