Supreme Court Midnight Rulings Become Less Frequent

Supreme Court Midnight Rulings Become Less Frequent
NYTimes | Apr 19, 2025

The Supreme Court has issued fewer emergency orders in the middle of the night recently. These types of rulings, once more common, now appear to be reserved for only the most urgent situations. This shift suggests a change in the court's approach to handling time-sensitive cases. Experts are analyzing the potential reasons behind this trend and its implications for future legal proceedings.

WASHINGTON In recent years, the Supreme Court has issued fewer rulings in the middle of the night. These emergency orders, which were more frequent a few years ago, now seem to be reserved for authentic emergencies. This trend marks a notable shift in the court's operational tempo. Legal experts suggest several factors could contribute to this change, including internal procedural adjustments and a more cautious approach to intervening in lower court decisions. The decrease in midnight rulings may also reflect a broader effort to avoid the perception of political interference, especially in highly charged cases. Regardless of the reasons, the decline in these late-night orders signals a potential evolution in the Supreme Court's role in American legal life.

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