The Supreme Court is abusing the shadow docket constantly | Opinion

Questionable use of court emergency docket

The merits docket is the traditional process of Supreme Court decisions and involves extensive briefing, oral arguments and detailed written opinions. This process is designed to ensure public understanding of the Court’s reasoning and decisions.

Originally, the emergency docket served a simple procedural function — allowing justices to grant or deny temporary relief in truly urgent situations, such as stays of execution or injunctions to preserve the status quo until the court could hear a case fully. Many of these are issued late at night, unsigned and unexplained.

A single line: “The application for a stay is granted.”

In President Donald Trump’s current term, the court has issued more than 20 emergency docket rulings involving executive power. Most have favored the administration, often reversing lower-court injunctions that blocked federal actions on immigration, education, health policy and even previously authorized spending.

Orders reinstating the rollback of Temporary Protected Status, lifting restrictions on agency discretion in foreign aid and public health, and halting enforcement of state challenges to federal labor regulations have been upheld in one sentence.

Some Supreme Court justices and many of the lower court justices argue that this undermines the court’s legitimacy and deprives public understanding of its reasoning and decisions.

Bill Petrie, Richland

Why he’s supporting Franklin

I’m voting for Robert Franklin for Kennewick School Board, and I hope you will too. It’s time to move past manufactured controversies and refocus on what school boards are supposed to do: improve teaching and learning, strengthen school safety and student well-being, and expand educational pathways so every student can contribute positively to our community.

As the son of a teacher and a university associate professor, Franklin understands that classroom teachers are the most important factor in student success. He’ll ensure they have the resources and administrative support they need to do their best work.

That’s why he’s endorsed by the Kennewick Education Association and the Washington Education Association. Franklin is also the father of a special education student, and he will be a strong advocate for children with special needs and the teachers who serve them.

As a historian of the Hanford Project, Franklin knows skilled labor built our community. He’ll work to expand vocational education and internships so that students can build solid futures here. He’s endorsed by Teamsters 839 and the Western States Carpenters.

Franklin is the right choice for Kennewick School Board.

Kevin Ard, Kennewick

Franklin the best choice for KSD

As a father of two graduates from the Kennewick School District and a long-time teacher I have watched with deepening concern as the KSD school board has turned repeated to partisan politics.

At the forefront of this movement, Micah Valentine has taken up divisive and useless projects and seems unmoved by the very real needs of the district.

We need a new voice. Robert Franklin has made a persuasive case that a better focus and cooperation over confrontation will gain better results for our schools.

Franklin is also a veteran educator and a dad. He has the qualifications, the qualities, and the values we need. Please join me and vote for Franklin for Kennewick School Board Position 1.

Daniel Bell, Kennewick

Support for Robert Franklin

I am voting for Robert Franklin for Kennewick School Board, and I hope that you will also. Franklin is extraordinarily qualified to be on the KSD School Board. He is an educator, a professor at WSU Tri-CIties. He has two young children, one of whom is already a student in KSD. He is passionate about education and the support of all students.

He is an amazing communicator, and will take everyone’s input into consideration. Franklin will bring a fresh and fair perspective to the KSD School Board.

The current board has no diversity of thought, and is letting down the KSD students as a result. Franklin is committed to being a nonpartisan member of the board who will serve everyone in the KSD community.

Remember to vote, and please vote for Franklin for Kennewick School Board Director.

Linda Stephenson, Kennewick

Keck the best choice for Port of Benton

As a former Port of Benton Commissioner, I still attend port meetings with interest. It was disheartening to hear POB candidate Bill O’Neil boast about controlling Commissioners Lori Stevens and Scott Keller. His letter to voters supports this notion. Hearing complaints from airport tenants about lease rates, especially from non-taxpayers living in Kennewick and Pasco, was also frustrating.

During my tenure, we worked to maintain consistency in policies and rates, ending the inconsistent practices that surfaced with new financial systems. The port team has diligently followed this direction, collaborating with leaseholders and conducting market studies to ensure fair rates and protect FAA grant assurances.

It is crucial to support the ongoing good work, demand ethical behavior from our elected commission, and resist special interests trying to control the agenda. Roy Keck is dedicated to fiscal responsibility, creating working-wage jobs, and fostering community collaboration. Re-elect Keck to the Port of Benton Commission to build a prosperous future.

Christy Rasmussen, Richland

No Kings protest has serious lesson

Is the so-called divide between the Woke and MAGA “Americans” such that the freedoms that both groups enjoy are at risk of destroying the nation? Perhaps not, but rather an ideology of excessive profit and greed that is detrimental to both.

Currently, Republican President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement epitomize this ideology. The recent “No Kings” protest show more Americans are dissatisfied with the capricious behaviors and many executive orders of President Trump.

Among these are tariffs, support of genocide, mass firing of federal employees, and ICE deportations. The terror tactics of masked ICE agents have been compared with those of the masked KKK against Black people following reconstruction.

The American playbook for these disruptive developments is Project 2025. One political pundit compares Project 2025 to Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” suggesting that the outcome might be a similar Holocaust. Does MAGA really mean Make America Greedy Again?

The Declaration of Independence contains the instructions as to what citizens are obligated to do when the government no longer serves the needs of its people. The No Kings protests appear to have started this process.

Dallas Barnes, Pasco

Standing up for constituents isn’t a ploy

I am furious that Rep. Dan Newhouse regards standing up for the millions of Americans who will lose affordable health care as a “political ploy.”

We don’t want a handout. We just want the same thing that members of Congress have: health care that we can actually afford on whatever salary we have. I understand that members of Congress have to pay premiums for their health care as well, but we pay their salary, so essentially we are buying their health care for them while they are on a paid vacation.

There is no reason for Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to trust that Republicans will negotiate in good faith, if that were the case they would all be in DC attempting to do just that, not hanging out waiting for their next orders from their leader in the White House - or what is left of it. Newhouse, you just lost my vote.

Lesley Wildfong, Kennewick