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Waiting for the Supreme Court's Big Rulings
This is the time of year when the Supreme Court usually makes big decisions. So what are they waiting for?
Emily Bazelon, New York Times Magazine staff writer and panelist on Slate's Political Gabfest, explained what might be holding up the rulings.
Two of the three big cases involve all 8 of the judges (abortion and the constitutionality of Obama's deportation relief). If there was a 4-4 tie, the court would have fairly quickly written up a statement upholding the lower courts' rulings. So the fact that we haven't gotten those decisions yet suggests there's a majority of some kind.
The third big case is on affirmative action, and Bazelon says we've been waiting for that ruling since the fall.
She also commented on the Stanford rape case, in which Brock Turner was found guilty of three felony counts and sentenced to only six months in a county jail.
Bazelon said she gets nervous when the internet shaming machine really gets going and one case comes to stand for a whole set of frustrations in the culture, because it usually moves from justice for a particular case to a form of scapegoating.
My thoughts on Stanford rape case -- the conviction (NOT sentence) represents progress, but more work to do https://t.co/Q7iTeYIiXS
— Emily Bazelon (@emilybazelon) June 9, 2016