Supreme Court
Abortion debate epicenter: Mississippi clinic stays open
By Emily Wagster Pettus — December 1, 2021
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Supreme Court early Wednesday ahead of the arguments, their opposing positions marked by signs that included “Her Body Her Choice” and “God Hates the Shedding of Innocent Blood.”
Conflict over abortion laws won’t abate if Roe v. Wade falls
By David Crary — November 22, 2021
On both sides of America’s abortion debate, activists are convinced that Roe v. Wade — the 1973 Supreme Court ruling establishing a nationwide right to abortion — is imperiled as never before. Yet no matter how the current conservative-dominated court handles pending high-profile abortion cases — perhaps weakening Roe, perhaps gutting it completely — there […]
Texas abortion ban stays in force as justices mull outcome
By Mark Sherman — November 17, 2021
They raised expectations of quick action by putting the case on a rarely used fast track. And yet, to date, the court's silence means that women cannot get an abortion in Texas, the second-largest state, after about six weeks of pregnancy.
High court skeptical of Texas death row inmate prayer demand
By Jessica Gresko — November 9, 2021
The outcome won't take anyone off death row but could make clear what religious accommodations officials must make for inmates who are being put to death.
High court struggles with government secrets case
By Jessica Gresko — November 8, 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court struggled Monday with whether to allow a lawsuit by Muslim men claiming religious bias by the FBI to go forward despite the government’s objection that doing so could reveal national security secrets. The case the high court was considering involves a group of three men from Southern California. They […]
Michigan attorney is first Muslim Arab American woman to stand before Supreme Court
By Joseph Hammond — October 8, 2021
(RNS) — Fadwa Hammoud’s appearance at the Supreme Court is one of several important firsts for Muslims in the American legal system in recent months.
Another Texas execution delayed on religious freedom claims
By Juan A. Lozano — September 17, 2021
The Supreme Court granted him a stay because his spiritual adviser was not allowed to accompany him in the death chamber.
As Texas ban on abortion goes into effect, a religion scholar explains that pre-modern Christian attitudes on marriage and reproductive rights were quite different
By Luis Josué Salés — September 2, 2021
(The Conversation) — The Supreme Court declined to rule on a Texas law that bans all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. However, abortion and contraception were quite common among pre-modern Christians.
Court declines to hear church’s attack on COVID restrictions
By Associated Press — August 3, 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a lawsuit by a Maine church that sought to take a preemptive strike against future COVID-19 restrictions.
Report: US Supreme Court favors religion in emergency reviews
By Yonat Shimron — July 28, 2021
(RNS) — The analysis by Reuters found that the Court's shadow docket' in which emergency applications are decided hurriedly, provided religious applicants a win in every case.
André Mendonça, President Bolsonaro’s ‘terribly evangelical’ Supreme Court justice
By Eduardo Campos Lima — July 22, 2021
SÃO PAULO (RNS) — Mendonça’s nomination has been seen by many as a political maneuver by Bolsonaro to strengthen his ties with evangelicals, a significant and loyal voting bloc for him.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro picks evangelical for supreme court seat
By Mauricio Savarese — July 14, 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday named Attorney General Andre Mendonca, an evangelical pastor, to Brazil's supreme court.
Religion at the Supreme Court: 3 essential reads
By Matt Williams — July 2, 2021
(The Conversation) — Religion was a common theme in some of the cases to come before the nine justices in the recently concluded Supreme Court term. Three experts help explain what is at stake.
Transgender rights, religion among cases justices could add
By Mark Sherman and Jessica Gresko — June 28, 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — This month, the court has already issued big decisions on health care and religious freedom. And next term, the high court has agreed to take on cases about abortion and guns.
Why it matters that 7 states still have bans on atheists holding office
By Kristina M. Lee — June 6, 2021
(The Conversation) — Anti-atheism is ingrained in American politics. A refusal to remove outdated language from state Constitutions perpetuates this prejudice.
