Less than a year after being widely criticised by liberals for ethics scandals and conservative rulings, the US Supreme Court is now viewed by some as a potential safeguard for American democracy. With a re-elected President Donald Trump issuing a series of controversial executive orders, the court—still holding a 6-3 conservative majority—is being called upon to rule on cases that could define the limits of presidential power.
Among the key cases awaiting judgment are challenges to Trump's efforts to restrict birthright citizenship, which is protected under the 14th Amendment, and disputes over transgender care for minors, LGBTQ+ books in schools, and funding for Planned Parenthood. The court has already ruled against the administration in one high-profile case, ordering the return of a man wrongly deported to El Salvador, but has also sided with Trump in other instances.
Legal experts express cautious optimism that the court may act as a check on Trump's actions, particularly regarding birthright citizenship, given its clear constitutional basis. However, the court's conservative majority, including three Trump appointees, raises doubts about its willingness to constrain the president. Some observers point to Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett as potential swing votes who might align with the court's liberal justices on key issues.
The stakes are high as the court faces an unusually heavy summer workload, driven by emergency cases stemming from Trump's aggressive agenda. With Congress largely compliant, the judiciary remains a crucial institution for upholding constitutional principles, according to legal scholars.
