God, Sex, and Race: The Modern Evolution of the Supreme Court

February 28: Introduction — The Supreme Court has been evolving over in last fifty years. We have seen the court-ordered integration, affirmation of gay marriage, a reversal of Roe v. Wade, and a struggle to deal with race in college admissions to name just a few areas of contention. Gerry Swimmer will review this background as a prelude to the following sessions. 

March 7: God — The Roberts court has been consistent in protecting public displays of religious beliefs, most recently upholding a coach’s right to pray on the fifty-yard line after high school football games. The Court has also recently supported using public funds for private religious schools. Liberal members have dissented,  feeling strongly this violates the Establishment clause. 

March 14: Sex — Obergefell v. Hodges established a nationwide right to same-sex marriage based on the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.  The majority in Dobb’s case recently overturned Roe v. Wade arguing the same  

provisions required the States to decide the abortion issue. Is gay marriage now going to be overturned by the conservative Court? 

March 21: Race — In June the Court will decide whether colleges and universities can continue to use race as a factor in their admission decisions. Based on the oral arguments, they appear to be leaning toward a race-neutral decision after years of upholding using race as one, but not the only, deciding criterion. If this turns out to be the case, does it put Brown v. Board in similar jeopardy? 

Gerry Swimmer is a retired executive of Ingersoll Rand Corporation and  one of our most popular instructors  

 Four Sessions: 10 AM to 12 Noon, Tuesdays 

TidePointe (Second right off Point Comfort Road.)