Past Rulings
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The Supreme Court rarely rules unanimously and in fact its vote is often quite close. Highlights of rulings by the current justices, since 1994:
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June 30, 1994
Ruled 6-3
The activities of antiabortion activists near abortion clinics could be curbed.
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June 27, 1994
6-3
Citing church-state separation, ruled to void a N.Y. state school district that had been created to accommodate children of the Satmar Hasidim sect of Judaism.
*
June 25, 1995
5-4
Race could not be used as a “predominant factor” in drawing electoral districts, declaring unconstitutional a majority-black Georgia district.
*
May 20, 1996
Ruled 6-3
Voided a Colorado law barring gay-rights protections.
*
May 20, 1996
6-3
Voided a Colorado law barring gay-rights protections.
*
June 13, 1996
5-4
Struck down majority black and Latino congressional districts in Texas and North Carolina.
*
June 26, 1996
7-1
Virginia Military Institute violated women’s 14th Amendment rights by adhering to a male-only admissions policy.
*
May 27, 1997
9-0
Ruled that Bill Clinton is not shielded from answering questions under oath or standing trial on sexual harassment charges because he is president.
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June 25, 1997
6-3
Struck down the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act protecting actions based on religious belief.
*
June 26, 1997
9-0
Ruled to overturn the Communications Decency Act, which attempted to regulate pornography on the Internet.
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June 25, 1998
6-3
Struck down the line-item veto, declaring that the Constitution does not allow the president to cancel spending items once he has signed them into law.
*
Jan. 25, 1999
5-3
Permits the Federal Communications Commission to set policy on opening the local telephone market to competition.
*
June 23, 1999
5-4
In three decisions the court bolstered state sovereignty rights, shielding states from facing lawsuits for failing to comply with federal laws.
*
June 19, 2000
6-3
School officials cannot sponsor student-led prayer at football games and other school events.
*
June 26, 2000
7-2
Officers must give suspects Miranda warnings before questioning them.
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June 28, 2000
6-3
Abortion protesters can be barred from coming within 8 feet of patients and doctors on the sidewalks in front of a medical facility.
*
June 28, 2000
5-4
States may not ban doctors from performing an abortion procedure that opponents call “partial-birth” abortion.
*
June 28, 2000
5-4
The Boy Scouts have a 1st Amendment right to exclude openly gay men as adult leaders.
*
Sources: Facts on File, World Almanac, Times files; Compiled by CARY SCHNEIDER / Los Angeles Times
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