PoliticsPoliticsSupreme Courtpolice reform

SCOTUS Sides With Police, Following Justice Department's Lead

Why Police Reform Won't Come From The Supreme Court Any Time Soon
Braden Goyette
By 

Senior Editor, The Huffington Post

FILE -In this Oct. 8, 2010 file photo justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for a group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington. Seated from left are Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, and Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Standing, from left are Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito Jr., and Elena Kagan. The nine justices of the Supreme Court, who serve without seeking election, soon will have to decide whether to insert themselves into the center of the nationâs presidential campaign next year. The high court begins its new term Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, and President Barack Obamaâs health care overhaul, which affects almost every American, is squarely in its sights. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
FILE -In this Oct. 8, 2010 file photo justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for a group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington. Seated from left are Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, and Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Standing, from left are Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito Jr., and Elena Kagan. The nine justices of the Supreme Court, who serve without seeking election, soon will have to decide whether to insert themselves into the center of the nationâs presidential campaign next year. The high court begins its new term Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, and President Barack Obamaâs health care overhaul, which affects almost every American, is squarely in its sights. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

While the public debate over American policing has been roiling for months, a quieter debate has been playing out at the Supreme Court, which is now refining some of the rules that govern police conduct across the country.

During the court’s current term, which concludes at the end of June, the justices have already ruled on three cases regarding controversial police conduct. The court often sides with police, and frequently at the behest of the Obama Justice Department.

Read more on MSNBC

|
Submit a tip

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot