Kagan Says Some Conservative-Majority Rulings Undermine Democracy in Law School Talk

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan said Tuesday at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law that some recent rulings by the court's conservative majority have undermined American democracy, while acknowledging the court has at times pushed back against the Trump administration. She singled out Louisiana v. Callais, a 6-3 decision holding race-based gerrymandering of congressional districts unconstitutional. Her dissent called it the latest chapter in the majority's completed demolition of the Voting Rights Act. Kagan also criticized election and campaign finance rulings. She said the majority lacked appropriate concern for the consequences of its decisions, and that rulings undermining voters' ability to choose candidates were very destructive.

Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing. Right-leaning outlets had. Fox News reported her remarks, quoting her via NBC News and noting her acknowledgment of pushback against Trump. The Daily Signal ran an opinion piece arguing she is wrong, saying the Left equates democracy with bureaucratic administration. Alternative outlets published Supreme Court items that did not address her remarks: Reason a 1915 case entry, and The Dispatch a podcast on orders, Justice Jackson and 3rd Circuit rulings.