;
More developments on the mask spat -- SCOTUS issues ANOTHER statement, this one from the chief justice:
“I did not request Justice Gorsuch or any other Justice to wear a mask on the bench.”
Unlike the earlier statement, this one directly disputes the original report from NPR.
JUST IN. SCOTUS releases a short joint statement from Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch:
"Reporting that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask surprised us. It is false. While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends."
This is an odd statement because I'm not aware of any reporting that said Sotomayor asked Gorsuch to wear a mask. @NinaTotenberg's story reported that ROBERTS, not Sotomayor, asked all justices to mask up. @Arianedevogue's story this a.m. also did not say that Sotomayor asked. https://twitter.com/SCOTUSblog/status/1483841138079453188
JUST IN. SCOTUS releases a short joint statement from Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch:
"Reporting that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask surprised us. It is false. While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends."
JUST IN. SCOTUS releases a short joint statement from Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch:
"Reporting that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask surprised us. It is false. While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends."
Today at SCOTUS: Two oral arguments. One is a challenge to a campaign-finance law brought by Sen. Ted Cruz. The other involves the operation of the 2018 First Step Act, which allows people who received harsh sentences under an old drug law to request reduced sentences.
Here's today's order list: https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/011822zor_5iel.pdf
The court doesn't add any new cases to its docket, and takes no action on major pending petitions involving affirmative action in higher education & religious objections to nondiscrimination laws meant to protect LGBTQ people.
As she did last week, Sonia Sotomayor will participate in this week's arguments remotely, SCOTUS says. @NinaTotenberg reported this morning that Sotomayor's decision is the result of Neil Gorsuch's refusal to wear a mask on the bench. All other justices have agreed to wear masks.
