Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has upheld a broad conception of birthright citizenship, rejecting President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The decision is in line with the longstanding judicial interpretation of the 14th Amendment and comes on the final day of a Supreme Court term that has centered on Trump’s expansive claims of presidential power — and largely ruled in his favor. In its other Tuesday rulings, the court upheld laws in roughly half the states that prohibit transgender girls and women from playing on their public school and college sport teams and struck down limits on party spending in federal elections.

In rare congressional testimony, Supreme Court justices have shared chilling stories about the threats they increasingly face in public life. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified Tuesday to House and Senate committees, and appealed for more security funding for members of the high court. Like judges around the country, the justices have faced a surge in threats of violence and intimidation. Barrett said she had to take a bulletproof vest home a few years ago, and struggled to explain that to her 12-year-old son. Kagan condemned rhetoric from public officials who target judges for personal criticism when they disagree with their rulings.