In a year which has been so depressing in so many ways, a great and inspiring event occurred today, when the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to protect gay and transgender employment rights.
Chief Justice John Roberts (appointed by George W. Bush in 2005) and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch (appointed by Donald Trump in 2017) voted with the four Democratic appointed Justices to bring about this victory.
A major rebuttal was issued to the decision by two of the three other Justices, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh, appointed by George W. Bush and Donald Trump, respectively.
The decision shows once again how unpredictable judges and Justices can be, as to have the two Justices appointed by both Bush and Trump split on this case.
This decision is a repudiation of the anti gay stand of Donald Trump, and one wonders whether other decisions in the next two weeks will also go against Trump.
Thank goodness that, while the Supreme Court is at times disappointing in its decisions, it also can be very surprising and advanced.
A lot of it has to do with Roberts, who clearly wants to have “his” Court have a good reputation in history, and has been helpful on some cases, including upholding the Affordable Care Act in 2013, and he likely will continue to uphold that law soon, in another challenge.
And the idea that Neil Gorsuch, who gained the position that Barack Obama appointed Merrick Garland to, and was not even given the chance for a hearing and a vote on the appointment, was also in the majority on this case, is a welcome sign of a pyrrhic victory for Donald Trump, in getting Gorsuch on the Court!
In a lot of ways, this was a more momentous decision than gay marriage, particularly so since it was not a constitutional issue but a legal issue.
You are absolutely on mark, Fred!