Supreme Court’s split on gender care highlights Alito and Thomas as pro-Trump outliers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to let the Trump administration begin applying its chosen prison policy on gender-affirming care right away. The unsigned order offered no reasoning, and only Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito noted dissents. MS NOW reports that the pair keep siding with the administration even when other Republican-appointed colleagues, including Donald Trump's three picks, decline.

A month earlier, the justices turned down the president's proposed mail-ballot limits for the midterms. Trump lashed out at the court, his own appointees included, yet called Thomas and Alito "legends." Asked on CBS News about a Wall Street Journal study finding Alito sided with Trump more than any colleague, Alito denied ruling in order to help the president.

In under two weeks, voters will settle which party controls the Senate, which confirms justices. Alito says he is staying at least through this term regardless of the result. Thomas has not signaled an exit and would become the longest-serving justice ever by remaining through next term. If Trump fills any seat before leaving office in 2029, these votes suggest he would favor nominees like them over his earlier choices.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →