Friends, summer is coming to a close. 

And even as we reel from the events of this summer, when the Supreme Court robbed us of our abortion rights, opened the floodgates to more gun violence, dismantled essential protections for our climate and environment, and steadily worked to undermine our democracy… October — and therefore the Court’s new term — is on the horizon. And that means a whole new slate of rights and freedoms on the right-wing justices’ chopping block.

The work to protect our rights isn’t easy. It isn’t quick. But when I look to the people working hard on the ground to pick up the pieces after the Court’s attacks and continue fighting for our lives, dignity, safety, I am so grateful. And more importantly, I have hope for our future.

And as we gear up to fight back against the Court’s attacks this fall, it’s important to remember: we have the solution to these seemingly endless affronts to our freedoms. We have the power to expand and rebalance the Court so it works for all of us. 

And with your support, here at Take Back the Court, we’re not giving up.

Court Chatter

The Court may not be hearing arguments or releasing opinions right now, but that doesn’t mean we’re taking a break from calling out the right-wing justices and the threat they pose to our rights.

Last month, Take Back the Court Executive Director Sarah Lipton-Lubet went to Netroots Nation, the biggest annual meeting of minds in the progressive movement. There, she spoke with voting rights champion and Black Voters Matter Co-Founder Latosha Brown and abortion storyteller and We Testify Communications Manager Emma Hernández about the Supreme Court's latest attacks on our fundamental rights and what we can do to fight back.

In their conversation, one truth could not be ignored: There is a deep disconnect between the right-wing Supreme Court and the will of the American people. And if we want to protect our right to vote, our abortion rights, our rights to be safe from gun violence, to have a livable climate, to equitable education, and so much more from the extremists on the bench, we have to add four new justices and rebalance the Court.

Check out some highlights from the keynote conversation here!

On the Docket: A New Term Means A New Slew of Attacks On Our Rights and Freedoms

With less than a month before the Supreme Court starts hearing cases again, we wanted to point your attention to some of the major cases that will be argued in October:

• Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (arguments on October 3): A case that will decide the fate of the Clean Water Act — a cornerstone piece of our environmental protection infrastructure. Taking up this case is just another step by the Court to demolish our environmental protections and further the agenda of wealthy, anti-environment donors and the fossil fuel industry. Read more in the New York Times.
• Merrill v. Milligan (arguments on October 4): In the latest installment of the Supreme Court’s systematic dismantling of our democracy, the right-wing Court took up this case that may allow blatantly racially gerrymandered congressional maps in Alabama to stand. This case could effectively nullify the VRA’s protections against racial gerrymandering and dilute the power of Black voters and other racial minorities. Read more in Vox.
• Students for Fair Admissions v. University of NC; Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College (arguments on October 31): These two cases aim to ​​undo decades of progress in equitable education by eliminating  affirmative action policies at private and public colleges and universities. Despite these policies’ proven history of supporting students of color and helping to build diverse learning environments that benefit everyone, the Court is stacked with anti-affirmative action zealots that seem ready to strike them down. Read more in Slate.

And that’s not all: This term Court will launch additional attacks on our democracy, and the rights of LGBTQ people, immigrants, and native children and families.

The Supreme Court isn’t going to stop its efforts to impose an unpopular, regressive, white supremacist agenda. If we want to protect our rights and freedoms, there is no choice: we must expand the Court.

One Year Since S.B. 8

On September 1, 2021 — just over a year ago — the Supreme Court allowed S.B. 8, Texas’ extreme 6-week abortion ban, to take effect. The consequences were devastating: pregnant Texans had to travel hundreds of miles and pay sky-high costs just to access care, or lose out on access entirely, even as abortion remained constitutionally protected.

Now, two months after the Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, millions more Americans are facing the same dangerous reality Texans have lived with since last September. And as trigger bans and restrictions start to go into effect and other states model their own anti-abortion laws on S.B. 8, the number of Americans suffering the horrific consequences of the Court’s crusade against our autonomy keeps rising.

It’s never been more important to support those on the ground working to ensure people can still access abortion care. Here are some places in Texas you can support doing this incredibly important work:

• Avow Texas
• The Lilith Fund
• Texas Equal Access Fund
• Jane’s Due Process
• Frontera Fund
• The Afiya Center

If you enjoyed this edition of Full Court Press, I hope you’ll consider chipping in to support our work to expand the Supreme Court to put power back where it belongs – with the people.