U.S. Supreme Court

In Brief

The Supreme Court of the United States is the nation's highest judicial body. Its nine justices serve life terms and are appointed by the president of the United States with the concurrence of the U.S. Senate. The nomination and confirmation of new justices is always accompanied by political maneuvering and sometimes heated debates as the high court's rulings can fundamentally influence many aspects of American social, political and economic life. Brookings experts examine many of the political and procedural issues connected to the court.

Voting rights activists gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington February 27, 2013. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will consider whether to strike down a key provision of a federal law designed to protect minority voters. During the one-hour oral argument, the nine justices will hear the claim made by officials from Shelby County, Alabama, that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is no longer needed

REUTERS/Gary Cameron - Voting rights activists gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington February 27, 2013. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will consider whether to strike down a key provision of a federal law designed to protect minority voters. During the one-hour oral argument, the nine justices will hear the claim made by officials from Shelby County, Alabama, that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is no longer needed

Past Event | Strengthening American Democracy

Voting Rights after Shelby County v. Holder

July 1, 2013

On July 1, the Governance Studies Program at Brookings hosted a discussion and webcast focused on the Court’s ruling. The discussion featured scholars of the Voting Rights Act, the parties in the case, experts from Capitol Hill, representatives from the civil rights community, and members of the media for a series of discussions on the ruling, its impact on voting rights and election administration, and prospects for future legislative action.

Recent Activity

Refine by: U.S. Judiciary | Courts | U.S. Politics | Law and Justice

In the News

I have no doubt the next president will decide what happens to Roe v. Wade by his appointments to the Supreme Court.
October 3, 2012, Elisabeth Jacobs, Glamour
Expert Q & A

Preview of New Supreme Court Term

September 28, 2012, Russell Wheeler
In the News

[Mitt Romney] belongs to a very conservative party that hates this [health care] bill, many members of which have sworn that they’d rather eat ground glass than let this law go forward. But there is the conflicting problem of, ‘If you break it, you own it.’ [He will own] anything that goes wrong with the health-care system down the road.
July 10, 2012, Henry J. Aaron, Washington Post
In the News

…[D]on't be too surprised if [Chief Justice] Roberts [in his] next terms looks like a conservative again. He actually did not stray very far from where the other four conservatives ended up in this [ACA] case — just over a consequential line.
July 1, 2012, Benjamin Wittes, Bloomberg Businessweek
In the News

Public opinion on the [health care law] has been remarkably stable for two years, and I don’t think anything the president says (or Romney, for that matter) will make much of a difference. Only direct experience of the Act’s effects will change people’s minds, or alternatively, confirm them.
June 29, 2012, William A. Galston, Real Clear Politics Blog
Expert Q & A | Henry J. Aaron

Supreme Court Decides Affordable Care Act Is Constitutional

June 28, 2012, Henry J. Aaron
Interview | NPR News

Does Court's Rule Put End To Health Care Battle?

June 28, 2012, Kavita Patel
In the News

The irony of the Supreme Court's decision is that this will make little difference in the presidential election outcome in that the number one issue is the economy, remains the economy, with any number two issue back in the dust.
June 28, 2012, Stephen Hess, The Brookings Institution
In the News

It’s a huge victory for patients and everything about this law that patients really enjoy and have an opportunity to enjoy in the future have been critical to the ruling today.
June 28, 2012, Kavita Patel, National Public Radio
In the News

The Supreme Court decision [on the Arizona immigration law] puts the onus back on Congress, but it doesn't dissolve the political and ideological differences that were keeping Republicans and Democrats from coming to a melding of the minds on immigration in the first place.
June 25, 2012, Sarah A. Binder, U.S. News & World Report