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.
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SCOTUS Upholds Tennessee Law Banning Gender Affirming Care for Minors
On June 18, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Skrmetti, a landmark case addressing the constitutionality of Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1 (SB1). This law, enacted in 2023, prohibits gender-affirming medical treatments, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for minors when prescribed to treat gender dysphoria or to enable identification with a gender inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth. The case, which has drawn significant attention for its implications on transgender rights and healthcare access, was decided by a 6-3 vote, with the majority upholding the law.
Oral Argument Breakdown: US v. Skrmetti
The Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti, argued on December 4, 2024, addresses whether Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1 (SB1) violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by banning gender-affirming medical treatments for minors when used to align with a gender identity inconsistent with their birth sex. The petitioners, including transgender minors and their families, argue that SB1 constitutes a sex-based classification, requiring intermediate scrutiny, and is not tailored to protect adolescent health. Tennessee, represented by J. Matthew Rice, contends that the law regulates based on medical purpose, not sex, and should be upheld under rational basis review due to health and safety concerns.
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.
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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.