Supreme Court Sidesteps Affirmative Action Ruling

With so much before it once again, the court has once again held off on issuing 2 expected decisions on gay marriage and 1 on voting rights, it seems to have avoided a big decision in the affirmative action case fisher versus the University of Texas…   Despite having so much before it, the U.S. Supreme Court has once again held off on issuing two expected decisions on gay marriage and one on voting rights. Additionally, it seems to have avoided a big decision in the affirmative action case, Fisher vs. The University of Texas. When it comes to the closely-watched affirmative action case, the Court essentially issued a non-ruling. In a seven to one decision, the Court sent the case back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear the case, with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissenting. To find out what this sidestep means, we welcome Kareem Crayton, professor of law at the University of North Carolina Law School. "Sometimes the Court decides that a case that has already gone through the briefing and the argument was maybe not properly heard in the first place," Crayton tells The Takeaway. "It can be sent back for further proceedings, and that's what happened here." In addition to affirmative action, Crayton discusses United States v. Kebodeaux, a case about the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SONRA), which requires federal sex offenders to register in the States where they live.   Takeaway Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich fills us in on the mood at the Capitol and what we can expect going forward. Stay updated on the latest from The Takeaway–become a Facebook fan & follow us on Twitter!