Thorn posted... SCOTUS out with another decision that will absolutely cost lives.
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/18/nx-s1-5421276/scotus-transgender-kids-decision
6-3 decision upholding a Tennessee law that prohibited all gender affirming care for minors (including puberty blockers and hormones)
Skimmed the opinions as usual, and I kinda braced for it coming but Roberts (writing for the Court) cites, among other things, the Cass Report (from the UK. It's... very bad. I'll let UK members explain if they want)
Thomas writes a concurrence that is mostly bashing the opinion of "experts" and how we shouldn't trust them and the Court is right to ignore them today and throws in a heap of transphobia as well. It's basically a TERF fanfic - Cass Report, detransitioners, bunch of ominous language over medical language, accusing medical organizations are just caving to ideological pressure to approve gender affirming care, etc.)
Barrett writes a concurrence that is basically, "Well, I don't know if transgender people have been discriminated against enough to qualify for the level of protection and scrutiny they're asking."
Alito writes a partial concurrence, but breaks with the other 5 in that he doesn't hide behind the same mask the others do and admits that the Tennessee law does classify against transgender people (the other 5 hold it's not classifying against transgender people but "age and medical purpose") he just doesn't give a fuck and thinks it's fine to uphold the law anyway.
Sotomayor writes the chief dissent and all but flat out says that this decision by the Court will lead to the deaths of transgender kids before tackling the arguments of the majority - that, yes, this is discrimination on the basis of sex and should be granted a stricter set of review, points out past precedent SCOTUS has had on transgender protections that somehow they won't apply today
It's going to be extremely difficult to top Roger Taney as worst Supreme Court Chief Justice, but John Roberts is certainly doing his damndest.