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WASHINGTON—In a landmark decision Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court
narrowly ruled to uphold the Bill of Rights, the very tenets upon which
American society is based.
"After carefully considering the relevance
of the 10 inviolable rights that comprise the ideological foundation on
which our nation is built, the court finds that these basic freedoms
remain important for the time being, and should not be overturned,"
read the majority opinion authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who cast
the tie-breaking vote.
"Until such time as it can be definitively
proven that citizens no longer require the protections provided by the
Bill of Rights, it shall remain the principal legal guidance for the
United States of America." The Supreme Court's latest decision comes on
the heels of last month's 6-3 ruling to abolish the pursuit of
happiness from the three inalienable rights guaranteed by the
Declaration of Independence.
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WASHINGTON
— The Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted restrictions on the
Navy's use of sonar in training exercises off the California coast, a
defeat for environmental groups who say the sonar can harm whales.
The court, in its first decision of the term, voted to allow the Navy
to conduct realistic training exercises to respond to potential threats
by enemy submarines.
Environmental groups had persuaded lower federal courts in California
to impose restrictions on sonar use in submarine-hunting exercises to
protect whales and other marine mammals.
The Bush administration argued that there is little evidence of harm to
marine life in more than 40 years of exercises off the California coast.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, which was joined
by Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence
Thomas.
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