Key Points:

  • Since 2012, the court’s opinions generally have become clearer and the rate of discarding its own case precedents has decreased.
  • However, the court still uses unclear opinions, and the justices frequently disregard their own rules. This is particularly noticeable in how the justices waive standing requirements for favored plaintiffs, how they review statutes for constitutionality, and how they enforce constitutional rights.
  • The court continues to earn low marks in the notice, fairness, and judicial restraint categories.
  • The court displays distinct favoritism for some kinds of parties and causes over others.
  • The court has overruled or limited none of its earlier overreaching cases.

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