John G. Roberts Jr.

Rule Changes

Authored the majority opinion in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has accepted about $137.9 billion in refund claims for the tariffs the Supreme Court struck down, as of an October 26 filing at the Court of International Trade. Importers have filed 315,069 claims, and 222,754 passed initial checks covering 44 million entries.

Updated 6 days ago

Rule Changes

Referred the FCC's stay application to the full Court, which granted it Oct. 14

The Supreme Court let political parties and joint fundraising committees keep discounted TV and radio ad rates through the Nov. 3 midterms. A 7-2 unsigned ruling on Oct. 14 stayed a Fourth Circuit order that had given the Federal Communications Commission 48 hours to decide a Democratic challenge.

Updated Oct 23

Rule Changes

Wrote the 6-3 majority opinion in Trump v. Slaughter overruling Humphrey’s Executor.

President Donald Trump fired Federal Trade Commission commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter in March 2025 without stating cause, setting off a legal fight over whether presidents can remove members of independent agencies at will. On June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 for Trump, struck down the FTC's for-cause removal protections and overruled Humphrey's Executor, the 1935 decision that had shielded multi-member commissions from at-will removal.

Updated Oct 19

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Joined Alito majority in Callais despite having authored Allen v. Milligan in 2023 upholding Section 2

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on April 29, 2026, in Louisiana v. Callais. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the main federal tool minority voters have used for four decades to challenge racially discriminatory maps, now requires plaintiffs to prove intentional discrimination before courts can order a remedy.

Updated May 31

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Authored majority opinion striking down IEEPA tariffs

For thirteen months, the Trump administration imposed tariffs using emergency powers no president had claimed for that purpose. On February 20, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that those tariffs were illegal.

Updated May 30

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Joined the majority

Terry Pitchford has sat on Mississippi's death row for nearly two decades. On May 28, 2026, the Supreme Court threw out his conviction and ordered the state to start over, ruling 5-4 that the prosecutor's jury selection violated his constitutional rights.

Updated May 28

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Presiding over Chevron v. Plaquemines Parish

A Louisiana jury ordered Chevron to pay $745 million in April 2025 for wrecking coastal wetlands through decades of oil drilling. Now the Supreme Court will decide if that verdict stands.

Updated May 20

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Authored 5-4 majority opinion upholding travel ban in Trump v. Hawaii

Trump signed his first travel ban seven days into his presidency, blocking entry from seven Muslim-majority countries and igniting protests; courts blocked it within a week. After Supreme Court victories, a Biden reversal, and his return to power, Trump's December 2025 expansion restricts entry from 39 countries—affecting one in eight people worldwide and eliminating exemptions for immediate family.

Updated May 16

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Previously granted an administrative stay; court later vacated it

Immigration judges say the Justice Department has effectively muzzled them: speak publicly about immigration and you need permission, and what you say can be steered into "agency talking points." The Trump administration's response has been procedural. You don't get federal court—go through the civil-service machinery first.

Updated May 15