Wish you could decipher a SCOTUS decision? Here's a guide

+ the problem with New Hampshire and Iowa primaries; Middle East arms US Edition - Today's top story: How to read a Supreme Court case: 10 tips for nonlawyers [View in browser]( US Edition | 25 January 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Caucuses, primaries, candidates’ positions, candidates’ records, speeches, debates – those are all the usual subjects covered by journalists in a typical presidential election year. But 2024 is not your typical presidential election year. This year, one of the two major candidates − former President Donald Trump − faces multiple criminal prosecutions. He is also a central player in other legal cases involving constitutional questions of enormous importance. One of those constitutional cases is being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court, while the other is likely to end up there. Once it’s issued, you might want to read the Supreme Court decision in the case that will determine whether the 14th Amendment bars Trump from appearing on the Colorado ballot. You might also want to read upcoming decisions concerning the availability of the abortion pill or gun rights. “But when you read a Supreme Court case for the first time,” writes Ilisabeth S. Bornstein of Bryant University, “the legal language, unique formatting and structure can be daunting, like looking at a giant rock face and not having any clue about how you climb to the top.” Bornstein’s story is a handy guide for [nonlawyers who want to tackle a Supreme Court opinion](. Her tips, she writes, “should help you begin to understand what was decided, why and how in the important cases being considered by the court this term.” Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Democracy The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File [How to read a Supreme Court case: 10 tips for nonlawyers]( Ilisabeth S. Bornstein, Bryant University In a year when the Supreme Court deals with many high-profile cases, a professor who teaches law to undergraduates describes how to read the court’s opinions. Israeli artillery fires toward Gaza. Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images [Where do Israel and Hamas get their weapons?]( Terrence Guay, Penn State Israel and Hamas are running through countless weapons in the ongoing war − but where are those weapons coming from? Nikki Haley in a crush of reporters after filing paperwork to enter the New Hampshire primary, Oct. 13, 2023. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images [Why New Hampshire and Iowa don’t make sense as the opening rounds of presidential campaigns]( Charles R. Hunt, Boise State University Two states that are not representative of the US, particularly in terms of race, have outsize influence in the presidential campaign. [Fake Biden robocall to New Hampshire voters highlights how easy it is to make deepfakes − and how hard it is to defend against AI-generated disinformation]( Joan Donovan, Boston University Deepfake technology is widely available, and a pivotal election year lies ahead. The fake Biden robocall is likely to be just the latest of a series of AI-enhanced disinformation campaigns. [New Hampshire voting doesn’t look like other states − here’s why that matters for the Republican primary]( Dante Scala, University of New Hampshire A New Hampshire election and politics expert agrees that independent voters are important in the state’s primary − but they shouldn’t be misconstrued with people who are registered as undeclared. [How much influence does Iran have over its proxy ‘Axis of Resistance’ − Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis?]( Sara Harmouch, American University; Nakissa Jahanbani, United States Military Academy West Point Iran has expanded its network of partners across the Middle East. But it isn’t a simple case of Tehran dictating the terms of the alliance. [Biden’s use of military in Yemen upsets congressional progressives, but fits with long tradition of presidents exercising commander in chief’s power]( Sarah Burns, Rochester Institute of Technology In the wake of US attacks against Houthi militants in Yemen, a scholar of presidential power to use the military examines the history and present of the laws around US military action. - [‘Strife in the courtroom’ − a former federal judge discusses Trump’s second trial for defaming E. Jean Carroll]( John E. Jones III, Dickinson College A retired federal judge sheds light on what’s going on in Judge Lewis Kaplan’s courtroom during the latest trial involving former President Donald Trump. - [A surprising history of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, once a leader in expanding civil rights and now a leader in limiting government power]( Jonathan Entin, Case Western Reserve University A court long known for its landmark decisions expanding civil rights is now known for highly conservative rulings reining in government power. - [Trump defends himself to the Supreme Court, saying he called ‘for peace, patriotism, respect for law and order’ on Jan. 6 and is not an insurrectionist]( Wayne Unger, Quinnipiac University The first shoe has dropped in the Supreme Court’s process of considering whether Donald Trump is eligible to be president. - [‘Collective mind’ bridges societal divides − psychology research explores how watching the same thing can bring people together]( Garriy Shteynberg, University of Tennessee Even in a moment of extreme partisanship, ‘we’ still exist if ‘we’ can witness something together. Researchers are exploring how shared attention can build connection. - [Beijing may have brokered a fragile truce in northern Myanmar – but it can’t mask China’s inability to influence warring parties]( Tharaphi Than, Northern Illinois University Beijing is losing patience with Myanmar’s military, as well as its influence with resistance groups. Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](