United States | Supremely controversial

The Supreme Court’s term ends with a rash of divisive rulings 

Big decisions arrived on guns, abortion, homelessness, presidential power—and more

A judges gavel in the colours of the US flag with a fragmented handle
Illustration: Ben Jones
|New York

BEFORE presenting her opinion in a sleeper case on July 1st, the final day of the Supreme Court’s term, Justice Amy Coney Barrett elicited chuckles in the courtroom. “Sorry,” she quipped, announcing the result in Corner Post v Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, “this is not one of the cases you’re waiting to hear.” Chief Justice John Roberts would deliver the highly anticipated presidential-immunity decision—smoothing over Donald Trump’s most profound legal troubles—a few minutes later.

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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Supremely controversial”

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