NPR Coverage of the 2006 (-07) Term
of the US Supreme Court
updated 3 July 2007

• 2006 Term Review IV
  For decades conservatives have yearned for control of the U.S. Supreme Court.  For decades, they have been frustrated in achieving that goal, despite having as many as seven Republican appointees on the court. This term, though, conservatives seem to have reached the promised land. With new Chief Justice John Roberts at the helm and Justice Samuel Alito replacing justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the direction of the court for this term, at least, has been transformed.  Morning Edition, July 3, 2007 .

  You can also hear Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times discuss the term just passed on NPR's Fresh Air, 2 July 2007.
   

• 2006 Term Review III
  The Supreme Court wrapped up its term this week, and many of its rulings revealed a bitterly divided court. It was the first full session for the current lineup of nine justices. Weekend Edition legal affairs commentator Mimi Wesson talks to Liane Hansen about the rulings.  Weekend Edition Sunday, July 1, 2007.
   

• 2006 Term Review II
  Law professors Jeffrey Rosen and Doug Kmiec discuss decisions from the first full session of a Supreme Court that now includes Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.  All Things Considered, June 29, 2007.
   

• 2006 Term Review
  The Supreme Court wrapped up its term this week with a bang that pleased many conservatives. The court delivered decisions that limit voluntary school desegregation plans, curb student free speech rights and struck down a key provision of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.  Weekend Edition Saturday, June 30, 2007.
   

• Bring On Gitmo and MCA of 2006
  The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday reversed course, deciding to review whether Guantanamo Bay detainees may go to federal court to challenge their indefinite confinements. The Bush administration has argued that a new law strips courts of their jurisdiction to hear detainee cases.  Morning Edition, June 29, 2007.
   

• Analysis of Political Dimensions of Gitmo cert. grant
  The Supreme Court's reversal of the Guantanamo cases shows that Bush administration lawyers played the odds and lost, and that some justices have run out of patience with the administration.  All Things Considered, June 29, 2007.
   

• Court Ends Ban on Minimum Sale Prices
  The Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling allowing manufacturers to set and enforce minimum prices for their products overturns a nearly century old ban on resale price agreements in American retailing.  Morning Edition, June 29, 2007.
   

• Court Strikes Use of Race in School Assignment
  In a decision with profound implications for the nation's public schools, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated two voluntary desegregation plans because they used race in some students' school assignments in an effort to end racial isolation or prevent re-segregation.  Morning Edition, June 29, 2007.
   

• Brown 53 years on...
  Justices on both sides of the Supreme Court decision cited the landmark 1954 school desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education. But they came to very different conclusions. The history and legacy of the Brown case is discussed.  Morning Edition, June 29, 2007.
   

• New Justices, 5-4 Votes, New Directions
  The U.S. Supreme Court, with two new appointees by President Bush, is showing itself to be far more conservative and more deeply divided than in the recent past – despite Chief Justice Roberts' talk of consensus. Four out of five cases decided June 25 were 5-4 rulings.  Morning Edition, June 26, 2007.
   

• Federalism and Water Polution
  The Supreme Court sided with the Bush Administration and developers Monday, ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency may transfer authority for issuing water-pollution permits to states when states show that they can adequately enforce the Clean Water Act.  All Things Considered, June 25, 2007.
   

• Dings to Endangered Species Act
  The U.S. Supreme Court sides with developers and the Bush administration on a ruling that reduces the power of the federal Endangered Species Act. States will have greater latitude in issuing building permits and will operate with fewer federal requirements aimed at protecting endangered species.  Morning Edition, June 26, 2007.
   

• The Roberts Court and Judicial Divisiveness
  The U.S. Supreme Court, with two new appointees by President Bush, is showing itself to be far more conservative and more deeply divided than in the recent past – despite Chief Justice Roberts' talk of consensus. Four out of five cases decided June 25 were 5-4 rulings.  Morning Edition, June 26, 2007.
   

• Expression Monday
  The Supreme Court ruled Monday on three cases related to the First Amendment. It struck down limits on some campaign ads, restricted when taxpayers may sue over government aid to faith groups, and ruled against a teen and his "Bong Hits for Jesus" banner.  All Things Considered, June 25, 2007.
   

• Sentencing and Recruiting Cases
  The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that high school athletic associations may limit the kind of recruiting of student athletes that their member schools can do.

  The court also ruled that a federal sentence within the official sentencing guidelines may be presumed to be reasonable by an appeals court. That tends to hurt defendants appealing for a lower sentence, and could hurt the attempt by former White House aide I. Lewis
  Libby to delay the start of his sentence.  All Things Considered, June 21, 2007.
   

• Naked Fees
  The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that a naked peace demonstrator must pay her own attorney fees. The plaintiff, T.A. Wyner, is a naturist and outdoorswoman who wanted to put on a nude peace protest at the park on Valentine's Day.  All Things Considered, June 4, 2007.
   

• More on Discrimination Suit
  The nation's high court rules that workers who sue their employers for sex discrimination must do so promptly. The case stems from an employer who argued that the decision to pay a female employee less than her male counterparts was made years earlier. The justices agreed, setting a statute of limitations.  Morning Edition, May 30, 2007.
   

• Justice Limit Discrimination Suits
  A Supreme Court ruling Tuesday limits workers' ability to sue employers for pay discrimination that results from decisions made years earlier. The decision says employers would otherwise find it difficult to defend against claims "arising from employment decisions that are long past."  All Things Considered, May 29, 2007.
   

• Parents Can Sue Schools Sans Lawyers
  Parents of disabled children won a major victory in the U.S. Supreme Court, as the justices ruled unanimously that parents do not have to hire a lawyer to sue a school district over providing an appropriate education for a child with special needs.  All Things Considered, May 21, 2007.
   

• No Unreasonable Seizure in Police Chase Case
  The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of police officers involved in high-speed car chases that may cause unintentional injury. In an 8-to-1 decision, justices ruled that officers are protected from lawsuits filed by someone who was injured while fleeing police.  All Things Considered, April 30, 2007.
   

• McCain-Finegold Campaign Ad Issue Heard by the Supremes
  The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether certain political ads may be paid for by corporate money under the McCain-Feingold law.

  The ads name a specific candidate and run within certain time limits before an election.

  Groups who want to run the ads say their speech should not be restricted. Campaign finance reformers say the ads should be covered by the law that limits the political influence of "big money."  Morning Edition, 23 April 2007.
   

• Court Upholds Partial Birth Abortion Ban (II)
  The Supreme Court has upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, the law prohibiting an abortion procedure known medically as "intact dilation and extraction." The procedure is performed most often during the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy.  All Things Considered, April 18, 2007.
   

• Court Upholds Partial Birth Abortion Ban (I)

  The Supreme Court votes to uphold a nationwide ban on a controversial abortion procedure. In a 5-4 ruling, the court determined that the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 did not violate a woman's right to an abortion. Slate legal analyst Dahlia Lithwick talks about the landmark decision. Day to Day, April 18, 2007.

• Court Holds EPA Required to Regulate Tailpipe Emissions
  The Supreme Court stood up for the environment in two major court rulings Monday. One gives the Environmental Protection Agency the go-ahead to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The second ruling sends a rebuke to the owners of dirty coal-fired power plants.  All Things Considered, April 2, 2007.
   

• Supreme Court Denies cert in Gitmo cases
  The Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal from Guantanamo Bay detainees who want to challenge their imprisonment. The refusal to review the federal law delivered a major, though perhaps temporary, victory to the Bush administration.  All Things Considered, April 2, 2007.
   

• Philip Morris and Punitive Damages
  The nation's high court has thrown out an $80 million judgment against tobacco giant Philip Morris. Tuesday, ruling in an Oregon case, the U.S. Supreme Court said Philip Morris can't be punished for harm suffered by consumers who are not party to a lawsuit. The 5-4 ruling is a boost for corporations seeking relief from big punitive damage awards. But justices refused to impose a formula limiting damages in the future.  Morning Edition, February 21, 2007.
   

• Court Further Limits Judges' Independent Sentencing Ability
  The U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of part of California's sentencing laws means that the state will likely have to re-sentence thousands of prisoners. The court reiterated previous rulings that the constitutional right to a jury trial requires judges to sentence people based only on the factors that have been addressed by the jury.  All Things Considered, January 22, 2007
   

• Union Fees, Political Issues, and the First Amendment
  The Supreme Court hears arguments on a case challenging how unions may spend fees paid to them by nonmembers. The question: Can nonmembers decline to have those fees used for political activities?  Morning Edition, January 10, 2007.
   

• Family Members' Buttons Okay at Trial
  The Supreme Court rules that a murder conviction should not have been thrown out because the victim's family wore lapel-pin pictures of the victim to the trial.  The justices ruled that because they'd never set any precedent on the wearing of such buttons to a trial, an appeals court was not free to consider whether buttons prejudiced a jury against a defendant.  All Things Considered, December 11, 2006
   

• Oral Arguments in the Seattle and Louisville School Cases
  The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether student placement systems in Louisville, Ky., and Seattle, Wash., are acceptable ways to maintain racial diversity -- or are unacceptable quota systems. The programs are being challenged by parents whose children weren't placed in their preferred schools.  All Things Considered, December 4, 2006.
                                                                       (link to complete oral arguments are here and here)
   

• Schools and Race ... the Long Legacy of Brown v. Board
  The Supreme Court re-enters the world of school desegregation on Monday. In cases from Louisville, Ky., and Seattle, the justices will examine what, if any, steps school boards may use to ensure that schools are racially mixed.  Morning Edition, December 4, 2006.
   

• Oral Arguments in the Auto Emissions Case
  The U.S. Supreme Court tackled the question of global warming for the first time Wednesday. At issue is whether the Bush administration can refuse to regulate carbon emissions when the Clean Air Act specifically mandates regulations of all pollutants that may endanger public health or welfare, including affects on climate and weather.  All Things Considered, November 29, 2006.
   

• It's Not "Jumping Jack Flash," but It is a Gas, Gas, Gas
  Twelve states and a coalition of environmental groups sued the Bush administration in 2003 for refusing to issue regulations limiting carbon emissions from cars and power plants. On Wednesday, the case reaches the Supreme Court, where justices will hear the arguments on both sides.  Morning Edition, November 29, 2006.
   

• Patently... the Court
  A case in the Supreme Court today may determine the fate of millions of inventors' patents. A law says that an invention can't be patented if it is "obvious," but the definition of "obvious" isn't clear after decades of litigation. Now, many companies have filed briefs calling for a change to the rule.  Day to Day, November 28, 2006.
   

• More on Arguments in Stenberg
  The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. The Constitutional test is whether the ban puts a woman's health in danger.  Morning Edition, November 9, 2006.
   

• Arguments in the "Partial Birth Abortion" Cases

  The Supreme Court hears arguments on the constitutionality of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. The court had struck down a previous version of the measure on the grounds that it did not allow for doctors to use procedures they thought necessary to protect the woman's health.

  The Bush administration argues that the procedure is never necessary for the woman's health. Opponents say that doctors and their patients should be allowed to decide which procedure is best.  All Things Considered, November 8, 2006.
   

• Abortion Redux: Stenberg II... This Time It's the Feds... and a New Court
  The Supreme Court steps back into the abortion arena Wednesday. The issue is not the right to have an abortion but whether Congress can ban certain methods of abortion.  Morning Edition, November 8, 2006.
   

• The Clean Air Act and Scrubbers Go to Court
  The Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that tests whether the Clean Air Act requires power plants and factories to install anti-pollution devices when they modernize their facilities. Environmentalists contend that an adverse ruling would open a major loophole in the Clean Air Act.  Morning Edition, November 1, 2006.
   

• Oral Arguments in the Smoking Case
  The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a case to determine how high punitive damages can go when a state court finds extreme corporate misconduct. In a suit against Phillip Morris, the company was ordered to pay $79.5 million for a smoker's death.  All Things Considered, October 31, 2006.
   

• Big Tobacco and Big Damages Visit the Supremes

  Today, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that could be the culmination of a long-term effort by the business community to dramatically curtail punitive damages. At issue is conduct so venal that the Oregon courts called it outrageous and the movies satirized it in Thank You for Smoking.  Morning Edition, October 31, 2006.

  The target of the punitive damages in this case is Philip Morris, the maker of more than half the cigarettes manufactured in the United States. The company is asking the Supreme Court to invalidate a $79.5 million punitive-damage award in a case stemming from the death of one Oregon smoker.

• Deportation Rules Under Review
  The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether an immigrant can be deported for a crime that is a felony on the state level -- but a misdemeanor under federal law. At issue is not whether someone should be deported for committing a felony, but whether states may set a tougher standard for staying in the United States than does the federal government, which has the power to regulate immigration.  All Things Considered, October 3, 2006.
   

• The 2006 Docket (V)

  Supreme Court Preview: A look at the cases the court will decide in its new term, and the influence of its newest members.  The Diane Rehm Show, 2 October, 2006.
   

• The Opening of the 2006 Term of the Court (IV) Bush's Appointees in Place
  The new Supreme Court term begins with observers asking if the addition of Samuel Alito and John Roberts will lead to a string of conservative reversals of earlier opinions. With the departure of moderate justice Sandra Day O'Connor, it may now be the court that conservative politicians have been dreaming of for years.  Morning Edition, October 2, 2006.

• The 2006 Docket (III)
  Guest host Andrea Seabrook speaks with Mimi Wesson, professor of law at the University of Colorado about the Supreme Court's new session, which begins Monday.  Weekend Edition Sunday, October 1, 2006.
   

• Justice O'Connor's Conference on Judicial Independence
  Spurred by her concern over recent attacks on the courts, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been presiding over a conference on the independence of the judiciary. It brought together celebrities from the business, legal and academic worlds.  Morning Edition, September 29, 2006.
   

• The 2006 Docket (II)
  The Supreme Court returns next week for the fall term. The high court is expected to hear more than 70 cases, many on contentious issues involving abortion rights, affirmative action, deportation of illegal immigrants, sentencing guidelines, and global warming.  David Savage, Tom Goldsteir, and Paul Beard discuss.  Talk of the Nation, September 28, 2006.
   

• The 2006 Docket (I)
  The U.S. Supreme Court begins its new session next week. Slate legal analyst Dahlia Lithwick talks with Madeleine Brand about the potentially trendsetting cases the court may face in this new judicial term, including controversial cases involving abortion.  Day to Day, September 26, 2006.
   

• Okay... so this is more a throw-back to the previous term.  It is, though, insightful and of relevance down the course's road:
  'Hamdan v. Rumsfeld': Path to a Landmark Ruling
  In the jargon of the Supreme Court, we talk about "landmark cases." Some, of course, are more landmark than others. But by any yardstick, the June 2006 ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld was one for the history books. All Things Considered, September 5, 2006.