Introduction
Supporters and opponents of the Affordable Care Act demonstrate at the Supreme Court on March 26, 2012. The court's surprise decision to uphold the health care law on June 28 — with Chief Justice Roberts voting with the court's liberal bloc — focused new attention on the high court. (Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)
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The Supreme Court opens a new term on Oct. 1 with a major affirmative action case from the University of Texas set for argument the next week. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. is starting his eighth year on a court that is divided on many issues between five generally conservative Republican appointees and four liberal Democratic appointees. Court watchers are still debating the implications of Roberts' surprising vote in late June to join the liberal bloc in upholding President Obama's controversial health care law. Despite that decision, liberal critics continue to accuse the Roberts Court of political decision making, judicial activism and a pro-business orientation. The court's defenders say the justices are acting without regard to politics and following judicial restraint. Besides the affirmative action case, the justices may also tackle marriage equality and voting rights cases before the term ends next June.
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Dec. 16, 2022 |
The Supreme Court |
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Sep. 28, 2012 |
Supreme Court Controversies |
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May 13, 2011 |
Class Action Lawsuits |
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Jan. 28, 2005 |
Supreme Court's Future |
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Sep. 17, 1993 |
Supreme Court Preview |
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Aug. 14, 1987 |
Supreme Court Nomination |
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Sep. 26, 1986 |
The Rehnquist Court |
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Oct. 26, 1979 |
Supreme Court and the Press |
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Sep. 22, 1978 |
Burger Court's Tenth Year |
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Jun. 24, 1977 |
Politics and the Federal Courts |
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Oct. 09, 1968 |
Challenging of Supreme Court |
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Sep. 28, 1966 |
Supreme Court: Legal Storm Center |
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Jan. 22, 1958 |
Criminal Prosecution and the Supreme Court |
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Jan. 23, 1952 |
Judges in Politics |
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Jun. 05, 1939 |
Supreme Court Decisions, 1938–39 |
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Nov. 17, 1938 |
Supreme Court Appointments |
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May 31, 1938 |
Supreme Court Decisions, 1937–38 |
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Jun. 01, 1937 |
Supreme Court Decisions, 1936–37 |
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Jun. 01, 1936 |
Decisions of the Supreme Court, 1935-36 |
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Jun. 05, 1933 |
Decisions of the Supreme Court, 1932-33 |
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Jun. 04, 1932 |
Decisions of the Supreme Court, 1931–32 |
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Jun. 06, 1931 |
Decisions of the Supreme Court, 1930–31 |
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Jun. 09, 1930 |
Decisions of the Supreme Court, 1929–30 |
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Jun. 10, 1929 |
Decisions of the Supreme Court, 1928-29 |
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Jun. 09, 1928 |
Decisions of the Supreme Court 1927–28 |
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Sep. 27, 1924 |
The Supreme Court Issue |
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