When it comes to legal battles with far-reaching implications that end up at the Supreme Court, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals often plays a significant role. This conservative appeals court, overseeing federal appeals from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, has been responsible for some of the most far-right rulings that have made their way to the highest court in the land.
Many of these clashes have occurred on the shadow docket, where emergency applications are decided on a quick timeline without the full process of briefing and oral arguments. Both the 5th Circuit and the Supreme Court lean heavily to the right, with appointees from former President Donald Trump further pushing both courts in a conservative direction.
