How the Roberts Court Used False Facts to Benefit Partisan Interests | Explained

🧐The American judicial system relies on accurate fact-finding at the trial court level.

💡Appellate courts are not supposed to find their own facts but rather rely on the factual record established by the trial court.

🔒The Roberts Court has been replacing facts found by Congress and lower courts with false facts that suit partisan and corporate interests.

🧟Decisions like Shelby County and Citizens United have been founded on false facts and have had negative consequences for our democracy.

🌊The flood of dark money in politics has corrupted our democracy and prevented meaningful legislative action on issues like climate change.

How has the Roberts Court violated basic principles of fact-finding?

—The Roberts Court has been disregarding rules about proper fact-finding and ignoring evidence assembled by Congress and lower courts. They have been making up their own facts to support decisions that benefit partisan and corporate interests.

What are some examples of decisions based on false facts?

—Two examples are Shelby County and Citizens United. In Shelby County, the Court falsely claimed that conditions in states with a history of racist voter suppression had improved. In Citizens United, they falsely found that unlimited political spending would be independent and transparent.

How has the flood of dark money in politics affected our democracy?

—The flood of dark money, enabled by the Citizens United decision, has corrupted our democracy. It has allowed partisan billionaires and corporate interests to influence elections and prevent meaningful legislative action on important issues like climate change.

What impact have these false fact-based decisions had on our democracy?

—These decisions have had a detrimental impact on our democracy. They have led to voter suppression, undermined campaign finance reform, and favored the interests of wealthy donors over the needs of the general public.

What can be done to address the problem of false fact-finding by the courts?

—Addressing the problem of false fact-finding requires a combination of judicial reform, campaign finance reform, and legislative action. It is crucial to restore integrity and accuracy in the fact-finding process and ensure that decisions are based on evidence and the best interests of the public.

00:00The Roberts Court has violated basic principles of fact-finding and made false factual findings to benefit partisan and corporate interests.

05:26The Shelby County decision falsely claimed that conditions in states with a history of racist voter suppression had improved.

09:53The Citizens United decision falsely found that unlimited political spending would be independent and transparent.

12:18The flood of dark money in politics, enabled by Citizens United, has corrupted our democracy.

14:42The Roberts Court has stubbornly refused to re-examine its false facts despite ample evidence to the contrary.