Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has published an opinion piece in support of Justice Samuel Alito questioning same-sex marriage. Both had voted against the ruling in 2015 that permitted same-sex marriage.
Thomas stated that "those with sincere religious beliefs about marriage now find it increasingly difficult to be a part of society. The verdict would label those who believe that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman as fanatics. And this although they would only refuse to bend their religious attitudes to current legal beliefs".
Hundreds of people have gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Friday night to mourn the death of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
US Supreme Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she has been receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of liver cancer, but assured she was "fully able" to continue her post.
Her statement read as followed: "On May 19, I began a course of chemotherapy (gemcitabine) to treat a recurrence of cancer. A periodic scan in February followed by a biopsy revealed lesions on my liver. My recent hospitalizations to remove gall stones and treat an infection were unrelated to this recurrence.
Immunotherapy first essayed proved unsuccessful. The chemotherapy course, however, is yielding positive results. Satisfied that my treatment course is now clear, I am providing this information.
My most recent scan on July 7 indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease. I am tolerating chemotherapy well and am encouraged by the success of my current treatment. I will continue bi-weekly chemotherapy to keep my cancer at bay, and am able to maintain an active daily routine. Throughout, I have kept up with opinion writing and all other Court work. I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam. I remain fully able to do that."
With a 9-0 vote, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can block members of the Electoral College from ignoring the popular vote on Election Day.
Justice Elena Kagan wrote: "Today, we consider whether a State may also penalize an elector for breaking his pledge and voting for someone other than the presidential candidate who won his State's popular vote. We hold that a State may do so,".
In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court further advanced the cause of LGBTQ rights Monday, ruling that a landmark civil rights law barring sex discrimination in the workplace applies to gay, lesbian and transgender workers.
The decision was written by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump's first nominee to the court. He was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberal justices. Associate Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
"An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex," Gorsuch wrote.
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The US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, age 87, had been hospitalized for a non-surgical treatment because of an infection. A spokesperson now has stated that she was "resting comfortably" and had participated in two cases after the treatment.
Being a member of the Supreme Court Bar since 1972, the former Hawaii state judge James Dannenberg has sent a letter announcing his resignation. In the letter, he directly criticizes Chief Justice John Roberts claiming that the court under him "has cynically undermined basic freedoms" and that "the ideas of free speech and religious liberty have been transmogrified to allow officially sanctioned bigotry and discrimination".