Elie Mystal

Justice Correspondent & Columnist

@ElieNYC

Elie Mystal is The Nation’s justice correspondent and the host of its legal podcast, Contempt of Court. He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center. His first book is the New York Times bestseller Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, published by The New Press. Elie can be followed @ElieNYC.

US Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

Samuel Alito Can’t Tell the Difference Between Sex Discrimination and Peanut Butter Samuel Alito Can’t Tell the Difference Between Sex Discrimination and Peanut Butter

A unanimous Supreme Court ruling on sex discrimination hides serious ideological differences, beginning with Alito’s long-standing hostility to women’s rights.

Apr 18, 2024 / Elie Mystal

BLM activist DeRay McKesson is arrested during a protest after the murder of Alton Sterling by two white Baton Rouge police officers.

The Supreme Court Has Ruled to Let Louisiana Keep Hunting DeRay McKesson The Supreme Court Has Ruled to Let Louisiana Keep Hunting DeRay McKesson

The court has decided to let the BLM activist be held liable for organizing a protest in 2016, endangering the right to dissent in three Southern states.

Apr 16, 2024 / Elie Mystal

No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend

No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend

Society / April 5, 2024 No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend The former justice is calling on Americans to emulate the civility of Supreme Court justices, ne…

Apr 5, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Matthew Kacsmaryk listens during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on December 13, 2017.

A Texas Court Has Decided to Let the Scariest Judge in Texas Keep Being Scary A Texas Court Has Decided to Let the Scariest Judge in Texas Keep Being Scary

The Northern District of Texas has refused to adopt a policy reining in “judge shopping” and, with it, the power of “Mifepristone” Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk.

Apr 3, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Demonstrators outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

The Forced-Birthers Finally Went Too Far Even for This Supreme Court The Forced-Birthers Finally Went Too Far Even for This Supreme Court

A majority of the justices seemed highly skeptical of the ridiculous legal case against mifepristone.

Mar 27, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Justices of the US Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., on October 7, 2022.

The Supreme Court Must Be Stopped The Supreme Court Must Be Stopped

The court is fundamentally antidemocratic—and the only way to limit the damage it can do is to reduce its power, budget, and lack of accountability. 

Mar 1, 2024 / Elie Mystal

The US Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court Could Decide This Term’s Big Gun Case on the Basis of… Grammar The Supreme Court Could Decide This Term’s Big Gun Case on the Basis of… Grammar

Justices like Neil Gorsuch are doing all they can to make sure “bump stocks”—which turn regular guns into machine guns—are legal.

Feb 29, 2024 / Elie Mystal

A Bible and cross lie on the American flag.

Alabama’s IVF Ruling Is Christian Theology Masquerading as Law Alabama’s IVF Ruling Is Christian Theology Masquerading as Law

The ruling is clearly unconstitutional, but don’t expect the Supreme Court to come to the rescue.

Feb 23, 2024 / Elie Mystal

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris join hands as they depart a “Reproductive Freedom Campaign Rally” at George Mason University on January 23, 2024, in Manassas, Va.

It’s Time to Get Over Biden’s Age It’s Time to Get Over Biden’s Age

The potshots at the president’s age are attacks not just on Biden but also on his vice president. Plus, have you seen the other guy?

Feb 21, 2024 / Elie Mystal

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is GettyImages-1948402901.jpg President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally to

There Is Only One Way for Biden to Fulfill His Promise to “Restore Roe” There Is Only One Way for Biden to Fulfill His Promise to “Restore Roe”

If the president truly wants to protect reproductive rights, he’s going to have to do what he’s so far refused even to consider: expand the Supreme Court.

Feb 20, 2024 / Column / Elie Mystal

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