Tag Archives: supreme court

In defense of ‘traditional’ marriage

Even though I grew up in Las Vegas, I’ve never been much of a betting man. But if I were, I’d be willing to lay 2 to 1 odds that the Supreme Court will strike down the federal Defense of … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Can we be safe in a free society?

As happens every time there’s a mass shooting – a tragedy of increasing frequency, it seems – gun dealers nationwide reported a spike in sales in the days following the terrible slaughter this month in Connecticut. The experts tell us … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

A right to remain anonymous

I’m Marc Charisse and I approved this message. I don’t have much choice, actually, working as I do in a profession that puts a premium on standing behind what you believe in by putting your name on it. Most newspapers, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Supreme Court recognizes a ‘right’ to lie

While the health-care ruling last Thursday was getting all the attention, the Supreme Court quietly decided a First Amendment case that recognizes a right to lie. Or, more accurately, recognizes a right to be free from government prosecution for lying … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Court less divided than you might think

One of the most common complaints I hear at our regular Tuesday constitutional law lunches is that the Supreme Court is too often divided,  5-4, along predictably ideological lines. That suggests, of course, that the justices’ opinions are determined more … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Presenting the Great Prognosticator

OK, I was wrong about the Supreme Court’s vote on health care. For months, I’ve been confidently predicting a 6-3 vote upholding the law. But I was right on about Chief Justice John Roberts, who I insisted would do the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

More speech always better than less

We started meeting a couple of years ago in downtown Hanover every Tuesday, ostensibly to debate the big issues of constitutional law. But the weekly lunches at the Reader’s Cafe are really civil discussions of law, local politics, the newspaper … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How would Justice Holmes vote on health care?

As the Supreme Court begins its second day of oral arguments on the national health-care law, I’m reflecting back to Holmes’ famous dissent in Lochner v. New York. The majority in that infamous decision ruled that a constitutional “right to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Court seems torn over “right to lie”

Conventional wisdom is that it’s always risky to read too much into what side individual justices appear to take in oral arguments before the Supreme Court. The justices can push the side they disagree with in hopes of spotting holes … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Court won’t hear cross case

It’s always dangerous to read too much into Supreme Court decisions not to hear a given case. But this 8-1 vote suggests to me some things are settled law and beyond politics: WASHINGTON (AP)– The Supreme Court won’t hear an … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments