This novel is a work speculative fiction with real-world relevance. The book builds on themes that have undergone substantial change in this decade through SCOTUS decisions. Understand the legal reasoning, societal impacts, and the dissents, including how they disagreed with the majority opinion. Ideal for readers looking to dive deeper into these landmark rulings.

Explore 16 pivotal Supreme Court decisions that shaped voting rights, LGBTQ rights, labor laws, freedom of speech, and education. Click on the Gavel Icon at the bottom right of this page

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Example questions to ask the assistant for each particular SCOTUS case:

  • National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra 2018

    1. How does the SCOTUS ruling in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra impact the balance between free speech rights and state regulation, particularly in terms of compelled speech? Do you see any potential long-term implications for other types of speech regulations, such as health warnings or advertising disclosures

    2. The decision focused heavily on First Amendment protections for pro-life pregnancy centers, but how might this ruling influence future cases involving compelled speech in other politically or morally charged areas, such as LGBTQ+ rights or climate change advocacy? 

    3. Could this ruling set a precedent for expanding or limiting those rights

    Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization 2022

    1. How has this decision affected the country's access to contraceptives such as birth control?

    2. How does this case threaten same-sex marriage?

    3. What were some political movements that lead up to the supreme court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization?

    4. How have evangelical Protestants impacted the current-day Republican Party's stance on abortion rights?

  • Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard 2023

    1. How has the supreme court case Student for Fair Admissions v.  Harvard affect affirmative action practices?

    2. Why do some groups argue that the decision in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case promote discrimination?

    3. While the students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case focused on fostering equality for Asian-Americans, how does this decision affect other historically marginalized students such as Black students?

    Biden v. Nebraska 2023

    1. How did the Biden v. Nebraska case affect President Biden's popularity among younger voters?

    2. What was the basis for the argument in Biden v. Nebraska which stated that the executive power could not constitutionally cancel student debt?

  • Citizens United v. FEC 2010

    1. What were the fears of the authors of the dissenting opinion in the supreme court’s Citizens United v. FEC case? 

    2. What are Super PACs, and how have they been allowed to dominate since the decision in Citizens United v. FEC?

    3. Do everyday citizens have less influence in elections now than they did before the Citizens United v. FEC decision?


    Shelby County v. Holder 2013

    1. Has voter turnout increased or decreased in historically discriminatory counties since Shelby County v. Holder?

    2. What demographic is most impacted by changes to voting regulations specifically  in the case Shelby County v. Holder?


    McCutcheon v. FEC 2014

    1. In the case McCutcheon v. FEC, how did the court reason that donations to a political campaign was protected under the First amendment?

    2. The decision was framed as protecting free speech under the First Amendment. Could you explain why spending money is considered a form of speech in the eyes of the court?

    3. What are the potential long-term effects of McCutcheon on political campaigns and elections, especially when it comes to the balance of power between ordinary voters and big donors?


    Rucho v. Common Cause 2019

    1. How influential are gerrymandered districts in determining an election’s result?

    2. What challenges do state legislatures face when attempting to redraw a gerrymandered district?

    3. The court ruled that partisan gerrymandering is not something federal courts can address. Can you explain why the justices decided it wasn’t the court’s role to step in, and what that means for future elections?

    4. How does this ruling affect voters in states where districts are drawn to favor one party, and what options do citizens have to challenge unfair maps now?

    5. The court said that partisan gerrymandering is a political issue, not a legal one. What’s the difference, and why does it matter when it comes to protecting voters’ rights?

    Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee 2021

    1. How does the exclusion of early ballots affect historically marginalized groups?

    2. How did the Supreme court reason that Arizona's voting rules did not violate the Voting Rights Act?EPA


    Michigan v. EPA 2015

    1. How was the phrase "appropriate and necessary" utilized in the majority opinion of Michigan v. EPA?

    2. Can you explain why the court thought cost should be a factor, and how that changes the way environmental regulations are made

    3. What effect does the decision of Michigan v. EPA have on environmental policy

    4. How did the public react to the decision of Michigan v. EPA?

    5. How has the Michigan v. EPA decision affected the EPA’s ability to regulate emissions and address climate change? What challenges does the agency face after this ruling?

    West Virginia v. EPA 2022

    1. What qualities did the Clean Air Act lack that allowed for the decision of West Virginia v. EPA?

    2. Why didn't the EPA have the authority to implement emissions caps in the case West Virginia v. EPA?

    3. Is this an even more drastic attack on the EPA than the Michigan case?

    4. The court limited the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Can you explain why the court decided that the EPA overstepped its authority, and what that means for future climate regulations?

    5. How does this decision affect the federal government’s ability to address climate change, especially when it comes to reducing emissions from major industries?

    6. What exactly is the major questions doctrine, and how might it affect future regulations beyond just the EPA?

  • Michigan v. EPA 2015

    1. How was the phrase "appropriate and necessary" utilized in the majority opinion of Michigan v. EPA?

    2. Can you explain why the court thought cost should be a factor, and how that changes the way environmental regulations are made

    3. What effect does the decision of Michigan v. EPA have on environmental policy

    4. How did the public react to the decision of Michigan v. EPA?

    5. How has the Michigan v. EPA decision affected the EPA’s ability to regulate emissions and address climate change? What challenges does the agency face after this ruling?

    West Virginia v. EPA 2022

    1. What qualities did the Clean Air Act lack that allowed for the decision of West Virginia v. EPA?

    2. Why didn't the EPA have the authority to implement emissions caps in the case West Virginia v. EPA?

    3. Is this an even more drastic attack on the EPA than the Michigan case?

    4. The court limited the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Can you explain why the court decided that the EPA overstepped its authority, and what that means for future climate regulations?

    5. How does this decision affect the federal government’s ability to address climate change, especially when it comes to reducing emissions from major industries?

    6. What exactly is the major questions doctrine, and how might it affect future regulations beyond just the EPA?

  • New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen 2022

    1. How were gun rights previously interpreted before the case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen?

    2. What effect does the deregulation of gun laws, like in the case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen., have on public safety?

  • United States v. Texas 2016

    1. Why was the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program allowed to continue while the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program was never fully implemented?

    2. What risks do immigrants face when they partake in programs such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals?

  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes Labor 2011

    1. What is required for multiple plaintiffs to be considered a class?

    2. Has the precedent set in Walmart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes Labor been used in other labor rights cases?


    Harris v. Quinn 2014

    1. What were the main points of Justice Kagan's dissenting opinion from the case Harris v. Quinn?

    2. How does this decision affect public sector unions overall? Will it make it harder for unions to collect fees and support their operations?

    3. The court ruled that home healthcare workers can’t be required to pay union fees if they’re not full union members. Can you explain why the court made this distinction, and how it changes the relationship between unions and workers?

    4. The ruling focused on the First Amendment and the right not to be compelled to support speech you disagree with. Could you explain how that applies to union fees and why this issue was framed as a free speech case?


    Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis 2018

    1. What effects does depriving workers of their ability to pursue collective legal action have?

    2. What were the main points of the dissenting opinion made in the supreme court case Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis?

    3. What was this case about?

    4. I am a tech worker, does this case affect me in any way?

    Janus v. AFSCME 2018

    1. How did the decision of Janus v. AFSCME affect public-sector unions?

    2. How was  the First amendment violated in the supreme court case Janus v. AFSCME?


    National Federation of Independent Business v. Occupational Safety and Health Administration 2022

    1. What was the basis of the dissenting opinion made in the supreme court case National Federation of Independent Business v. Occupational Safety and Health Administration?

    2. How does the decision made in the supreme court case National Federation of Independent Business v. Occupational Safety and Health Administration differ from school mandated vaccines?


    Loper Bright Enterprise v. Raimondo2024

    1. What stance does the dissenting opinion of Loper Bright Enterprise v. Raimondo take on an individual's obligation to unions?

  • Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission 2018

    1. Historically, how are cases regarding LGBTQ+ groups/individuals dealt with? 

    2. In the case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil RIghts Commission, how was an individual’s right to religious freedom used in the decision?


    303 Creative LLC v. Elenis 2023

    1. What did Justice Sotomayor warn about in her dissenting opinion in the case 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis?

    2. The court ruled that a business could refuse services for same-sex weddings based on free speech. Can you explain how the court decided that this was a free speech issue and what the ruling means for anti-discrimination laws?

    3. How does this decision affect the balance between protecting free speech and ensuring equal treatment in public businesses? Could this open the door for other types of discrimination in the name of free expression?

    4. What does the ruling mean for LGBTQ+ rights moving forward? Are there protections still in place, or does this decision signal a shift in how the courts will handle discrimination cases?

  • Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. 2014

    1. Can for-profit companies bring claims under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993?

    2. How was the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 utilized in the case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. ?


    Town of Greece v. Galloway 2014

    1. Why is praying  in schools deemed unconstitutional but the decision of the supreme court case Town of Greece v. Galloway considered legislative prayer constitutional?


    Spinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue 2020

    1. How was the Free Exercise Clause used in the case Spinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue?


    Kennedy v. Bremerton School District 2022

    1. How was the precedent set in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District used to decide the handling of religious expression in public? 


    Carson v. Makin 2022

Questions for Sections:

    1. What role does SCOTUS have in determining reproductive rights?

    2. What was the justification for Roe v. Wade and on what grounds was it overturned?

    3. How have reproductive rights changed in the past years? 

    4. How does the Republican makeup of SCOTUS affect abortion rights?

    1. What is affirmative action, and what are its benefits and drawbacks?

    2. How does affirmative action affect diversity?

    3. Since the peeling back of affirmative action, how will race be considered regarding college applications? 

    4. How could student debt be canceled legally? 

    1. Why do changes to voting regulations disproportionately affect POC’s voting turnout?

    2. How has SCOTUS influenced voting rights in the past twenty years?

    3.  What are the different ways an election could be influenced?

    1. How does SCOTUS balance corporate interest and environmental concerns in its rulings?

    2. What path has SCOTUS taken regarding the escalation of global warming? 

    3. What are the legal avenues the EPA can pursue regarding the protection of environmental policy?

    4. Would the current state of the country’s environmental policy be characterized as strong or weak considering the challenges posed by climate change?

    5. What types of policies do environmental groups advocate for?

    6. Why do historically marginalized groups often face the brunt of environmental issues, and how do environmental justice groups combat this? 

    1. How has SCOTUS interpreted the second amendment as gun violence has persisted, if not escalated, across the country? 

    2. Have guns become more or less obtainable in the past fifty years?

    1. What effects do immigrants have on the economy? 

    2. Are undocumented immigrants truly linked to a spike in crime as some political rhetoric claims? 

    3. How are the DAPA and the DREAM Act related to DACA?

    4. On what grounds is DACA threatened by SCOTUS?

    1. How has SCOTUS affected unions in recent years?

    2. Is a worker’s right to unionize protected under the constitution?

    3. How are historically marginalized groups protected in the workforce, and how does SCOTUS interpret this?

    1. How does SCOTUS balance an individual’s religious beliefs with discrimination laws? What about freedom of speech and discrimination laws?

    2. In the past years, there has been a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, specifically anti-trans – what impact has SCOTUS and the legislative branch had on LGBTQ+ rights?

    1. What is the current precedent regarding legislative prayers?

    2. What is the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and what is its relation to religious freedom?

    3. What religious rights are afforded to an individual under the First Amendment? 

General:

    1. How does SCOTUS balance corporate interest and environmental concerns in its rulings?

    2. What path has SCOTUS taken regarding the escalation of global warming? 

    3. What are the legal avenues the EPA can pursue regarding the protection of environmental policy?

    4. Would the current state of the country’s environmental policy be characterized as strong or weak considering the challenges posed by climate change?

    5. What types of policies do environmental groups advocate for?

    6. Why do historically marginalized groups often face the brunt of environmental issues, and how do environmental justice groups combat this?