Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ orders undermine judicial system (Letters to The Republican)

Since President Trump took office in January, the Supreme Court has issued, without explanation, at least 18 emergency rulings in his favor. These decisions, through what’s known as the shadow docket, bypass the usual process of oral arguments and detailed written opinions.

Instead, they come as orders, sometimes just a few lines, and occasionally with no reasoning at all. This practice has a serious negative effect on our entire judicial system.

First, lower courts rely on clear Supreme Court rulings to guide their decisions. When the high court issues orders without explanation, judges are left guessing about the legal reasoning, which can lead to inconsistent interpretations.