Live blog of opinions - Thursday, July 9, 2020

We will be live-blogging on Thursday, July 9, as the court releases the final opinions from the 2019-2020 term. SCOTUSblog is sponsored by Casetext: making litigation more efficient with A.I. and machine learning technology.

For a list of answers to frequently asked questions during our live blogs, click here.

3rd & 7 37yd

If a justice were to retire and the hiring process for clerks for them is in progress/advancing/completed, what happens to those clerk applicant/hires?

by Sean 7/9/2020 1:41:35 PM
How are we doing today SCOTUSblog?

by Isaac 7/9/2020 1:41:50 PM
The top people on Trump's list are Amal Thapur and Amy Coney Barrett. If Alito does retire it would be Thapur to replace him. Thapur is not controversial and would have a relatively easy time in the Republican Senate

by TY from CA 7/9/2020 1:42:07 PM
In the first opinion of Christmas, my Chief Justice gave to me, a ruling re: Indian Territory

In the second opinion of Christmas, my Chief Justice gave to me, a peek at Trump's ten-forty

In the third opinion of Christmas, my Chief Justice gave to me, an indictment from Albany

by JCarberry 7/9/2020 1:42:22 PM
How many were online for the Sebelius decision?

by Rob 7/9/2020 1:42:46 PM
This Tulsa attorney is ready for McGirt to be decided. A lot of uncertainty in the legal field here.

by Penni 7/9/2020 1:42:59 PM
Do the parties get advance notice of the decisions. Trump has tweeted PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT and PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT this morning, so perhaps he knows something.

by Martin UK 7/9/2020 1:43:23 PM
my first live blog hi to Stephen Wermiel we met at a Washington Council on Lawyers talk on your book about ten years ago if you remember. Hope Justice Roberts upholds the rulings of the lower courts today

by Mike M 7/9/2020 1:43:27 PM
Amul Thapar would be first Asian-American on SCOTUS. Could be a good political move for Trump...

by kramartini 7/9/2020 1:43:38 PM
Yeah, you KNOW the Indian case will be announced first because that's the lesser of the three cases people are looking for today. (No disrespect to those involved.)

by Darkstar7646 7/9/2020 1:44:02 PM
The GWU "Courts and Congress" class is back in the house. We'll be discussing SCOTUS legitimacy using today's opinions as a backdrop.

by Jeremy 7/9/2020 1:44:37 PM
With the high ratings that always attend the SCOTUS season finale, I really hope there are no image-filled appendices today.
(Yup, that's a callback to an opinion that was issued less than a month ago but feels like years in the past.)

by Ike 7/9/2020 1:45:00 PM
If multiple opinions are written by the same justice, how is the determination made on which one gets released first?

by Daniel 7/9/2020 1:45:29 PM
@Darkstar7646 - Announcement order depends on authorship, not "importance"

by Andy 7/9/2020 1:45:40 PM
Just crossed 10,000. Thanks for being here, everyone.

by Kalvis Golde 7/9/2020 1:45:50 PM
From the stat pack on the circuit scorecard, the first circuit had a rough year. No affirms.

by Timothy 7/9/2020 1:45:54 PM
I remember being at my desk at a summer internship for the ACA ruling in 2012, sneaking looks at the live blog and holding my breath the entire time. I've enjoyed following the live blog for major decisions since then, thank you for all that you do :). How many people were on the live blog that day for the ACA ruling?

by Jessica 7/9/2020 1:47:05 PM
If Alito retires can the Dems do anything to delay until 2021?

by Dom in MD 7/9/2020 1:47:24 PM
Well, I'll say this about visiting this blog the past few months: I've learned way more about how the Supreme Court operates than I ever expected. Will do wonders at trivia nights. Thanks SCOTUSBlog.

by Alexia 7/9/2020 1:47:45 PM
Chief Justice Roberts is among the majority in 60 of 61 cases this term so far. Could be 63 of 64 today.

by Ernest 7/9/2020 1:48:39 PM
Lots of questions about opinion authorship. Roberts, Breyer, Sotomayor and Gorsuch do not have opinions for May, but Gorsuch (unlike the other three) already has six opinions for the term, so theoretically he would not have an opinion from March. But all bets are off in 2020.

by Amy Howe 7/9/2020 1:48:46 PM
Jessica, I was doing the same thing that day. I remember it vividly.

by John 7/9/2020 1:49:06 PM
Often in a truly wonderful endeavor someone in the background, where humility reigns, does not receive the recognition she truly deserves. I offer my first post as a sincere Thank You to Edith. I am sure I'll never know the quality or quantity of your effort, but I am quite confident I enjoy this blog so much as a result of your significant contribution. Enjoy retirement and your future opportunities!

by RW 7/9/2020 1:49:25 PM
If Edith Roberts (no relation) is really retiring -- really? -- I for one am sad to see her go. She has been a huge part of SCOTUSblog's success in recent years! An amazingly gracious, fast, and right, Editor!

by Rory Little 7/9/2020 1:49:26 PM
The number of opinions this year will barely break 60 vs ~75 in the past few years. How much has COVID impacted the number of cases they heard?

by Esqueer 7/9/2020 1:49:56 PM
Was Sonia Sotomayor an ADA in New York before she became a judge? Was she in the office Vance now leads?

by Joseph 7/9/2020 1:50:08 PM
For the newbie, are decisions released all at once or in some random order at random times?

by Mel 7/9/2020 1:51:18 PM
@Mark Walsh - Robert Morgenthau!

by Nate 7/9/2020 1:52:13 PM
In the event of a possibly retirement will SCOTUS blog be on a bit longer just in case?

by Kevin 7/9/2020 1:52:37 PM
Under 10 minutes to go. Preparing to scream inside my heart.

by JayHS 7/9/2020 1:52:54 PM
Opinions are chosen first on talent, then evening gown, swimsuit, and personality interview...

by 646guy 7/9/2020 1:53:00 PM
Hi from France

by Pierre 7/9/2020 1:53:12 PM
If two justices are appointed at once - who becomes the junior?

by Oistein 7/9/2020 1:53:24 PM
Amy, it was a nice surprise to see you on MSNBC yesterday!

by Tyler 7/9/2020 1:53:27 PM
Still would be shocked to see an Alito or Thomas retirement

by Pure Applesauce 7/9/2020 1:53:34 PM
Do you all start drafts of your coverage articles before the opinions drop just to be able to release them more quickly?

by Terry 7/9/2020 1:54:05 PM
@Olstein, the one whose confirmation vote occurred second.

by dmcesq 7/9/2020 1:54:29 PM
@Pierre! Hi from Mexico! Love getting my constitutional law fix during the SCOTUS season through SCOTUSBlog!! Thanks to you all!

by Scott 7/9/2020 1:54:41 PM
And for the last time this term, the 5-minute buzzer is virtually buzzing.

by Mark Walsh 7/9/2020 1:55:22 PM
England calling....fingers crossed.

by Ivan W 7/9/2020 1:55:52 PM
When was the last time a justice retired in the middle of a term rather than the end?

by Maryland watcher 7/9/2020 1:55:55 PM
A Thomas or Alito retirement would not change the ideological balance on the Court. I'm not sure it would make a political difference to retire other than for their personal choice.

by Eric 7/9/2020 1:55:58 PM
15,000. Will continue to keep an eye on the watcher count.

by Kalvis Golde 7/9/2020 1:56:18 PM
So, McGirt and Sharp will be released as one opinion or separate opinions?

by Curiously Confused 7/9/2020 1:56:36 PM
@eric you get a younger justice by maybe 15 years, which can be important politically

by Dean 7/9/2020 1:56:53 PM

Cases granted for this term	31
Cases argued	0
Cases decided	0
Summary reversals	0
Cases granted for next term	0

Editor's Note :

Scribble

Live blog of opinions - Thursday, July 9, 2020

Featured Posts

Symposium: Ginsburg was a champion of voting rights, but mostly in dissent – Richard Hasen

Case preview: In newest chapter in long-running water dispute, court will hear first-ever challenge to ruling by interstate river master – Reed Benson

“What would Ruth do?”: A feminist pioneer on what Justice Ginsburg meant to her – Gloria Steinem

Sponsored by Casetext

SCOTUStalk see all

Email Digest Sign-Up

Merits Case Pages and Archives

This Week at the Court

Statistical Snapshot

Twitter Feed

Calendar: September 2020

Labor Day

Conference

Download our Apple or Android App

Videos see all

Peabody Award

Sigma Delta Chi

National Press Club Award

Silver Gavel Award

American Gavel Award

Webby Award

Editor's Note :

Scribble

Live blog of opinions - Thursday, July 9, 2020

Featured Posts

Symposium: Ginsburg was a champion of voting rights, but mostly in dissent – Richard Hasen

Case preview: In newest chapter in long-running water dispute, court will hear first-ever challenge to ruling by interstate river master – Reed Benson

“What would Ruth do?”: A feminist pioneer on what Justice Ginsburg meant to her – Gloria Steinem

Sponsored by Casetext

SCOTUStalk see all

Email Digest Sign-Up

Merits Case Pages and Archives

This Week at the Court

Statistical Snapshot

Twitter Feed

Calendar: September 2020

Sept. 2020

Labor Day

Conference

Download our Apple or Android App

Videos see all

Peabody Award

Sigma Delta Chi

National Press Club Award

Silver Gavel Award

American Gavel Award

Webby Award