Blue Brief 2025-2026

Robert Schapiro

Dean and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law

Introduction

T he University of San Diego School of Law is pleased to present the sixth annual Blue Brief, a faculty review of 13 carefully selected rulings from the most recent Term of the United States Supreme Court. USD has an extraordinarily distinguished law faculty, and I believe that you will enjoy reading their assessments of cases ranging across a variety of important topics including separation-of-powers, administrative law, Second Amendment rights, citizenship, immigration, and voting rights. This momentous Term highlighted continuing sharp divisions among the Justices. The Supreme Court ruled on cases that substantially reshaped separation of powers as well as executive power in Trump v. Slaughter, Trump v. Cook, and Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. The Court also curtailed statutory and judicial protections for immigrants and voters in Mullin v. Doe and Louisiana v. Callais. The Court continued to expand Second Amendment rights with Wolford v. Lopez and United States v. Hemani. In Watson v. Mississippi Secretary of State , the Court resolved a closely watched dispute over whether federal election

law allows states to count absentee ballots received after Election Day if they were timely cast. Perhaps most significantly, a sharply divided Court affirmed constitutional protection for birthright citizenship. In addressing critical issues, the Justices often rely on the insights of our faculty, and this past Term was no exception. Professor Michael Ramsey’s work was quoted and cited twice in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump , both by Justice Gorsuch in his concurrence and by Justice Thomas in his dissent. We are very happy to share the insights of 11 of our eminent faculty on these important Supreme Court decisions. We are eagerly awaiting the opening of the Court’s new Term on October 5, 2026, and we look forward to reporting back to you in the summer of 2027 with the latest developments.

Warm Regards,

Robert Schapiro

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF LAW | Faculty Review of 2025-2026 U.S. Supreme Court Term | Page 4