Above the Law: “There is plenty of commentary making the rounds regarding the 5-4 Supreme Court decision confirming that of course a judge can issue a Temporary Restraining Order to maintain the status quo and require USAID pay out the money that it owes to contractors for work already done. But beneath the straightforward legal question lies a revealing pattern of inconsistency from some of the Court’s conservatives.”

“The eye-opening thing about Alito’s dissent is how completely it contradicts positions he took just months ago. And not in subtle ways — we’re talking about fundamental questions of judicial power that Alito seems to view entirely differently depending on which party controls the White House.”

“The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will hear a First Amendment challenge to a Colorado law banning professional counseling services engaged in conversion therapy intended to change a minor’s gender identity or sexual orientation,” the New York Times reports.

“More than 20 states have similar laws, which are supported by leading medical groups. Kaley Chiles, a licensed professional counselor, challenged the constitutionality of the Colorado law in federal court, saying it violated her rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion.”

“President Donald Trump defended Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Sunday after she faced attacks from his supporters for being part of the court majority that ruled to reject the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid,” the Washington Post reports.

Said Trump: “She’s a very good woman. She’s very smart, and I don’t know about people attacking her, I really don’t know. I think she’s a very good woman. She’s very smart.”