Steve Petteway
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Entry openedJan 2025
Last updatedOct 2026
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John G. Roberts Jr.
Chief Justice of the United States, 2005–
Nominated by George W. Bush and confirmed on September 29, 2005. Presided over both of Donald Trump's impeachment trials in the Senate.
Documented conduct
Jun 30, 2026
Birthright citizenship: the Court divided
Wrote the opinion of the Court, joined by Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson and by Justice Barrett. Trump v. Barbara. The Court held that children born in the United States to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are subject to its jurisdiction and are citizens at birth under the Fourteenth Amendment, striking down the executive order of the first day of the term.
Source: Trump v. Barbara, No. 25-365 (June 30, 2026)
Jun 29, 2026
Overruled Humphrey's Executor
Wrote the opinion of the Court. Trump v. Slaughter, decided six to three. The Court held that the statute protecting Federal Trade Commission members from removal except for cause violates the separation of powers, and overruled Humphrey's Executor v. United States — "If anything more is left of Humphrey's, we overrule it." That 1935 decision had stood for ninety-one years as the basis on which Congress built the independent agencies: bodies whose members a President could not dismiss for disagreeing with them. Their heads are now removable at will. The Federal Reserve was excepted. Justice Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson.
Source: Trump v. Slaughter, 609 U.S. 422 (2026)
Apr 29, 2026
Narrowed the Voting Rights Act
Joined the opinion. Louisiana v. Callais, decided six to three. The Court held that Louisiana's congressional map, which gave Black voters a second district in which they could elect a candidate of their choice, was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, because Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act had not required the State to draw it. The Congressional Research Service summarized what changed: Section 2 is now violated "only when the evidence supports a strong inference that the State intentionally drew its districts to afford minority voters less opportunity because of their race" — proof of intent, where effect had been enough. The Act is of 1965. Justice Kagan dissented, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson.
Source: Louisiana v. Callais, 608 U.S. 85 (2026); CRS Legal Sidebar LSB11431
Feb 20, 2026
The tariffs held unauthorized
Announced the judgment and delivered the opinion of the Court in part. Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. The Court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act "does not authorize the President to impose tariffs", and that the power to regulate importation is not the power to tax it.
Source: Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. 229 (2026)
Jul 23, 2025
Allowed the removal of the product safety commissioners
Trump v. Boyle. The Court stayed an order reinstating three members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission removed without cause, treating the question as controlled by Wilcox. Justice Kagan dissented, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson. Justice Kavanaugh concurred, and would have taken the case outright. The order is unsigned and names no majority. With nine Justices sitting and three dissenting, the other six granted it.
Source: Trump v. Boyle, No. 25A11 (July 23, 2025)
Jul 14, 2025
Allowed the mass firing at the Department of Education
McMahon v. New York. The Court stayed an injunction that had reinstated 1,378 employees of the Department of Education, dismissed under a plan to cut the department roughly in half. It gave no reason. Justice Sotomayor dissented over nineteen pages, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, writing that the Court had "handed the Executive the power to repeal statutes by firing all those necessary to carry them out". The order is unsigned and names no majority. With nine Justices sitting and three dissenting, the other six granted it.
Source: McMahon v. New York, No. 24A1203 (July 14, 2025)
Jun 27, 2025
Restricted nationwide injunctions
Joined the opinion. Trump v. CASA. The Court held that federal courts likely cannot issue universal injunctions, which left the birthright citizenship order enforceable against anyone who had not personally sued. Justice Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson. The order itself was struck down a year later in Trump v. Barbara.
Source: Trump v. CASA, Inc., 606 U.S. 831 (2025)
Jun 23, 2025
Allowed removals to countries not their own
Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D. The Court stayed an injunction that had required notice, and a chance to show a fear of torture, before a person could be deported to a third country. Justice Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, calling the decision a "gross abuse" of the Court's discretion. The order is unsigned and names no majority. With nine Justices sitting and three dissenting, the other six granted it.
Source: DHS v. D.V.D., No. 24A1153 (June 23, 2025)
May 22, 2025
Allowed the removal of labor board members
Trump v. Wilcox. The Court stayed orders restoring Gwynne Wilcox to the National Labor Relations Board and Cathy Harris to the Merit Systems Protection Board, letting the President dismiss them without cause while the case went on. Justice Kagan dissented, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson. The order is unsigned and names no majority. With nine Justices sitting and three dissenting, the other six granted it.
Source: Trump v. Wilcox, No. 24A966 (May 22, 2025)
Jul 1, 2024
Presidential immunity for official acts
Delivered the opinion of the Court. The Court held that a former President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for acts within his exclusive constitutional authority, and at least presumptive immunity for his remaining official acts.
Source: Trump v. United States, 603 U.S. 593 (2024)
Jun 24, 2022
Declined to join the overruling of Roe
Concurred in the judgment only. He would have upheld the Mississippi law without overruling Roe and Casey, and did not join the opinion that did. The Court overruled them without him, five to four on that point.
Source: Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org., 597 U.S. 215 (2022); confirmation hearing testimony
Receipts
01
609 U.S. ___ (2026), No. 25-365, decided June 30 2026
Our copy
02
609 U.S. 422 (2026), decided June 29 2026
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03
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB11431, May 14 2026
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04
608 U.S. 85 (2026), decided April 29 2026
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05
607 U.S. 229 (2026), decided February 20 2026
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06
Trump v. Wilcox, 24A966; DHS v. D.V.D., 24A1153; McMahon v. New York, 24A1203; Trump v. Boyle, 25A11
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07
606 U.S. 831 (2025), decided June 27 2025
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08
Trump v. United States, 603 U.S. 593 (2024)
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09
597 U.S. 215 (2022), decided June 24 2022
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10
U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote No. 245, 109th Cong., 1st Sess. (Sep 29, 2005)
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