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That post was just a link to the actual Supreme Court decision. This article explains what it's about in language that's easier for people who aren't legal scholars to understand, so I think it serves a useful purpose.



> This article explains what it's about in language that's easier for people who aren't legal scholars to understand

I really strongly disagree with this. Supreme Court decisions are usually quite readable and will give a you a nuanced overview of the legal background and justifications for the ruling. They're usually very accessible and not nearly as crammed with legal jargon as you might guess. I try to read as many important decisions as I can and I have no legal training at all. I only occasionally have to look up a term. I would say they're easier, on average, for me to read than a CS paper. And after reading a few Scotus papers, you'll have a much deeper understanding of how our legal system works, and of course a great deal more about the individual decisions. You'll even read news articles about a decision and say, "That's not what the decision was about at all!"

Supreme Court rulings are, of course, quite long, and there's nothing wrong with a summary article like this one. But my point is that you shouldn't fear the legalese.


> Supreme Court rulings are, of course, quite long

Interestingly, judges such as Richard Posner think recent opinions are too long.

http://www.law360.com/articles/455840/posner-says-justices-s... (Ignore the linkbait title; the article really is quite good.)


I would add that the court's opinions are typically prefaced with an excellent summary, which can be a solid alternative or supplement to an article.


> This article explains what it's about in language that's easier for people who aren't legal scholars to understand

More accurately, this press release puts the spin of an interest group popular on HN on the decision; it is not a neutral explanation of the decision.




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