The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) may not have the celebrity status of Hollywood, but it certainly wields enough power to keep the nation on its toes. Whether it’s deciding the fate of landmark legislation or ruling on cases that shape the very fabric of American society, the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter of law and justice.
And let’s face it, with great power comes great responsibility—and sometimes, a fair bit of controversy.
For over two centuries, the nine justices of SCOTUS have been the final word on what the Constitution really means. They interpret laws, strike down unconstitutional ones, and, on occasion, make the president do a double take. The court’s influence extends far beyond its marble steps in Washington, D.C.; it affects every corner of the nation. These days, the court has been critical in pushing back on what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have tried to do. To the shock of many, the administration was back at the court, demanding to reimplement an unconstitutional scheme, just before the election.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the United States denied the Biden-Harris administration’s attempt to revive certain components of its new student loan relief scheme that had previously been barred by a federal appeals court. There were no noted dissidents.
The decision came after the high court decided last year that the Biden administration had overreached its powers by attempting to forgive more than $400 billion in student loans. [Source: The Post Millennial]
In recent years, the Supreme Court has found itself at the center of some of the most contentious issues in American politics, from healthcare to immigration to, yes, student loans.
Speaking of student loans, let’s dive into the latest chapter of the Biden administration’s ongoing saga with SCOTUS. This past Wednesday, the Supreme Court threw another wrench into President Biden’s plans to ease the burden of student debt—a burden that’s more crushing than trying to pay rent in Manhattan on an intern’s salary.
The administration’s latest attempt at loan forgiveness was a scaled-down version of an earlier plan that had been struck down by the court last year. Despite the makeover, this new plan didn’t pass SCOTUS muster either. The justices were clear: “The application to vacate injunction presented to Justice Kavanaugh and by him referred to the Court is denied.”
Ouch. That’s a legal way of saying, “Nice try, but no cigar.”
This decision followed a similar rejection last year when the court ruled that the Biden administration had overstepped its authority by attempting to forgive more than $400 billion in student loans. While the new plan was more modest in its scope, critics argued it still amounted to a hefty bill for taxpayers.
Republican-led states were quick to challenge the plan, with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis issuing a broad stay earlier this summer. The Supreme Court’s latest ruling has effectively left the administration’s student loan relief efforts in legal limbo—again.
So, what’s next? Well, unless Kamala can pull a legal rabbit out of her hat, she’ll have to find another way to bribe voters into supporting her. And the Supreme Court? It’ll keep doing what it does best: making headlines, influencing policy, and reminding everyone that in the world of law, it’s the final boss.
Author: Bo Dogan