Sunday February 12, 2012

Welcome   |   Register   |   Log in

U.S. Supreme Court

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhy the Supreme Court GPS Decision Won't Stop Warrantless Digital Surveillance

John Villasenor, January 25, 2012, Scientific American

Why the Supreme Court GPS Decision Won't Stop Warrantless Digital SurveillanceJohn Villasenor explains the January 23 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that bans warrantless digital surveillance from GPS-enabled technology. Read More

Technology and Development, Telecommunications, Technology, U.S. Judiciary, U.S. Supreme Court

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioSizing Up the Obama Administration's Defense of the Health Reform Law

Henry J. Aaron, January 09, 2012, National Journal

Sizing Up the Obama Administration's Defense of the Health Reform LawHenry Aaron discusses the legal arguments around the Affordable Care Act's insurance mandate, summarizing the arguments that the government has used in defense of the act in lower courts, and predicting the how and why the Supreme Court will reach a decision regarding the mandate's constitutionality. Read More

Health Care, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Constitutional Issues, U.S. Economy, U.S. Politics

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhat’s So Hard About Regulating Supreme Court Justices’ Ethics? — A Lot

Russell Wheeler, November 28, 2011, The Brookings Institution

What’s So Hard About Regulating Supreme Court Justices’ Ethics? — A LotThe Supreme Court’s decision to hear a challenge to the health care law has led to recusal calls for Justices Thomas and Kagen. Russell Wheeler summarizes the principal sources of federal judicial ethics regulations, analyzes the possible impact of proposals to tighten ethical constraints, and envisions the justices’ courses of action. Read More

U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Judiciary, Judges, Courts

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWeb Chat: Supreme Court Set to Rule on Health Care Reform Bill

Russell Wheeler, November 16, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Web Chat: Supreme Court Set to Rule on Health Care Reform BillThe Supreme Court recently announced that it would hear arguments on the sweeping changes enacted by the 2010 Affordable Care Act. On November 16, Russ Wheeler took your questions regarding the future of the law in a live web chat moderated by POLITICO. Read More

U.S. Supreme Court, Health Care, Elections, Politics

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioSupreme Court Considers GPS Cases and the Future of Privacy

John Villasenor, November 08, 2011, Scientific American

Supreme Court Considers GPS Cases and the Future of PrivacyReviewing an upcoming Supreme Court case that will discuss the handling of information from mobile devices, John Villasenor writes that any decision is complicated by the fact that technology and cultural expectations regarding privacy are changing quickly. Villasenor examines how the government should deal with the difficulties inherent in balancing privacy and security. Read More

Technology, U.S. Supreme Court, Justice and Law, Information Technology

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWeb Chat: The Supreme Court and the Presidential Race

Russell Wheeler, October 12, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Web Chat: The Supreme Court and the Presidential RaceOn October 12, Russ Wheeler took your questions in a live chat moderated by POLITICO on how upcoming Supreme Court cases will impact the presidential race. Read More

U.S. Supreme Court, The Presidency, U.S. Politics, Elections

VIDEO

Save to My Portfolio@ Brookings Podcast: The Supreme Court and the Presidential Election

Russell Wheeler, October 07, 2011

@ Brookings Podcast: The Supreme Court and the Presidential ElectionAmong the cases to be heard this year by the Supreme Court are several hot-button issues sure to roil the debate in the presidential election. Russell Wheeler explains their significance.

Governance, U.S. Supreme Court, Immigration, Health Care, Elections

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioA Consistent Narrative of Jurisprudence

Benjamin Wittes, July 25, 2011, The Brookings Institution

A Consistent Narrative of JurisprudenceAt a recent event, Benjamin Wittes discussed the intersection between the courts and politics in the United States, stating that over the past several decades conservatives have created a remarkably consistent view of what the role of the judiciary is. Read More

U.S. Judiciary, U.S. Supreme Court, Justice and Law, U.S. Constitutional Issues

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioProgressive Visions of Jurisprudence: A Debate

Monday, July 18, 2011
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC

Progressive Visions of Jurisprudence: A DebateOn July 18, Brookings hosted a debate between two competing visions of liberal jurisprudence for the Supreme Court and federal judiciary—one arguing that the principles set forth in the Constitution do not change, but that interpretation must evolve over time and the other asserting that progressive values are inherent in the Constitution’s text, history and structure, and that liberals should base their constitutional arguments, first and foremost, on text. Read More

U.S. Supreme Court, Justice and Law, U.S. Judiciary, U.S. Constitutional Issues

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioRegulating the Ethics of Supreme Court Justices?

Russell Wheeler, March 21, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Regulating the Ethics of Supreme Court Justices?Russell Wheeler argues against proposals set forth recently by The New York Times and The Washington Post that called for the application of the U.S. Judicial Conference’s Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges to members of the Supreme Court as a new means of hastening Justices’ recusals and enforcing judicial ethics. As Wheeler sees it, these proposals are likely unconstitutional in part and rest on basic factual misunderstandings about federal judicial ethics regulation, thus creating a “cure-worse-than-the-disease” situation. Read More

Judges, U.S. Judiciary, U.S. Supreme Court, Courts

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioIs Filtering Censorship? The Second Free Speech Tradition

Tim Wu, December 27, 2010, The Brookings Institution

Is Filtering Censorship? The Second Free Speech Tradition According to Tim Wu, anyone who wants to understand free speech in America in the 21st Century needs to needs to know how the concept has expanded over time. A second tradition, dating from 1910 or the 1940s, goes beyond free speech as defined by the First Amendment, as it takes into account the actions of concentrated, private intermediaries who control the technology of mass communications. Read More

U.S. Constitutional Issues, Justice and Law, U.S. Supreme Court, Judges

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioTranslating and Transforming the Future

Lawrence Lessig, December 17, 2010, The Brookings Institution

Translating and Transforming the FuturePredicting the future in constitutional law is so difficult because of constitutional interpretation, writes Lawrence Lessig. Constitutional meaning comes just as much from what everyone knows is true (both then and now) as from what the Framers actually wrote. Yet “what everyone knows is true” changes over time, and in ways that it is impossible to predict, even if quite possible to affect. Read More

U.S. Constitutional Issues, Justice and Law, U.S. Supreme Court, Judges

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioIs the Fourth Amendment Relevant in a Technological Age?

Christopher Slobogin, December 08, 2010, The Brookings Institution

Is the Fourth Amendment Relevant in a Technological Age?To date, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fourth Amendment has both failed to anticipate and continued to ignore virtual searches or investigative techniques that do not require physical access to premises, people, papers or effects and that can often be carried out covertly from far away, thereby undermining citizen protections, writes Christopher Slobogin. Read More

U.S. Constitutional Issues, Justice and Law, Courts, U.S. Supreme Court, Civil Liberties

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Cyberthreat, Government Network Operations, and the Fourth Amendment

Jack Goldsmith, December 08, 2010, The Brookings Institution

The Cyberthreat, Government Network Operations, and the Fourth AmendmentTo meet the threat of a cyber attack, Jack Goldsmith imagines that sometime in the near future the government mandates the use of a government-coordinated intrusion-prevention system throughout the domestic network to monitor all communications, including private ones. Although such a program would be controversial, Goldsmith argues that massive government snooping in the network can be lawful and deemed consistent with the U.S. Constitution, including the Fourth Amendment, if proper and credible safeguards are put in place. Read More

U.S. Constitutional Issues, Justice and Law, U.S. Supreme Court, Technology, Telecommunications

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioMaking Our Democracy Work: A Conversation with Justice Stephen G. Breyer

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Washington, DC

Paul MorigiU.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer's new book, Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge's View, aims to elevate the public's understanding of the Supreme Court and its political and societal impact. The Brookings Judicial Issues Forum hosted a discussion with Justice Breyer about the history of the Supreme Court and its efforts to apply constitutional values to current issues. Read More

U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Judiciary, Justice and Law, Judges, Courts

In Brief

The Supreme Court of the United States is the nation's highest judicial body. It's 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.

Featured Experts

Sarah A. Binder

Sarah A. Binder

Senior Fellow, Governance Studies

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics. Her work includes studies of the politics of the Senate filibuster, the causes and consequences of legislative gridlock, and the politics and practice of advice and consent for selecting federal judges. Her current project focuses on Congress’s response to financial crisis, including a study of Congress’s relationship with the Federal Reserve.
Read More

Russell Wheeler

Russell Wheeler

Visiting Fellow, Governance Studies

Russell Wheeler is an expert on various aspects of U.S. courts, especially federal courts, including the selection of judges; the relationship between those courts and the other branches of government, and with the press; and ethical constraints on judicial behavior. His current research includes as well the structure and operation of the immigration courts in the Department of Justice. He is a former deputy director of the Federal Judicial Center, research and education agency for the federal court system.
Read More

William A. Galston

William A. Galston

Senior Fellow, Governance Studies
The Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies

A former policy advisor to President Clinton and presidential candidates, Bill Galston is an expert on domestic policy, political campaigns, and elections. His current research focuses on designing a new social contract and the implications of political polarization.
Read More

Benjamin Wittes

Benjamin Wittes

Senior Fellow, Governance Studies

Benjamin Wittes focuses on legal issues surrounding the war on terrorism and national security, judicial nominations and confirmations, and the federal courts.
Read More

View All Experts on U.S. Supreme Court »

Advanced Search | Tips

My Portfolio

My New Content

View suggested content based on items you have saved to your Portfolio.
Log in or register now

Related Topics

View All Topics »

Related Initiatives

View All Initiatives »

Spotlight

John L. Thornton China CenterPolicy CenterJohn L. Thornton China Center

The John L. Thornton China Center develops analysis and policy recommendations to help address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

Africa Growth InitiativeResearch ProjectAfrica Growth Initiative

The Africa Growth Initiative conducts high-quality policy research and analysis focused on attaining sustainable economic development and prosperity in Africa, while amplifying the voice of African researchers in policy-making and planning.

Alice M. RivlinExpertAlice M. Rivlin

In February 1975, the Congressional Budget Office was established with Alice Rivlin as its first director. Rivlin is an expert on urban issues as well as fiscal, monetary and social policy and directs the Greater Washington Research project at Brookings.

William G. GaleExpertWilliam G. Gale

Bill Gale, the Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy in the Economic Studies Program at Brookings, is an expert on tax policy, fiscal issues, pensions, and saving behavior. He is also co-director of the Tax Policy Center and director of the Retirement Security Project.

Budgeting for National PrioritiesResearch ProjectBudgeting for National Priorities

The Budgeting for National Priorities project promotes greater fiscal responsibility by developing new ideas, educating the public and finding common ground among experts and policy-makers.

State of Metropolitan AmericaMetropolitan Policy ProgramState of Metropolitan America

Foreshadowing 2010 Census results, this new Brookings report and interactive map defines who Americans are—and who they are becoming—in the face of continued growth, population aging and diversification, uneven educational attainment and income polarization.

Darrell M. WestExpertDarrell M. West

Darrell M. West is vice president and director of Governance Studies and founding director of the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings. His studies include technology policy, electronic government, and mass media.

Energy and ClimateTopicEnergy and Climate

What will it take to mitigate severe climate disruption? What should our priorities be in the relationship between fresh water and climate change? What will it take to help vulnerable countries and regions adapt to change already taking place?

Katherine SierraExpertKatherine Sierra

Katherine Sierra is a senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development program. A former vice president for sustainable development at the World Bank, she focuses on climate change and energy.

Global ChangeTopicGlobal Change

How do we develop more realistic approaches and more effective means of ending intractable old conflicts and preventing new ones? How do we enhance measures to thwart nonstate actors—especially terrorists and illicit traffickers—and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons?

Vanda Felbab-BrownExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is the author of Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs (Brookings Institution Press, 2009).

Growth through InnovationTopicGrowth through Innovation

What new practices and mechanisms will help prevent another economic downturn from turning into a financial panic that could become a truly global meltdown? What changes in the public and private sectors will build the workforce and infrastructure required for a global information-based economy?

Opportunity and Well-beingTopicOpportunity and Well-being

As they weather the current economic storm, will our governments and societies address the basic needs and aspirations of the least well-off? How can we better use education to raise individual aspirations? How should governments around the world accelerate preparations to provide social services for the billions moving from poverty into the middle class?

Shadi HamidExpertShadi Hamid

Shadi Hamid focuses on Islamist political parties and democratic reform in the Middle East. Prior to joining Brookings, he was Director of Research at the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and a Hewlett Fellow at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.

Center for Technology InnovationPolicy CenterCenter for Technology Innovation

The Center for Technology Innovation is at the forefront of shaping public debate on technology innovation and developing data-driven scholarship to enhance understanding of technology’s legal, economic, social, and governance ramifications.

Robert KaganExpertRobert Kagan

Robert Kagan is an expert and frequent commentator on Egypt, the Middle East, U.S. national security, and U.S.-European relations. He writes a monthly column on world affairs for the Washington Post and is a contributing editor at the Weekly Standard and the New Republic.

Center on Children and FamiliesPolicy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

Daniel KaufmannExpertDaniel Kaufmann

Daniel Kaufmann was previously the director at the World Bank Institute, leading the work on governance and anti-corruption. His areas of expertise are public sector and regulatory reform, development, governance and anti-corruption.

Suzanne MaloneyExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

Mwangi S. KimenyiExpertMwangi S. Kimenyi

Mwangi S. Kimenyi is senior fellow and director of the Africa Growth Initiative. The founding executive director of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (1999-2005), he focuses on Africa's development including institutions for economic growth, political economy, and private sector development.

Donald KohnExpertDonald Kohn

Donald Kohn is a 40-year veteran of the Federal Reserve System and served as vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2010. He was recently appointed by the government of the United Kingdom and the Bank of England to serve on its interim Financial Policy Committee. Kohn focuses on issues of monetary policy, financial regulation and macroeconomics.

Isabel V. SawhillExpertIsabel V. Sawhill

A nationally known budget expert, Isabel Sawhill focuses on domestic poverty and federal fiscal policy. She is also co-director of the Center on Children and Families and the Budgeting for National Priorities Project at Brookings.

Brookings Mobile ApplicationsNEW FEATUREBrookings Mobile Applications

Stay up-to-date with our independent, high-quality research, learn about Brookings events and search our directory of experts all from your BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone or Android device.