Supreme
Court
Supreme Court decisions explained in plain English. Understand what the Court decided, why it matters, and how it affects you — without a law degree. Non-partisan, accessible, updated with every decision.
12
Cases Decided
3
Cases Pending
2024
Current Term
9
Active Justices
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Term Tracker
October Term 20244
6
1
Recent Decisions
View all →United States v. Skrmetti
The Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors, ruling that the law does not discriminate based on sex under the Equal Protection Clause. The majority found that because the law applies equally to all minors regardless of their biological sex, it does not trigger heightened constitutional scrutiny.
Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services
The Court ruled that members of historically majority groups (such as straight or white employees) do not face a higher bar when bringing workplace discrimination claims under Title VII. Marlean Ames, a heterosexual woman, claimed she was demoted and denied a transfer in favor of gay employees at the Ohio Department of Youth Services.
San Francisco v. EPA
The Court ruled that the EPA's water discharge permits must give cities specific, numeric limits on pollution levels rather than broad, generic requirements. San Francisco had challenged its wastewater permit, arguing the EPA's narrative requirements were too vague to comply with.
TikTok Inc. v. Garland
The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal law requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban in the United States. Congress passed the law citing national security concerns that the Chinese government could access American users' data or manipulate the app's content.
FDA v. Wages and White Lion Investments
The Court upheld the FDA's authority to deny marketing authorization for flavored e-cigarette products. E-cigarette companies had argued the FDA acted arbitrarily when it denied their applications to sell flavored vaping products. The Fifth Circuit had agreed with the companies.
Moody v. NetChoice, LLC
The Court sent back two major cases about whether states can force social media platforms to carry content they want to remove. Texas and Florida had passed laws restricting how platforms like Facebook and YouTube moderate posts. The tech industry argued these laws violate the First Amendment.
Cases to Watch
View all →Oklahoma v. EPA
Oklahoma and several other states are challenging the EPA's authority to set air quality standards under the 'Good Neighbor' provision of the Clean Air Act. This rule requires states to reduce pollution that drifts across state lines and harms air quality in neighboring states.
Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin LIRC
This case asks whether the government can require a religious charity to pay into the state unemployment insurance system, even though the charity claims this violates its religious beliefs. Catholic Charities Bureau argues it should be exempt from Wisconsin's unemployment tax because it is a religious organization.
Bouarfa v. Mayorkas
This case asks whether U.S. citizens have a constitutional right to challenge the denial of a visa for their spouse. Amina Bouarfa, a U.S. citizen, married a Tunisian man whose visa was denied by the State Department without a detailed explanation. She sued, arguing she has a due process right to receive a meaningful reason for the denial.
Understand the Supreme Court
How the Supreme Court Works
A beginner's guide to the highest court in the land — how cases get there, how decisions are made, and what it all means.
What Is Certiorari?
The gatekeeping process that determines which cases the Supreme Court will hear — and why most petitions are denied.
How a Case Reaches the Supreme Court
The long journey from trial court to the highest court — understanding the path a case takes through the American legal system.