The work in this critical analysis is to promote and stimuli critical thinking and writing of a current news article. The ideas and opinions in this paper are solely mine. The news article I chose is from CNN and is a briefing on the cases that have already been decided, have been heard and are still to come in the current session of the United States Supreme Court. I have studied and followed some of these cases more closely than others due to their nature in relating to how they will effect everyday life for United States citizens.

“Why this court term matters” from CNN.com
This article examines the cases that have been decided, cases that have been heard and cases that are still to come within the United States Supreme Court. A majority of these cases will have major implications on the future of everyday citizens as some cases that are being deliberated or ruled upon involve the Health Care Reform Act, more commonly known as “Obamacare,” and the right for same-sex marriage. The case involving “Obamacare” challenges a section of the act concerning subsidies for people who buy “competitively priced insurance from the American Health Benefit Exchanges” stated the article by Ariene de Vogue. The case involving same-sex marriage will decide upon states’ rights involved in this issue and whether states can ban gay-marriage. This is an issue that is a hot button right now, whether or not the federal government can decide if gay marriage is legal and also whether a bill of gay marriage should be passed legislatively or voted upon by citizens.

Another case that has been heard involves First Amendment rights but with a modern day twist. The Court has heard a case that questions whether or not Facebook posts violate citizens First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, specifically the issue of the cyber-threats being posted against individuals. A case that would have been a major player if it was heard 200 years ago is the separation of powers among the branches of the government. The parents of a 12-year-old boy who is an American citizen but was born in the city of Jerusalem want his passport to list his place of birth as “Israel.” The problem lies within the State Department not wanting to do that. Their official stance is due to the border war between Israel and Pakistan over Jerusalem, the State Department decides to unofficially take a stance and not list Jerusalem on the passport. The argument here is that Congress has power of the issue of passports and therefore can override the department’s decision.

The one case that has been decided dealt with religious freedom in prison. A Muslim inmate wanted to grow out his beard for religious purposes. The prison rules mandated that no beards can be worn except for skin purposes. The Court ruled that the prison violated religious rights of inmates. A case involving race and voter redistricting has been heard. Democrats have accused Republicans by stating that Republican-led redistricting plans have included too few minorities. The remaining cases involve pregnancy discrimination. A pregnant woman who was instructed by her doctor to be on “light-duty” during the first 20 weeks of her term was instructed by her employer, UPS, that they did not provide light duty for pregnancy. The case is deciding if the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The last case still to be heard is that of lethal injection. This case is a result of the failed execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma. The court is ruling on whether the drugs used in lethal injections executions are viable for this intended purpose.