In a week that will go down in infamy, the Supreme Court, led by its conservative majority, unleashed a trifecta of rulings that have left many Americans reeling. These justices, who seem to have taken a page out of the Grinch’s playbook, have effectively blocked Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, gutted affirmative action on college campuses, and limited protections for LGBTQ people. It’s as if they’ve decided to play a game of ‘how many lives can we disrupt in a single week?’ And boy, have they scored high.
A Blow to Student Loan Forgiveness
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, invalidated President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief plan. According to NBC News, the court ruled that the program was an unlawful exercise of presidential power. That’s because it had not been explicitly approved by Congress. The plan, which would have allowed eligible borrowers to cancel up to $20,000 in debt, has been blocked since the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary hold in October.
However, the ruling will immediately put pressure on the Biden administration to find an alternative avenue to forgive student debt. Hopefully an avenue that could potentially withstand legal challenge. Because, you know, it’s not like students are already drowning in debt or anything.
Supreme Court Axes Affirmative Action
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court decided to take a sledgehammer to affirmative action. As reported by CNN, the court’s decision made it unlawful for colleges to take race into consideration as a specific factor in admissions. The ruling means that admissions programs at many Universities across the country are no longer permitted.
However, the ruling still allows colleges and universities to consider an applicant’s discussion of how race has affected their life as long as it is “concretely tied” to a “quality of character or unique ability” that the applicant can bring to the school. Because, apparently, the Supreme Court believes it can dictate how individuals should express their experiences with race.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote her dissenting opinion. She stated that the court was “merely” imposing its “preferred college application format” on the country. Consequently “taking on the role of college administrators to decide what is better for society.” It seems the Supreme Court has decided that it’s not just a judicial body. It’s also a group of art critics and college administrators, apparently.
Supreme Court Limits LGBTQ Protections
As if they hadn’t done enough damage for one week. The Supreme Court also ruled in favor of a Christian graphic artist from Colorado. She doesn’t want to design wedding websites for same-sex couples. As mentioned by CBS News, the court found that the First Amendment prohibits the state from forcing the designer to express messages that are contrary to her closely held religious beliefs.
It’s been a week of controversial rulings that have left many questioning the Supreme Court’s commitment to equality and fairness. But hey, at least they’re consistent, right?
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