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Announcement of opinions and oral argument live blog for Thursday, May 15

By SCOTUSblog on May 15 at 1:36 a.m.

Advisory Opinions was live for a breakdown of this morning’s argument. The justices heard oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, the emergency docket dispute over orders blocking President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship. Earlier today, the court issued its opinion in Barnes v. Felix.

IN MEMORIAM

The heartbeat of the law is human connection

By Allison Orr Larsen on May 14 at 10:22 am

To honor Justice David Souter, who died at home in New Hampshire on May 8, we will be publishing tributes on his legacy and jurisprudence from those who knew him. Allison Orr Larsen clerked for Souter from 2005 to 2006. She reflects on the kind and thoughtful man behind the justice who was often considered shy and reclusive in public.

SCOTUS FOCUS

Questions about Thursday’s oral argument in the birthright citizenship dispute? We have (some) answers.

By Amy Howe on May 13 at 10:03 am

The Supreme Court will hold a rare May argument in Trump v. CASA, a dispute over orders blocking the Trump administration’s effort to end birthright citizenship that came to the justices on their emergency docket. Amy Howe breaks down the case and answers key questions on what we can expect from Thursday’s session.

IN MEMORIAM

David Souter, retired Supreme Court justice, dies at 85

By Amy Howe on May 9 at 10:31 am

Retired Associate Justice David Souter died on May 8 at his home in New Hampshire. He was 85. Souter served on the court from 1990 to 2009. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Republican President George H.W. Bush but became a reliable member of the court’s liberal bloc during his 19 years there – so much so that the phrase “No more Souters” became a rallying cry when future Republican presidents had the opportunity to fill vacancies on the court.

Advocates in Conversation

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San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu discusses City and County of San Francisco v. EPA, in which the court is considering whether the Environmental Protection Agency violates the Clean Water Act when it imposes generic prohibitions in a permit for a city’s water discharges, without specifying explicit standards for discharges.   
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WHAT WE’RE READING

The morning read for Thursday, May 15

By Ellena Erskine on May 15, 2025

We’re expecting one or more opinions from the court at 10 a.m. EDT. Following the opinion announcements, the court will hear oral arguments in three consolidated emergency appeals over orders blocking President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship. We’ll be live blogging both, join us starting at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

Each weekday, we select a short list of news articles and commentary related to the Supreme Court. Here’s the Thursday morning read:

WHAT WE’RE READING

The morning read for Wednesday, May 14

By Ellena Erskine on May 14, 2025

Each weekday, we select a short list of news articles and commentary related to the Supreme Court. Here’s the Wednesday morning read:

Coming up: On Thursday, May 15, the court expects to issue one or more opinions from the current term. The justices will then hear oral arguments in Trump v. CASA. We’ll be live at 9:30 a.m. EDT for the opinions and argument.

WHAT WE’RE READING

The morning read for Tuesday, May 13

By Ellena Erskine on May 13, 2025

Each weekday, we select a short list of news articles and commentary related to the Supreme Court. Here’s the Tuesday morning read:

Coming up: On Thursday, May 15, the court expects to issue one or more opinions from the current term. The justices will then hear oral arguments in Trump v. CASA. We’ll be live at 9:30 a.m. EDT for the opinions and argument.

EMERGENCY DOCKET

Unions, advocacy group tell justices not to let DOGE access Social Security records

By Amy Howe on May 12, 2025

Two labor unions and a grassroots advocacy group urged the Supreme Court on Monday to leave in place an order by a federal judge in Maryland that temporarily prohibits members of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency from accessing the records of the Social Security Administration. Lawyers for the groups told the justices that, “in a sudden and striking departure from generations of precedent spanning more than a dozen presidential administrations,” the SSA “now seeks to throw open its data systems to unauthorized (and often unvetted) personnel who have no demonstrated need for the personally identifiable information they seek.”

DOGE, which is not a cabinet-level department, was created in January by President Donald Trump to modernize government technology and cut waste and fraud. The challengers in this case went to federal court in Baltimore, Md., to contest SSA’s decision to provide access to its records to DOGE. 

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WHAT WE’RE READING

The morning read for Monday, May 12

By Ellena Erskine on May 12, 2025

Each weekday, we select a short list of news articles and commentary related to the Supreme Court. Here’s the Monday morning read:

Coming up: On Thursday, May 15, the court expects to issue one or more opinions from the current term. The justices will then hear oral arguments in Trump v. CASA. We’ll be live at 9:30 a.m. EDT for the opinions and argument.