The Supreme Court just issued its biggest rulings of the year. Here’s what you need to know.

The Supreme Court has recently concluded its most significant rulings of the term, which have far-reaching implications. These decisions include the rejection of President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to alleviate federal student loan debts, the termination of affirmative action in higher education, and a pivotal ruling impacting gay rights. These rulings, along with previous deliberations on voting rights and religion, mark the culmination of a term that began in October.

The Supreme Court will reconvene in the fall to continue hearing cases. To better understand the Court’s recent term, here are some key points to consider:

1. Surprising Decisions: Despite a solid conservative majority of six justices, the Court issued some unexpected decisions where the most conservative positions did not prevail. Court observers found these outcomes surprising. In certain major cases, both conservative and liberal justices united to reject aggressive legal arguments put forth by conservative state officials and advocacy groups. These cases involved voting rights, a Native American child welfare law, and a Biden administration immigration policy.

For instance, in a voting rights case, the Court dismissed a Republican-led effort to weaken a landmark voting rights law. Instead, they ruled in favor of Black voters in Alabama, necessitating the redrawing of congressional districts to provide greater representation for Black voters. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the Court’s three liberals in this 5-4 decision.

Additionally, while the Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, allowing states to ban abortion, it declined a conservative-led attempt to remove a commonly used abortion drug from the market. The drug, mifepristone, will remain available during an ongoing lawsuit.

2. Conservative Victories: Despite surprises, conservatives secured significant victories. They achieved their longstanding goal of overturning affirmative action in a 6-3 ruling. Although the Court had previously upheld race-conscious college admissions programs, the recent decision struck down this practice. Three justices appointed by former President Donald Trump bolstered the conservative wing of the Court.

Conservatives also prevailed in the 6-3 ruling on student loans, effectively terminating a signature program of the Biden administration. Another major ruling in their favor limited the federal government’s authority to regulate water pollution by a 5-4 margin.

3. Chief Justice Roberts’ Influence: Chief Justice John Roberts played a pivotal role in leading the Court’s major rulings. He authored the majority opinions on student loans, affirmative action, and voting cases from North Carolina and Alabama. In the past, Roberts occasionally found himself in the minority as the more conservative justices pursued bolder actions, such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In contrast, Roberts took a more cautious stance that would have curtailed abortion rights. As the Chief Justice, he has the authority to assign who writes the majority opinion when he agrees with it. By assigning himself these key opinions, he ensured his influence in shaping the Court’s direction.

4. Justice Katanji Brown Jackson’s Active Role: The Court’s newest justice, Katanji Brown Jackson, emerged as a highly vocal participant. Joining the Court in October, she actively engaged in arguments and spoke the most among her colleagues during the term’s 59 arguments. Jackson authored several majority opinions, including a dispute over unclaimed money between states. One of her notable rulings was a 7-2 decision that refrained from broadly limiting the right to sue government workers. She also penned dissenting opinions, such as the one in the affirmative action case, where she criticized the majority for their lack of awareness.

5. Justice Neil Gorsuch and Native Rights: Since joining the Court in 2017, Justice Neil Gorsuch has consistently supported Native rights, occasionally diverging from his conservative counterparts on related matters. In a 2020 decision, Gorsuch authored a ruling confirming a significant portion of eastern Oklahoma as an American Indian reservation. This term, he wrote passionately in two Native rights cases, dissenting in a ruling against the Navajo Nation regarding water rights in the drought-stricken Colorado River. Although he concurred with the majority in a case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act, he penned a separate opinion totaling 34 pages.

6. Ethical Concerns Surrounding the Court: In addition to high-profile rulings, the Court faced scrutiny regarding the ethical conduct of certain justices, notably Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito. Investigative reports from ProPublica highlighted lavish trips and gifts provided to Justice Thomas by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Both Thomas and Alito vehemently denied any wrongdoing. However, these stories led to calls from Democrats in Congress for transparency and reforms. While Republicans opposed such efforts, Chief Justice Roberts acknowledged in May that the Court can do more to adhere to the highest ethical standards, without specifying the measures.

These developments from the Supreme Court’s recent term signify significant legal and societal impacts. Mark Sherman, a reporter from Big Big News, contributed to this report.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Supreme Court rulings

More about Supreme Court rulings

• Supreme Court: Official website of the Supreme Court of the United States.
• Supreme Court Decisions: Official page providing access to Supreme Court opinions and rulings.
• Joe Biden: Official White House page on President Joe Biden.
• Affirmative Action: Overview of affirmative action from Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute.
• Voting Rights: Information on voting rights and election issues from the Brennan Center for Justice.
• Native American Rights: Website of the Native American Rights Fund, providing resources and information on Native American rights.
• Roe v. Wade: Details about the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade from the Oyez Project.
• Ethics in the Supreme Court: Article discussing ethics and recusal in the Supreme Court by SCOTUSblog.