Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Grants Pass v. Johnson that city ordinances against public camping do not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment. The Court’s decision is a win not only for the small Oregon city of Grants Pass, but also for dozens of Western localities that had been hamstrung by the Ninth Circuit as they grapple with record high rates of homelessness. In response to the ruling, Robert Marbut, Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and former Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said, “The Supreme Court’s reversal of the Ninth Circuit’s opinion in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson is a great first step in giving authority back to local Read More ›

Blaming Capitalism Did I call it or what! Far-left activists like Nikkita Oliver blamed white supremacy and capitalism for America’s homeless crisis during a Monday rally in Seattle. This was in response to the U.S. Supreme Court scrutinizing anti-camping laws used against the homeless.

Spotlighting Seattle Encampments As homelessness hits all-time highs across the country, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday about enforcement of laws regulating camping on public property. The case will determine how cities nationwide are allowed to respond. We Heart Seattle’s Andrea Suarez and I went out to spotlight multiple encampments in Seattle’s park system where virtually everyone rejected offers for shelter and services. That’s because illegal drugs, mental illness, and broken relationships are fueling this crisis. Robert Marbut Weighs In “Homelessness rulings by the 9th Circuit have been disastrous and devastating to communities up and down the west coast,” said Discovery Institute Senior Fellow, Robert Marbut, former Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness under both Read More ›