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
SCOTUS Allows Trump to Remove the Heads of Independent Agencies
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.
SCOTUS Split 4-4 Over Publicly Funded Religious Schools
On May 22, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant decision in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond (consolidated with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond), affirming the Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling against publicly funding religious charter schools. This case has sparked debate over the intersection of religious freedom, public education, and constitutional law.
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.
A.A.R.P. v. Trump & the Alien Enemies Act
A.A.R.P. v. Trump covers an application for injunctive relief filed by Venezuelan nationals detained under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA). The detainees, identified as members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a designated foreign terrorist organization, sought to prevent their summary removal from the United States under the AEA. The case involves complex legal questions about due process rights, the adequacy of notice before removal, and the applicability of class-wide relief in habeas proceedings.
Notable Cases at SCOTUS This Term
Families across the country wait to see if their kids can access certain medical care, parents wonder if their religious beliefs will be respected in schools, and police wait for standards of accountability. As the Supreme Court’s 2024-2025 term wraps up, five major cases are set to tackle these questions and more, touching on LGBTQ+ rights, religious freedom in child rearing, disability discrimination and accommodations, online free speech, and police accountability.
Retired Supreme Court Justice, David Souter, Dies at 85
Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, died Thursday at his New Hampshire home at 85. Despite his Republican nomination, Souter became a reliable liberal voice during his 19-year tenure, prompting the GOP rallying cry “No more Souters” to avoid justices who might shift left.
What is the Supreme Court’s “Shadow Docket?”
The Supreme Court of the United States, often seen as the pinnacle of judicial transparency with its public hearings and detailed opinions, has a lesser-known side: the shadow docket. This term, which has gained traction in recent years, refers to a collection of decisions and actions the Court takes outside its regular, public merits docket—the process where cases are argued in open court and rulings are issued with comprehensive written opinions. The shadow docket, by contrast, operates with far less visibility, often involving emergency orders, procedural rulings, and other decisions made swiftly, without oral arguments or extensive explanations. Despite its lower profile, the shadow docket can have profound impacts on American law and policy, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the nation’s highest 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.