Factbox-The John Roberts US Supreme Court, as Illustrated by 12 Cases
Since John Roberts became Chief Justice in 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court has pivoted significantly to the right. A Reuters factbox outlines 12 landmark rulings under his leadership, providing a chronological snapshot of the Court’s trajectory—from expanding gun rights to reshaping presidential authority and federal agency oversight.
The Court guided by Roberts issued several large-scale rulings with deep societal implications. Gun rights were solidified in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008); Citizens United v. FEC (2010) unleashed unlimited corporate political spending; while National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012) defied expectations by upholding most of Obamacare. At a moment when the Court seemed poised right, it also made a landmark ruling on civil rights by legalizing same-sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), despite his dissent.
Roberts’ Court also rolled back key protections: Shelby County v. Holder (2013) gutted enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, while affirmative action programs were invalidated in cases against Harvard and UNC in 2023. More recent decisions include Dobbs v. Jackson (2022)—overturning Roe—and United States v. Skrmetti (2025), upholding a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
Beyond social policy, Roberts has shaped the balance between branches of government. In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024), the Court curtailed the longstanding Chevron deference, limiting the power of federal agencies. In Trump v. United States (2024), he authored a ruling granting presidential immunity for official actions—a sweeping expansion of executive authority.
Taken together, these rulings underscore not only a conservative consolidation under Roberts, but also highlight key tensions—between tradition vs. institutional adaptability, individual vs. collective rights, and deference vs. judicial oversight. The Court’s recent decisions reflect a firm ideological course in areas like reproductive health, civil liberties, race-conscious policy, and the scope of executive power.
Key Legal Outcomes
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Gun rights expanded (Heller): Affirmed individual Second Amendment protections.
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Unlimited corporate campaign spending (Citizens United): Enabled greater influence of money in elections.
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Affirmative action struck down (Harvard & UNC, 2023).
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Overturned Roe (Dobbs, 2022): Withdrawn constitutional right to abortion.
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Presidential immunity strengthened (Trump v. United States, 2024).
Key Social Outcomes
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Shaped American political influence: Citizens United revolutionized campaign financing and donor power.
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Polarized public trust in institutions: Conservatives hailed the rulings as a restoration of constitutional originalism; liberals decried regressions in rights and protections.
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Transformed civil liberties landscape: Shifts on abortion, LGBTQ+ protections, and affirmative action triggered wide-reaching societal and legislative responses.
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Disempowered regulatory agencies: Decisions like Loper Bright fueled debates on governance, expertise, and democratic oversight.
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Redefined executive power: The presidential immunity ruling could have profound implications for accountability and separation of powers.
Publication Details & Source
- Date Published: September 8, 2025
- Source: Reuters — “The John Roberts US Supreme Court, as illustrated by 12 cases”
- Live Link: Available via the cited Reuters article. Reuters
