As it does every June, the United States Supreme Court announced decisions of key cases. The court, made a pair of decisions last week that came as a surprise to many observers
First, on June 16, the court announced a 6-3 decision in favor of expanding workplace protections for LGBTQ Americans. The decision, written by Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch was based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. Gorsuch was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, a Bush appointee and the four court’s four liberal justices (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotamayor and Stephen Breyer).
Although this decision is sure to rankle a number of conservative voters, including many of our readers, truth be told, many of us either have a family member who is part of the LGBTQ community or knows someone who is.
We hope the workplace protections for LGBTQ Americans be they in Marshall County, Oklahoma City or beyond are enforced so that all of us have the ability to work towards our individual goals and accomplish our dreams.
The second major decision handed down by the Supreme Court came on the morning of June 18.
This time the topic another that has proven to be divisive: immigration. The court ruled by a 5-4 margin that the federal program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA could stand after it blocked an effort by the Trump administration to end the program.
This time it was Roberts joined by Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan and Sotamayor. Roberts’ reasoning was simple : the administrationb has not provided proper justification for ending the program that protects almost 650,000 people known as Dreamers.
Although we tend not to endorse particular policies or candidates, in this case, The Madill Record sees the Supreme Court acting to expand rights for our fellow Americans.
We understand that not everyone, our readers included, will see things that way; particularly through the lens of their faith. We respect the views of those worldview is shaped by said faith.
Frankly, one of the things that makes the United States wonderful is the ability for people with different beliefs to coexist. As we’ve said before, democracy is not easy. We hope these decisions bring Americans together going forward.