Spotlight on State Supreme Courts

When the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling, or has a vacancy to be filled, the politics of the Court face close scrutiny. What judicial philosophies and interpretive approaches are Justices following? How do their views impact judicial decisions? What is the policy impact of the partisan balance of power? These questions are neglected, though, when it comes to state Supreme Courts.

This Appeal: Political Report series covers state-level Supreme Court appointments and elections, and their consequences, through the lens their power deserves.

New York: June 2021

Cuomo’s Nominee to New York’s Highest Court Alarms Criminal Justice Reformers

Washington: March 2021

Landmark Rulings Show ‘Untapped Potential’ of State Courts to Advance Civil Rights

California: Oct. 2020

Governor Newsom Adds Another Prosecutor to the California Supreme Court

North Carolina: Oct. 2020

Civil Rights Loom Large in North Carolina’s Supreme Court Elections

Wisconsin: April 2020

Liberal Challenger Wins Despite Voting Restrictions and Tough-On-Crime Playbook

Washington: April 2020

A New Justice Could Swing Supreme Court Decisions in Washington State

Wisconsin: April 2020

Supreme Court Race is the Latest Chapter in Wisconsin’s Heater Power Struggle

National: March 2020

Some Supreme Courts are Helping Shrink Jails to Fight Outbreaks. Others are Lagging Behind.

Illinois: March 2020

Courts Set Policy, and a Judicial Candidate in Illinois Wants to Finally Talk About It

Florida: Dec. 2018

Looming Appointments Could Alter the Florida Supreme Court’s Sentencing Outlook