The Roberts Court will be remembered for three decisions that have had a profound impact on American politics and governance: Citizens United, granting presidential immunity, and removing protections against racial gerrymandering. These decisions will be their legacy. benefiting the powerful at the expense of the well-being of ordinary citizens in their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
1. Citizens United is a decision that opened the floodgates of secret corporate money to influence who gets elected to public office and controls regulatory and tax policies. Their considerations now take precedence over the well-being of common citizens, becoming poorer while they become richer. (Citizens United v. FEC (2010) This decision further protected corruption and the old truism: he who pays the piper calls the tune.
2. Granting of immunity from criminal prosecution while acting in an official capacity. This has resulted in a president who is unconcerned about breaking the law or defying the Constitution.(Trump vs the United States, 2024) It has enabled the President to use fear, revenge, and threats. The result: the executive branch has been able to ignore the separation of powers by cowing Congressional opposition. It has avoided prosecution for any criminal acts, such as becoming rich and powerful from foreign investors, benefiting the President's own pocket and his family. He has also abused the power of pardon, extending that immunity to his staff by promising to pardon them in advance of his leaving office.We now have a lawless and out-of-control president who is taking advantage of the situation to benefit his power and wealth. Decisions he makes are, at a minimum, suspect of benefiting him personally rather than the ordinary people he governs. It gives him the ability to ignore public anger over the affordability of their day-to-day living because he believes he has the autonomous power to govern as he sees fit, and there is no power to stop him.
3. Permitting racist gerrymandering while piously or deceptively claiming they had eliminated race from consideration in the practice of gerrymandering because it is no longer a problem. In one swoop, they negated the civil rights movement of many years ago.( Louisiana v. Callais) , 2026 The result is the elimination of the ability and power of African Americans to have their voices heard in Congress and have the power to protect their civil and voting rights. The white-dominant state legislatures in former slave states are now hurrying in advance of November midterms to redraw Congressional boundaries to eliminate an estimated 22 seats held by African Americans, moving African American voters into predominantly white-dominated districts. Their stated reason is to maintain GOP seats and control of Congress this November, despite unfavorable polls.
