President Trump has repeatedly petitioned the high court for emergency rulings. But critics fear a lack of transparency.

By Joanna Insco

New York, United States – Behind the thick velvet drapes and marble columns of the United States Supreme Court, a creeping trend has emerged.

More and more, decisions are being made without full briefings or oral arguments. Time is tight, and judgements are often rendered in brief, unsigned orders that offer little to no explanation about how the nine justices arrived at their ruling.

These orders are the result of the "shadow docket", and their numbers are growing.