Rationally Based is a Supreme Court blog focused on the United States Supreme Court’s decisions, judicial philosophies, and their effects. We analyze landmark cases, legal trends, and the Court’s role in shaping law and society, keeping it clear and concise. Whether you’re a legal professional, law student, or just interested in the highest court, we provide insights into its impact on American jurisprudence. Explore our articles to stay informed on the Court’s decisions and their implications.
Featured Articles
Barnes v. Felix: A Broader Lens for Police Excessive Force Claims
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court in Barnes v. Felix (2025) reshaped the framework for evaluating excessive force claims against law enforcement under the Fourth Amendment. The Court rejected the Fifth Circuit’s narrow “moment-of-threat” rule, which confined the reasonableness inquiry to the precise instant an officer perceived a threat. Instead, the Court reaffirmed that the “totality of the circumstances” standard governs, requiring courts to consider all relevant events leading up to the use of force. This ruling clarifies the scope of Fourth Amendment analysis and has significant implications for how excessive force cases are adjudicated.
Oral Argument Breakdown: Trump v. CASA, Inc.
In Trump v. CASA, Inc., argued on May 21, 2025, the justices grappled with the contentious issue of national (or universal) injunctions that block the enforcement of a federal executive order beyond the specific parties involved in a lawsuit. The case centers on Executive Order 14,160, issued by President Trump on January 20, 2025, titled "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship." This order aimed to reinterpret the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants or temporary visitors. Multiple district courts issued nationwide injunctions to halt the order’s enforcement, prompting the government to seek a stay from the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Allows Military Transgender Ban
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to implement a Department of Defense policy banning transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, lifting a federal judge’s nationwide injunction. The unsigned order, issued without explanation, permits the policy to take effect as litigation continues in the 9th Circuit and potentially returns to the Supreme Court. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the court’s liberal appointees, dissented, indicating they would have denied the government’s request, though they provided no reasoning.
Supreme Court Hears Case on Parental & Religious Rights on LGBTQ+ Content in Schools
On April 22, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in, Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case involving Maryland parents seeking the right to opt their elementary-school-aged children out of instruction incorporating LGBTQ+ themes. The parents, representing diverse religious backgrounds, argued that the Montgomery County Public Schools’ refusal to allow opt-outs violates their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion. Over nearly two-and-a-half hours, a majority of justices appeared sympathetic to the parents’ position, questioning the school board’s rationale and the potential harm of granting opt-out accommodations.
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The Supreme Court has ordered a stay that halts the reinstatement of Gwynne Wilcox to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Cathy Harris to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), following President Donald Trump's attempt to fire them without cause. These two agencies are pivotal to forming policy on worker’s rights in both the private and public sector, as such the heads of each agency will be extremely influential moving forward.