SCOTUSblog’s live blog, particularly during major Supreme Court oral arguments and opinion hand-down days, has become a favorite among its readers. The real-time updates provide both important legal insights and unexpected humor, as exhibited by the many engaging comments from its audience.
During the 2025-26 term, 29 live blogs were hosted, covering important cases such as Learning Resources v. Trump, a significant tariffs case. A recurring humorous theme among readers was the “donut hole” analogy used during the oral argument for this case. Justice Kavanaugh’s question to Oregon’s Solicitor General, Benjamin Gutman, sparked witty commentary when the latter described the statutory language not as a donut hole but as “a different kind of pastry.”
The impatience for high-profile decisions was evident among the SCOTUSblog readers, particularly when the anticipated tariffs decision was repeatedly overshadowed by other opinions, such as in Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections which considered candidates challenging mail-in ballot laws. Despite the legal significance of these cases, the waiting process became a point of lighthearted frustration that some likened to childbirth.
The “box count” was another notable topic, referring to the number of boxes carrying copies of opinions to the press room, offering a hint about how many opinions might be released. Readers eagerly awaited these clues to anticipate the court’s activities.
An unexpected humor was also found in more serious proceedings, such as when justices lightly debated the historical basis of “habitual drunkard laws” during the United States v. Hemani case concerning the Second Amendment implications for drug users.
The live blog serves not just as a window into high-profile legal proceedings, but also as a community platform where humor and insight coexist, making the often weighty legal topics more accessible and engaging for its dedicated audience.
For the full exploration of comments and the context they appeared in, visit the detailed account at SCOTUSblog.