Ep. 254: Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness

California Underground Podcast: Discussing California Politics Through a Lens of Sanity

Summary

On this episode we discuss the recent case of Grants Pass v. Johnson that was heard in front of the Supreme Court recently regarding bans on camping in public spaces. We dive into previous court rulings, listen to some oral arguments, and discuss the potential impact the Supreme Court's ruling will have on homelessness in the near future.

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Takeaways

The Ninth Circuit's ruling on homelessness in the Martin v. City of Boise case has had a significant impact on the enforcement of camping bans in California, Washington, Oregon, Kansas, and Hawaii.

The petitioners in the Grants Pass v. Johnson case argue that the Ninth Circuit's ruling violates the Eighth Amendment, as it criminalizes the status of being homeless and imposes cruel and unusual punishments.

The Supreme Court's decision in this case could have far-reaching implications for the regulation of public spaces and the enforcement of camping bans.

The arguments made by the petitioners raise concerns about the potential slippery slope of extending the Ninth Circuit's interpretation of the Eighth Amendment to other crimes and punishments. The case of Martin v. Boise examines the constitutionality of camping bans targeting homeless individuals in public spaces.

The liberal justices, particularly Justice Sotomayor, present arguments against criminalizing homelessness based on status and emphasize the need for compassion and alternatives to sleeping in public spaces.

Justice Barrett questions the distinction between status and conduct, suggesting that actions such as setting up a camp in a public park can be considered conduct subject to regulation.

The Supreme Court's decision in this case will have significant implications for cities' ability to enforce camping bans and the criminalization of homelessness.

The hosts speculate that the majority of the court will find that camping bans do not violate the Eighth Amendment and that the decision may overturn the Ninth Circuit's ruling in Martin v. Boise.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Updates

03:05 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness

06:22 New Merchandise and Upcoming Live Stream

21:30 The Arguments of the Petitioners

27:20 The Potential Consequences

28:22 Introduction and Background of the Case

29:24 The Similarities Between Martin v. Boise and Grants Pass

34:00 Analyzing the Arguments of Justice Sotomayor

45:53 Analyzing the Arguments of Justice Barrett

50:49 Discussion on the Potential Outcome of the Case

59:38 Final Thoughts and Future Episodes

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