Legalese

Today the US Supreme Court handed down what has got to be one of the most convoluted decisions ever. In fact, this really ought to be called an indecision. In League of Latin American Citizens v. Perry, a case involving redistricting in Texas, here's how the voting went:

Kennedy, J., announced the judgment of the Court and delivered the opinion of
the Court with respect to Parts II–A and III, in which Stevens, Souter,
Ginsburg, and Breyer, JJ., joined, an opinion with respect to Parts I and IV, in
which Roberts, C. J., and Alito, J., joined, an opinion with respect to
Parts II–B and II–C, and an opinion with respect to Part II–D, in which Souter
and Ginsburg, JJ., joined. Stevens, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and
dissenting in part, in which Breyer, J., joined as to Parts I and II. Souter,
J., filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, in which
Ginsburg, J., joined. Breyer, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and
dissenting in part. Roberts, C. J., filed an opinion concurring in part,
concurring in the judgment in part, and dissenting in part, in which Alito, J.,
joined. Scalia, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment in part and
dissenting in part, in which Thomas, J., joined, and in which Roberts,
C. J., and Alito, J., joined as to Part III.

I'm not sure what makes me more ill, the thought that these 9 people are entrusted with so much power, or the knowledge that put-upon law students everywhere may be called upon to decipher this mess. The case does, however, confirm my belief that Texas Is the Root of All Evil.

I dunno if it's much help with this case, but a great website for understanding what those crazy Supremes and their lower court colleagues are up to is QuizLaw.