Share this @internewscast.com

The Supreme Court’s Chief Justice John Roberts has become the Court’s swing vote and is now influencing which cases don’t get picked up – including new ones on guns. 

CNN‘s Joan Biskupic, a longtime SCOTUS biographer, came out with a deep-dive about Roberts on Monday and reported that the court’s four conservative justices now believe that Roberts won’t be helpful to them on the issue of gun rights so have decided to steer clear of the issue.      

Biskupic also said that it was Roberts who was calling the shots on how the Court would handle arguments amid the coronavirus pandemic, refusing to use video software like Zoom.  

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts flexed his power this term, influencing the conservatives not to try and bring a gun rights case forward because he was no longer a reliable vote on their side

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts flexed his power this term, influencing the conservatives not to try and bring a gun rights case forward because he was no longer a reliable vote on their side

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts flexed his power this term, influencing the conservatives not to try and bring a gun rights case forward because he was no longer a reliable vote on their side 

Roberts, according to reporting from CNN, also decided that the Court wouldn't hold COVID era meetings over Zoom, with hearings held over telephone instead

Roberts, according to reporting from CNN, also decided that the Court wouldn't hold COVID era meetings over Zoom, with hearings held over telephone instead

Roberts, according to reporting from CNN, also decided that the Court wouldn’t hold COVID era meetings over Zoom, with hearings held over telephone instead 

Instead the court held arguments over telephone. 

It was Roberts who came up with the plan for how the justices would question lawyers. 

In traditional court, justices can insert themselves at any moment and try to pick away at the presenter’s arguments.

Not so for the COVID era, as justices took turns by seniority, with Roberts – as chief justice – going first. 

At the end of arguments, justices could ask follow-ups, which could get messy if several tried to speak up at once.  

Biskupic’s broader point was that the COVID-19 crisis and how the court handled it was also a show of how Roberts was flexing his power. 

He had done so all term, making moves like saving the Obama-era program DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which gave so-called ‘DREAMers’ a legal way to stay in the United States.  

But on guns, Roberts’ influence was different, because he actually prevented the conservative wing – comprised of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas – from advocating the Court take up more cases. 

While Roberts had voted with the conservatives in 2008 and 2010 on guns he ‘more recently seemed to balk at the fractious issue,’ Biskupic wrote. 

It takes four justices to select a case they want to hear, but five for a majority ruling.  

Sources told CNN that the justices on the right couldn’t count on Roberts as a reliable fifth vote on the gun issue so they stopped pressing to hear them.    

Liberals have historically been for restricting firearms usage and sales, while conservatives have interpreted the Second Amendment as giving them more freedoms.

Source:

Share this @internewscast.com
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

‘Non-Binary’ Author of Book About Trans 4th Grader: ‘Parental Rights Really Anger Me’

Alex Gino, a so-called “non-binary” author of a book about a transgender…

Top 2024 presidential contenders headed to the picket lines

() — Top 2024 presidential contenders are headed to the picket lines,…

Polish Ambassador Demands Canada Apologise Over Nazi ‘Hero’ Scandal

Witold Dzielski, the Ambassador of Poland to Canada, proclaimed that Poland is the…

Buckingham Palace denies reports that King Charles could be forced to let Prince Harry stay in Kensington Palace the next time he visits the UK to avoid stripping the Duke of his Counsellor-of-State duties'

Buckingham Palace has denied reports that King Charles could be forced to…

Writers Guild and Hollywood studios reach tentative agreement to end strike. No deal yet for actors

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Union leaders and Hollywood studios reached a tentative…

Newborn baby in Kentucky is dubbed 'Mini Hulk' after lymphangioma condition left her with bulging arms and torso

A newborn has been nicknamed ‘baby hulk’ after a rare condition caused…

Sen. Bob Menendez Claims He Withdrew ‘Thousands of Dollars in Cash’ in Last 30 Years

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) claimed Monday morning he has withdrawn “thousands of…

East London turns into mass dumping ground with rubbish overflowing on the streets as Lord Alan Sugar and famous Brick Lane bagel shop slam council after refuse workers go on bin strike in row over pay

Huge piles of rubbish are overflowing on the streets of east London as council…

Clinton warns Putin will try to meddle in 2024 election

Hillary Clinton warned Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will try to…

Patrick Schweitzer Appointed CEO Of Red Production Company

Studiocanal has named Patrick Schweitzer as CEO of its UK-based It’s a…

Trump Poses with Commemorative Glock Ahead of Campaign Speech

Former President Donald Trump posed with a commemorative Glock handgun while in…

Vermont Man Pleads Not Guilty In Connection With Death Of Treat Williams – Update

UPDATED, 10:07 AM: Ryan Koss pleaded not guilty Monday in connection with…